Harper’s injury adds intrigue to NL MVP race
With Bryce Harper out for an undetermined period of time and the Washington Nationals in no rush to bring him back while holding a double-figure division lead, the National League MVP race has opened up. In no particular order, here are other candidates who can state their cases down the stretch.
CONTENDING STARS
Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona
Diamondbacks: The runner-up in 2013 and 2015, Goldschmidt is in the midst of possibly his best season. Depending on how much time Harper ends up missing, Goldschmidt might be the new front-runner as Arizona firmly holds a wild-card spot. Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies: The first in baseball to reach 100 RBI this season, Arenado continues to make his case as the best third baseman in the league. Playing at Coors Field doesn’t exactly help his odds.
In the hunt for the batting title, the center fielder is on pace to finish with a home run total in the high 30s and could top 100 RBI. Like Arenado, Blackmon will suffer from the stigma of his home ballpark. It’s a fair argument against Blackmon, considering the stunning disparity between his home (.398 batting average, .469 on-base percentage .815 slugging percentage) and road (.285/.331./.452) numbers.
THE DODGERS
Cody Bellinger: Los Angeles was 9-11 when Bellinger was called up in late April. It is 74-23 since then. Bellinger is second to Giancarlo Stanton in the majors with a .620 slugging percentage.
Justin Turner: The 32-yearold hasn’t succumbed to the pressure of his big new contract and leads the NL in batting. A long shot to win given all of his other teammates having standout performances, he also missed almost a month of the season.
Corey Seager: His stats don’t stand out the way Turner’s and Bellinger’s do, but Seager is having a terrific season at the plate and has become one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball.
THE OTHER NATIONALS
In his first
22 games, Rendon had a .566 onbase plus slugging percentage (OPS) with no homers and five RBI, but things turned around April 30 with a three-homer, 10RBI outburst. Since then, he has a
1.066 OPS and has been terrific at third base. He might actually be the most valuable player, but his numbers don’t pop off the page compared to those of Harper and other stars on NL contenders.
Daniel Murphy: If he didn’t win MVP with Harper having a terrible season last year, there’s no way he wins it this year.
Ryan Zimmerman: The 32year-old was impressive in April and May (.368, 15 HRs, 55 RBI), and his resurgence was arguably the biggest factor in Washington building such a sizable lead. Things haven’t gone so well the last two months, batting .236 with a .707 OPS since June 14.
TOO GOOD TO IGNORE
Joey Votto, Cincinnati
Reds: On track to set a career high in home runs, Votto has a higher OPS (1.046) than in his 2010 MVP season. Votto is often overlooked, largely a victim of his own greatness. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins: Baseball’s home run leader almost certainly will hit 50 for the first time. Sometimes a non-contending team’s player’s stats are too great to ignore, but Stanton’s .281 average leaves something to be desired.