Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani might need to do one thing to win MVP over PCA

The Los Angeles Dodgers have faltered a bit lately, dropping seven games in a row before winning on Saturday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks in extra innings.

Shohei Ohtani played a big role in the win, and he's only bolstering his MVP chances with each game. But, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is not far behind, if he has not already taken the MVP race lead in the NL.

To win the MVP award over PCA, Ohtani might need to do one thing, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. That one thing for Ohtani? Stepping back onto the mound before the regular season comes to a close.

Shohei Ohtani might need to get back on the mound to stop PCA from winning NL MVP

"The National League MVP award could come down to simply whether Shohei Ohtani takes the mound again for the Dodgers," Nightengale writes.

This is a bold take from Nightengale, but it's one that he does go on to explain, and his explanation does make some sense for the Dodgers' two-way superstar.

"If Ohtani, who hasn't pitched since July 3, returns to the mound, he'll win his fifth MVP award," Nightengale writes. "If Ohtani stays as a DH, and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to play as he has, he'll become the first Cubs player to win the MVP since Kris Bryant in 2016."

This race between Ohtani and PCA is a very fascinating one. Looking over their resumes this season, both have a strong case to win MVP.

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Ohtani has 121 hits, 73 runs scored, 22 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs, 71 RBIs, six stolen bases, 69 walks, 112 strikeouts, a .294 batting average, .398 on-base percentage, .547 slugging percentage, and an NL-best .945 OPS and 160 OPS+.

Crow-Armstrong has 127 hits, 82 runs scored, 22 doubles, seven triples, 26 home runs, 71 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, 64 walks, 139 strikeouts, a .287 batting average, .388 on-base percentage, .545 slugging percentage, a .934 OPS, and a 158 OPS+.

But, Ohtani also has his production as a pitcher, which is a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts with an 8-2 record, 95 strikeouts, a 0.946 WHIP, 2.60 FIP, and a 232 ERA+ in 85.2 innings.

Ohtani has 2.9 bWAR as a pitcher and 3.4 bWAR as a hitter, good for 6.3 bWAR overall. However, despite not pitching and having worse offensive numbers, Crow-Armstrong has 7.4 bWAR this season.

The reason is simple: PCA is the best defender in MLB this season, and might be making a case as one of the best defensive center fielders in MLB history.

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So, with Ohtani only hitting and not playing the field or out as a pitcher, PCA has a major advantage down the stretch to accumulate not just offensive value, but defensive value as well.

That's why, if Ohtani doesn't return to the mound, and the offensive production remains largely similar, it might prove difficult to win the MVP over the Cubs' superstar center fielder.

Ohtani will still receive plenty of votes for MVP, but his chances of winning the award might rely on whether he can pitch again during the regular season, and at a high level as well. It's a very fun race this year, as PCA vs. Ohtani is going to go down to the wire.

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