As we near the month of August, deserving award winners are beginning to surface and distinguish themselves from the pack.
Last year’s National League MVP belonged to Bryce Harper, who was honored for his sensational breakout campaign. This year, that will not be the case barring an unbelievable second half from the Nationals’ right fielder.
With that said, there are quite a few interesting candidates across the board.
While there are multiple glamorous picks in the American League, digging deep is the name of the game on the opposite side. In fact, a great number of the studs throughout the league reside on subpar teams.
*Projected numbers are dependent upon a return from disabled list*
If the injury bug had not acted as a wall between the left-hander and the 2016 finish line, he would be much higher on this list. There are not too many pitchers in baseball with more value to their teams than Clayton Kershaw provides to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Let’s add to that: there is not one pitcher in baseball more dominant than Clayton Kershaw. One of the better starting pitchers the game has seen this generation, the numbers speak for themselves.
As a baseball fan, you have to be rooting for his return to action. The 28-year-old is simply too fun to watch.
Current 2016 stats: .284, 25 HR, 65 RBI, 23 2B, 77 R
Projected: .284, 42 HR, 110 RBI, 39 2B, 130 R
Following an outstanding rookie campaign, the 24-year-old is not falling victim to the notorious sophomore slump. Possessing one of the prettier swings in baseball, his easy power plays nicely with Wrigley Field.
A major reason why the Cubs are in first place in the NL Central, he will be right in the thick of NL MVP talks barring a major unforeseen downturn in the final two months.
Another pitcher on the list. Surprised? You shouldn’t be.
Stephen Strasburg has been that good for the Washington Nationals while helping them rebound from a 2015 mess. Currently, he is anchoring the rotation of a National League powerhouse.
The 28-year-old right-hander just recently lost his first game of the season. Remember, we are in the late stages of July.
Without Strasburg, the Nationals are in a tight race for the division crown at best. Wins do not matter much in Cy Young voting, but they very much do in MVP voting.
He is one of the candidates who truly defines the word ‘valuable’.
Talk about valuable? How important has this guy been to the Cubs’ rebuilding process.
He has been a staple and a guy the organization could rely on in the worst of times, and now in the heat of a pennant race. His swing is tailor-made for the ballpark he plays in, and he provides more than what a pure power hitter would.
Ultimately, he drives in runs. Each run that crosses the plate on Rizzo’s watch is another step towards being the MVP of the league he plays in.
He may not have the best numbers of the pack, but they certainly do not hurt. Cespedes arguably has the most value to his particular lineup of any player in baseball.
Let’s face it Mets fans: your lineup would have trouble scoring two runs a night without the savior acquired at last year’s deadline. In fact, the Flushing faithful has paid witness to that when Cespedes battles minor injuries.
With the ability to change the complexion of a matchup with one swing and provide a ‘wow’ factor in nearly all facets of the game, he should be a shoo-in for one of the top three spots in MVP voting.
Current 2016 stats: .349, 19 HR, 71 RBI, 28 2B, 124 H
Projected: .349, 31 HR, 117 RBI, 46 2B, 205 H
Where would the Washington Nationals be without Daniel Murphy? Well, nowhere close to the comfortable position they are in right now.
The question remains as to whether this is the Murphy we will see for years to come, or simply a one year wonder. Regardless, the second baseman has been sensational in his first year in the nation’s capital. The numbers tell the story.
If the 31-year-old keeps this pace, there is no doubt he should be the outright National League MVP. If he gets overlooked, it will be an extremely large mistake.
He has been exceptional, he has been valuable, and his team has been dependent upon his exceptional nature. Check, check, and check.
Emmanuel Berbari covers the New York Yankees& Major League Baseball for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by ‘liking’ his facebook page. He invites you to emailyour questions, comments, or concerns as well.