Pete Crow-Armstrong has surged to a near-lock position in the 2026 NL MVP race through a historic all-around campaign with the Cubs, including a 40-home run, 40-stolen base season, league-leading marks in several power and run categories, a .280/.372/.570 slash line, and elite center-field defense that produced top fWAR totals. Trader consensus at 98.6% reflects these verified edges over injured or less dominant contenders like Shohei Ohtani, whose two-way production was curtailed by knee and biceps issues. With ballots submitted before the postseason, scenarios that could still shift the outcome remain narrow, such as unexpected voter emphasis on team success or rare statistical ties, though his regular-season dominance has left little room for alternatives.