PCA's two-homer game breaks Cubs franchise record, fueling NL MVP buzz

Chicago Cubs' 24-year-old rising star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) is mounting a serious campaign for the National League MVP award. On September 17, in a game against the Atlanta Braves, he unleashed his full offensive arsenal, hitting two home runs and a triple in a single game. This performance not only led the team to an 8-4 victory over the Braves but also officially surpassed the record set by legendary player Billy Williams in 1970, making him the Cubs' all-time single-season home run leader among left-handed batters.

Crow-Armstrong launched a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the third inning, his 43rd of the season, officially breaking Billy Williams's half-century-old record of 42 homers by a left-handed batter in a single season. He followed up with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the seventh, he again drove the ball over the right-field wall for his second home run of the game, pushing his season total to 44 homers, just one behind current MLB home run leader Kyle Schwarber.

As Crow-Armstrong continued to hit home runs and make history, the crowd at Wrigley Field erupted, rising to their feet and chanting "MVP, MVP." This two-home-run performance not only set a new franchise record but also gave him his 81st extra-base hit of the season, once again breaking Billy Williams's previous record for extra-base hits by a left-handed batter. Additionally, he now has 44 home runs and 37 stolen bases, needing just three more steals to achieve a "40-40" season. His all-around abilities in hitting, running, and fielding are driving his NL MVP candidacy to new heights.

Recently, Shohei Ohtani was placed on the injured list due to discomfort in his right biceps and left knee. Although he could return as early as September 24, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes has indicated that it's possible he might skip the regular season entirely and only rejoin for the playoffs. Comparing Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong's statistics and public sentiment, if Ohtani fails to make a strong comeback at the end of the season, achieving a fourth consecutive MVP award—following the 2023 AL MVP and the 2024 and 2025 NL MVP—would be an extremely difficult task.