Baseball: Ohtani locked in close MVP race with Cubs' emerging superstar

TOKYO - After collecting his fourth unanimous MVP award last year, Shohei Ohtani is facing his strongest challenge to be named National League MVP from Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has been putting together an outstanding season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has spent a large part of the season off the mound while dealing with left knee inflammation, taking away much of the advantage he would normally enjoy in the MVP stakes via his two-way output.