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Phillies' Kyle Schwarber seems poised to finish second fiddle for MVP again

Phillies' Kyle Schwarber seems poised to finish second fiddle for MVP again originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After finishing runner-up to Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani for the National League MVP, Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber seems poised to play second fiddle again.

Posting the fifth-highest OPS in Major League Baseball (.937) and leading the major leagues in home runs (22), the Phillies' designated hitter is doing everything he can to win his first MVP award. However, due to Ohtani once again showing he's elite (a 0.82 ERA in nine starts and a .927 OPS in 215 at-bats), Schwarber may not even have a chance, no matter how great he performs.

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Regardless of how great Schwarber or any other player does, there seems to be nothing that can be done to dethrone the four-time (three straight) MVP, who received 30 first-place votes in MLB's latest poll to win the award. The only hope Schwarber has to come close to overtaking Ohtani is getting over 60 or 70 home runs.

"Schwarber put the Phillies’ offense on his back in 2025 to power his way to second in NL MVP voting, playing in all 162 games, hitting 56 homers and driving in an MLB-high 132 runs," wrote Theo DeRosa of MLB.com. "Somehow, he’s been even better this season, increasing his OPS to .940 from .928 and leading MLB with 22 home runs to put himself on pace for 62. As a designated hitter with only three appearances in the field this season, it won’t be easy for Schwarber to win MVP, but he’s a good enough hitter to have a strong shot."

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Schwarber's best chance to beat Ohtani was last season, when he finished two home runs shy of Phillies' legend, Ryan Howard's single-season record of 58 home runs (led the National League) and major league leading 132 RBI. However, leading the National League in slugging percentage (.588) and potentially hitting those home run markers, Schwarber does have a chance.