Shohei Ohtani's return to mound could seal another NL MVP award

Shohei Ohtani may have a clear path to the National League MVP award, according to the reporting of USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale. The Dodgers anticipate Shohei Ohtani will be pitching again in September barring any setbacks, according to Nightengale, who writes that the two-way star “should also clinch his fifth MVP award as he returns to being a two-way player.’’ Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is the other leading candidate for NL MVP. Ohtani, 32, has not pitched since July 3 because of inflammation in his left knee. He is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 85 2/3 innings. On Friday, Aug.14, he threw 35 pitches during a bullpen session. "He used his entire mix (of pitches)," Dodgers manager Roberts told the media. "He felt encouraged." The knee issue has not kept Ohtani out of the lineup as a designated hitter. He leads the Dodgers with 27 home runs, 77 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .388 and a slugging percentage of .540. As a hitter and a pitcher, Ohtani has a combined WAR of 6.3. Ohtani won the AL MVP with the Angels in 2021 and 2023 and won the NL MVP with the Dodgers in 2024 and 2025. Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs’ regulars with 28 home runs, 75 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .374 and a slugging percentage of .533. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani's return to mound could seal another NL MVP award