Unlike the American League, there are some powerhouses leading the way in the National League. The senior circuit currently holds five of the top seven records in the majors. There is a general feeling among baseball fans that the World Series winner will come from the National League. This will make the final month of the season very entertaining to follow. Here are the three storylines to pay attention to during September.
Can Peter Crow-Armstrong Take Home MVP?
For the first time since 2023, it appears we will have a new National League MVP winner. The award has been dominated by Shohei Ohtani since he came to the National League in 2024. But this season is different, as Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong appears to be the frontrunner. He is currently the odds-on favorite to win the award according to multiple sites. Part of the reason for this is Ohtani not pitching and having decent numbers at the plate. But it is nothing close to what PCA has done so far.
In 137 games this season, he has slashed .283/.377/.577 with 38 home runs, 91 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 161. He currently leads the National League in Slugging%, OPS, and OPS+. But most impressively, he leads the majors with an 8.5 WAR. Say whatever you want about WAR, but having one that high is very impressive. It shows that he is a major reason the Cubs hold the top wild card spot. If he can continue this production and the Cubs run away with the top NL wild card spot, he should be a lock to take home MVP.
Diamondbacks vs Padres for the Final Wild Card Spot
Although the Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies have a comfortable 4.5 game lead for the top two wild card spots, the final spot is still up for grabs. Several teams have a shot at being the final National League representatives in the postseason. However, the race will mainly be between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. Only a half game separates these two in the wild card race. The Diamondbacks currently have the half-game advantage, but one mistake will give the Padres the opening.
This race is anyone’s game at this point, but the Padres have a slight advantage. Since the beginning of August, they have a record of 16-11, which is the sixth best in the majors. Their offensive stars like Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado are finally playing like we expected them to. Plus, their trade-deadline acquisition, Robbie Ray, has given the Padres some stability. This, combined with the injuries and off-the-field drama the Diamondbacks are dealing with, means the Padres should be able to run away with it.
Can the Brewers Hang on to the Top Spot?
As mentioned before, most of the best teams this season reside in the National League. Teams like the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves are all in the top five for best record in baseball. They are also all separated by only three games for the best record in the National League and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Getting this seems more important than ever this season. With all three of these teams having World Series aspirations, being able to play most of your games at home is a big positive.
Out of these three teams, the Dodgers still have been the best shot at clinching the home-field advantage. Sure, they haven’t been great since the trade deadline, and Tarik Skubal hasn’t been what they expected. However, you do not want to count out a team with that much star power. It feels like they can turn it on at any moment. Plus, the Brewers and Braves have underlying problems that could rear their ugly heads. They have good regular season teams, but they are not good enough to take the next step. The Dodgers are.
