EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAfter years of dominating the MVP race -- first in the American League and then for back-to-back seasons after moving to the National League -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani finally has some competition in the form of Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.DraftKings has them neck-and-neck as the favorites to win the award this year. Ohtani gave way to Crow-Armstrong recently only to gain back the odds lead days later -- with the two exchanging favorite status by the big moment.The stretch run of the regular season could very well determine the winner, especially if Ohtani returns to the mound at any point. He hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of knee soreness, but he has started a throwing progression that could lead to a return before the end of the regular season.To take home the hardware come November, Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong each have a case to make to the 30 BBWAA voters (15 from each NL city), but what do their peers have to say about the NL's premier performers right now?ESPN spoke with more than 20 players across nine different teams to get their opinion on the MVP race. The Dodgers and Cubs were not part of the polling, which had Crow-Armstrong as the choice among our player panel."How cool for the sport," Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins said, "that somebody is playing out of their mind so we get to have this conversation. The reality is we get to watch maybe the best player to ever play this game in Shohei. So to have somebody that is stepping up to him this year, making a race out of it, is pretty frickin' cool."The voteCrow-Armstrong: 15Ohtani: 4Split MVP: 2The statsOhtani and Crow-Armstrong rank first and second in the National League in OPS, OPS+ and WRC+ (which PCA actually leads). But Crow-Armstrong has an advantage on the basepaths (second in the NL in stolen bases) and defensively (he leads MLB in outs above average). Meanwhile, Ohtani ranked among the sport's best during his 14 starts on the mound this season.The Case for PCATwo quite obvious narratives emerged in discussions with the players who picked Crow-Armstrong as their NL MVP: He plays elite center-field defense -- and the fact that Ohtani is not currently pitching has opened the door for PCA.Yankees infielder Luis Garcia Jr: That's a tough one. PCA is so good, but Ohtani does it all, hitting and pitching. I'll go with PCA."Reds pitcher Brady Singer: "If Ohtani was pitching, it would probably be him. PCA has been incredible. Super fun to watch. He's electric. He changes the game. It reminds me a lot of Bobby Witt Jr. when I was playing with him. I like PCA right now. Both are great and both are tough to face."Hoskins: "In the true sense of the word, the guy that plays every day probably makes more of an impact on the team every single day. That's how I would weigh it. If Ohtani is pitching, there's not much room. That's the reality. Anyone that's watched PCA or the Cubs over the last two months, this guy is the best player on the field every time he's on the field."White Sox pitcher Trevor Richards: "He hasn't slowed down and on top of that, he's arguably the best fielder in all of baseball. He's a complete player. That's for sure. PCA has a chance to go 40/40."A's pitcher Mark Leiter Jr: "One plays elite defense. The other doesn't play the field. If you take Ohtani out of the rotation, they don't miss a beat. And if you take him out of the lineup, I still don't think they miss a beat."White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay: "The pitching side of things from Ohtani is amazing, but I think I would go with PCA. If you look at WAR and stuff like that, both have been incredible, but I'd go with Pete."The Case for OhtaniIt was harder to find Ohtani voters right now, but there were still some who preferred him and others who leaned his way -- especially if L.A.'s two-way star gets back on the mound.White Sox pitcher Sean Burke: "A half season of Cy Young-level pitching and what he does offensively, no one has done that on both sides of the ball. He gets my vote."White Sox catcher Drew Romo: "He's the most valuable. He's maybe the greatest player of all time, and I know the MVP is a 'this year' award, but I just think Ohtani is the greatest. That first half on the mound was enough for me."Waiting to see how the season plays outCardinals infielder/outfielder Jose Fermin: "I know now it's pretty much based on WAR. That usually means Ohtani because he does both. I know it's close now. We have to see how the final month goes. They're both fun to watch."Reds infielder Matt McLain: "You could make an argument for both. But what PCA is doing, he's the best in the game at CF. If Ohtani starts pitching again, that could make a difference. As of today, I'd pick PCA."Reds pitcher Emilio Pagan: "I had a debate like this with Rocco Baldelli when I was with Minnesota. It was Ohtani and Judge and at the time. Judge was like the best defensive right fielder in the game. Rocco said you have to take the defensive WAR that Judge provides and compare that to the pitching WAR that Ohtani provides. And then if the offense is even, that's how you can do it. So I'd go PCA.If Ohtani starts pitching again and goes 5-7 innings a start down the stretch, the conversation looks different. If he doesn't pitch again in a real starter's role, then I'd vote for PCA still."Royals outfielder/first baseman Jac Caglianone: "I think PCA's defense is so valuable that I would almost put it in the same tier as Ohtani's pitching. Hitting, they are pretty much the same right now. That's an even draw. You can affect the game more as a pitcher, but to do what [Crow-Armstrong] does in center field? It's really neck-and-neck. It's tough, like Judge and Raleigh last year. ... If Ohtani comes back and throws, it will skew it in his favor."Guardians pitcher Colin Holderman: "I know it's tough. I know what type of person and player PCA is. It's hard to replicate what he does on the field just like it's hard to replicate what Ohtani does with the Dodgers hitting and pitching. I want to see PCA win it. Just something different."Maybe shared MVP."
