Nearly every MLB player enters a new season in hopes of winning a World Series ring. However, as far as individual achievements go, none are more revered than the coveted Most Valuable Player award. With less than one month of regular-season play remaining, here are the leading candidates that are vying for the popular vote in each league.
National League
4. Anthony Rizzo
In order to score as many runs and win by as much as the Cubs do, it takes many parts. Rizzo may be overshadowed by one teammate in particular, but his season shouldn’t be forgotten by any stretch. His 98 runs batted in rank third among NL hitters and his OPS (right now at .933) is fifth-highest. To top it all off, he’s just one long ball short of a third consecutive 30-plus home run campaign. He’s not the best Cub performer in 2016, but he’s been the best over the last few years.
3. Corey Seager
Is it possible for Seager to join Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki as the third player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season? Not likely, but the fact that Seager is in the conversation is a tremendous credit to the 22-year-old’s talent and maturity. Last September, he came up to the majors and hit the ground running. He’s yet to slow down — closing in on 40 doubles and already reaching the 25 home run mark to help the Dodgers put themselves in position to win the NL West despite being without their starting pitching ace.
2. Daniel Murphy
Trying to obtain a second baseman over this past winter, the Washington Nationals didn’t look at Murphy as a first option…and probably not as a second choice. Remarkably, the eventual connection will be what most decided the race in the NL East. Of all the tremendous numbers he’s put up this season — including an MLB-high .347 average and 102 RBIs — the most damage has been inflicted on the team that let him get away. In 16 games against the New York Mets, Murphy hit .397 with 21 RBIs and seven homers — the same amount he had for them in last year’s incredible postseason.
1. Kris Bryant
It took less than 18 months for him to go from promising rookie to bonafide star. And now, in all likelihood, he’ll be recognized as such. Bryant currently holds NL leadership in home runs (37) and runs scored (113), is second-best in slugging percentage (.569) and OPS (.961), and is ranked fifth in RBIs (94). He’s already the toast of Chicago. Should his team maintain the tremendous success through October, Bryant could attain legendary status in the Windy City — an honor far greater than MVP.
American League
4. Manny Machado
As he continues to be the premiere fielder at third base, Machado — currently with 35 home runs — is developing into a key component in a lineup that has made a habit of overwhelming opposing pitchers. At .306, his batting average is 20 points higher than it was at the conclusion of 2015. With a defensive WAR of 1.9, it’s already matched the total of last season. Machado’s strikeout-to-walk ratio isn’t ideal, but he more than makes up for it in power (a .565 slugging percentage) and on defense.
3. Josh Donaldson
A 13-game that spanned from August 21 through September 3 proved that the defending AL MVP won’t relinquish the prize easily. In that stretch, Donaldson had 17 hits along with six home runs (to bring his season total to 34) as the Blue Jays vaulted into first place in the East. Since then, the AL’s leading run-scorer has gone hittless as Toronto dropped to two games behind Boston. This slump eventually resulted in manager John Gibbons benching his prized third baseman for Monday’s contest. Most likely it’s a chance for him to recharge for the final three-week sprint.
2. Mookie Betts
The mantle of Red Sox hitting star is being passed from the retiring Big Papi to the emerging Mookie. While David Ortiz is enjoying one of the finest swan song seasons ever, Betts is establishing himself as the newest fixture at Fenway — with 30 home runs and a .313 batting average. By driving in a pair of runs in a 12-2 Sox rout of Baltimore, he now has 104 for the year (only three AL players have more). The greatest improvement, though, has come in his plate discipline. After 55 first-half strikeouts, Betts has just 25 in the second half.
1. Jose Altuve
There’s plenty of time for the Astros to leapfrog several teams and nab one of the two AL Wild Cards. But even if that goal isn’t met, they wouldn’t have been close without Altuve’s heroics. On an team that’s batting a collective .246, Altuve’s average is a league-best .337. In fact, the 26-year-old second baseman tops Houston in just about every major offensive category. And don’t forget his success on the basepaths — 27 stolen bases in 34 attempts — or his fielding ability (2015 Gold Glove winner). Should he lead the Astros back into the postseason, he’ll truly have earned the award.
