With the middle of the season approaching, it’s time to see how the races for the Most Valuable Player awards go.
We asked our MLB.com panel to give us three candidates for the American League and the National League. Players were assigned a 5-3-1 point scale (5 for a first-place vote, three for a second-place vote, and one for a third).
The last time we did this poll at the end of April, Angels star Mike Trout and Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. made the top spots. But a lot has changed since then.
Who are the MVPs now? Here the results (the data is until Friday)
1) Shohei Ohtani, P / BD, Angels (23 of 28 votes for first place)
If he’s not an Angels star, then he’s the other one. Trout was our first MVP and now Ohtani has taken his place. The Japanese leads the majors with 30 home runs, after hitting two on Friday. He’s also the best in the majors with a .705 slugging. He has a 3.60 ERA in 12 starts as a pitcher, with 83 strikeouts in 60 innings. It is in the middle of a historic season.
2) Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (5 first-place votes)
It is the year of Vladi’s take-off that we were all waiting for. In his third season in the majors, the 22-year-old gunner lives up to the hype. The Dominican leads the majors with a 1,118 OPS and is hitting .338 / .442 / .676 with 27 home runs and has 69 RBIs. For something he is the starting first baseman of the All-Star Game for the American.
3) Carlos Correa, SS, Astros
The Astros are the pointers of the AL West and their stellar shortstop is one of the main reasons. The Puerto Rican is hitting .295 / .393 / .521 with a .914 OPS, 15 home runs and 50 RBIs. He has been the best hitter in a team full of talent, such as the Venezuelan José Altuve, Michael Brantley and the Cubans Yordan Álvarez and Yuli Gurriel.
4) Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox
What Correa is to the Astros, Bogaerts is to the surprising Red Sox, who are 21 games over .500 and lead the AL East, ahead of the Rays, Blue Jays and Yankees. Bogaerts was just selected to start shortstop for the second time in his career. He is hitting .324 / .388 / .543 with .930 OPS, 13 home runs and 25 doubles – leading in LA
5) Matt Olson, 1B, Athletics
The A’s first baseman is having a tremendous year at bat, leaving behind a difficult 2020. Olson has hit 20 home runs and plans to surpass his top of 36 that he hit in 2019. His .284 batting average would also be his best. race.
1) Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres (15 of 28 votes for first place)
Although Acuña remains a solid candidate, the Dominican has stolen the show in the National League. The 22-year-old Padres shortstop leads the NL with 26 homers and in OPS with 1,089. He is the best in the National with a .702 slugging. He will start his first All-Star Game this month.
2) Jacob deGrom, P, Mets (12 votes for first place)
A pitcher being MVP? Yeah, that’s how good deGrom is. The Mets ace leads the Majors with a 0.95 ERA in his first 14 starts of the year, jeopardizing Bob Gibson’s historic 1.12 mark in 1968. deGrom has 136 strikeouts in 85 innings – MLB leading at 14.4 per inning – thanks to its 100 mph fastball and deadly slider and gear.
3) Ronald Acuña, OF, Bravos (1 vote for first place)
The Venezuelan could not stay at the top of the vote, but he is still one of the finalists according to the MLB.com panel. The 23-year-old gunner secured his spot as an All-Star starter. Acuña has 22 home runs, 16 stolen bases and leads the league with 64 runs scored.
4) Nick Castellanos, OF, Reds
He is the second starting outfielder for the NL All-Star. Castellanos has had a great season with the Reds, deserving his first call-up to the Mid-Season Classic. He leads the majors with 104 hits and 27 doubles. In addition, he commands the race for the MLB batting title with a .344 average. In addition, he has hit 16 home runs.
5) Kevin Gausman, P, Giants
Another pitcher considered a potential MVP. Gausman leads a key staff to the surprise that the Giants are giving, who lead the NL West above the Padres and Dodgers. The right-hander is 8-2 with a 1.68 ERA in 16 starts, with 116 strikeouts in 101.2 innings.
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