Baseball doesn’t hand out sympathy votes, and reputations rarely survive the weight of a midseason collapse. The Los Angeles Dodgers are learning that the hard way, while Shohei Ohtani’s brilliance suddenly feels like background noise in Los Angeles. Across the country, the Phillies are rewriting October scripts with a slugger who thrives when the lights burn brightest. It’s the cruelest irony—talent shines, but winning makes the spotlight stick.

With the regular season coming to an end, the race for top awards is up for grabs, and none of the players are slowing down. But the one race that has most eyes on it is the race between Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber. And the opinions of all top insiders are starting to fly in, and it should not be a surprise that some prefer Schwarber over Ohtani.

In a recent interview, MLB insiders Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers talked about this race and made their view clear. Rogers said, “Schwarber will win the home run title, hitting 56 this season… Ohtani is also good late in the year, but this is turning into a very special season for the Philadelphia Phillies’ designated hitter.” Olney added, “Schwarber will win the title, but he’ll reach 59… he’s just getting warmed up, with 20 homers in his past 45 games.”

The Dodgers have been stumbling badly since early July, enduring pitching nightmares, fielding lapses, and bench injuries. Their star-studded roster flounders as the Padres and Brewers pounce, exposing cracks in their once-invincible armor. A brutal 12–21 record since July 4 caps a nosedive that even Shohei Ohtani’s bat can’t stop. Yet, despite Ohtani’s .285 average, 44 homers, 83 RBIs, and 120 runs, the Dodgers remain falling behind.

Meanwhile, Kyle Schwarber powers the Phillies with a season that feels historic through sheer consistency and electrifying clutch. He’s matching that elite production with 43 home runs, a career-best .945 OPS, and emotional leadership everyone adores. Philadelphia’s 74–53 record atop the NL East showcases how Schwarber’s power fuels postseason hopes and clubhouse energy.

Given the Dodgers’ collapse—even their MVP candidate looks less stable—it’s natural that many now rally behind Schwarber instead. With Ohtani’s brilliance overshadowed by team struggles, Schwarber embodies both performance and playoff faith in Philly. Voters and fans increasingly see Schwarber as the NL’s heart and will rally behind that dependable pulse. This preference crystallizes clearly thanks to Ohtani’s slump-masked brilliance and the Dodgers’ unraveling.

In the end, Shohei Ohtani’s greatness is undeniable, but it’s buried under the rubble of the Dodgers’ mediocrity. Kyle Schwarber, on the other hand, is thriving with the Philadelphia Phillies, where wins amplify every towering blast. Awards voters don’t just crave numbers—they crave narratives, and Schwarber’s story reads like a bestseller while Ohtani’s feels stuck in revision. If baseball is about timing, then Schwarber has a perfect pitch, and Ohtani’s Dodgers are off-key.

Underestimating Shohei Ohtani? This is where you will end up

Baseball fans love bold takes until reality swings harder than a Shohei Ohtani fastball. For all the debates, spreadsheets, and barstool arguments about who owns the home run crown, one truth keeps rearing its head—Ohtani doesn’t just play the game, he rewrites it midseason. Those picking Kyle Schwarber over him may want to keep the receipts, because Ohtani has a way of cashing them in with interest.

The Padres fan in a Tatis Jr. jersey spent the afternoon relentlessly heckling Shohei Ohtani. Every out and strikeout fueled his taunts, echoing in Dave Roberts’ ear with frustrating persistence. Ohtani, stuck in a weekend slump, looked like easy prey for the heckler’s sharp tongue. But the narrative flipped when he smashed his 45th homer, silencing jeers with thunderous authority.

Instead of retreating to the dugout, Ohtani veered toward his tormentor, initiating a surprising high-five. The gesture, lighthearted yet pointed, revealed a flash of personality rarely displayed by the two-way star. Teammates like Freddie Freeman reveled in the irony, glad the heckler got his proper reward. Hernández showered him with sunflower seeds, Roberts grinned widely, and the Dodgers celebrated both homer and humor.

And that’s the thing about Shohei Ohtani—he doesn’t just answer critics, he entertains them. One moment you’re heckling a slump, the next you’re shaking hands with history in real time. Kyle Schwarber may keep pace for now, but Ohtani’s flair makes the race feel lopsided. The Dodgers didn’t just win the game; they owned the moment, seeds and all.