As the 2016 MLB regular season comes to a close with 1 week to go and individual player stats just about set in stone, it’s time to predict the winners for the major awards in each league. (Stats listed may be subject to change)
AL MVP: Mookie Betts (Red Sox)
The young outfielder has really elevated his game to the next level this season as he has become one of the most well rounded players in all of baseball. His .321 batting average ranks 2nd in the AL (behind Jose Altuve) along with 31 long balls. His 119 runs scored and 108 RBIs are also among the top and could very well increase, hitting in the middle of a loaded Red Sox lineup. Betts doesn’t only do it with his bat however as he is a threat on the base paths with 26 stolen bases and plays great defense in right field. He boasts a WAR of 9.5 which is 2nd to only Mike Trout of the Angels at 10.5.
Runner Up: Jose Altuve (Astros)
Houston’s 5’6 2nd baseman is in the midst of the best season of his career. His .338 batting average is the best of the American League and has set career highs in power numbers, with 24 homers and 94 RBIs. He’s on pace to set a career low in stolen bases however, (excluding rookie season) as he has (only) swiped 27 bags this season.
Sleeper: Mike Trout (Angels)
MLB’s arguably best player has quietly put together another Trout-standing (sorry) year. However, he hasn’t gotten the attention he usually does playing on a pitiful Angels team. Trout has hit .318 with 28 homers and 97 RBIs, and an incredible .440 OBP and a 10.2 WAR. Those numbers could easily be higher but many teams opt to pitch around Trout (108 BB) given the weak Angels offense.
AL Cy Young: Corey Kluber (Indians)
Cleveland’s ace has rebounded after a disappointing 2015 season coming off winning the Cy Young in 2014. Although Kluber does not lead the AL in wins or ERA, his 18-8 record and 3.11 ERA are very impressive nonetheless. He is 3rd in the AL with 224 K’s, and leads all pitchers with a 6.5 WAR. His 1.05 WHIP is good for 4th.
Runner Up: Rick Porcello (Red Sox)
The veteran right hander has been one of the big surprises of the year, having by far and large the best year of his 7 year career. He leads all of baseball with 22 wins (albeit he has baseball’s #1 offense supporting him) and has only been beaten 4 times. He is tied with Corey Kluber with a shiny 3.11 ERA and is #1 in the AL with a 0.99 WHIP. He doesn’t have the overpowering stuff Kluber has but still has a very respectable 183 K’s over 217.0 IP.
Sleeper: Zach Britton (Orioles)
Although it’s completely unheard of for a relief pitcher to win Cy Young, it is very possible Britton may be the 1st to accomplish this feat in a league where there is no clear cut Cy Young worthy pitcher. Britton has been unbelievable at the back of the Bird’s pen, going a perfect 45 for 45 in save opportunities. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Britton’s ERA is a microscopic 0.57, as he has only given up 4 earned runs all year in 63.1 innings pitched. If not Cy Young, Britton is almost a lock to win AL fireman of the year.
NL MVP: Daniel Murphy (Nationals)
After leaving New York for the Nation’s Capital, Murphy is having a breakout year and the Mets are regretting not paying him. The 2nd baseman is doing it all, hitting a ludacris .347 with 25 dingers and 104 RBIs. His .987 OPS and 47 doubles are bests in the senior circuit. Murphy has been carrying Washington’s offense all year and the reason for their success as Bryce Harper has been a huge disappointment after coming off an MVP 2015 season.
Runner Up: Kris Bryant (Cubs)
Chicago’s young superstar will undoubtedly get his fair share of MVP considerations, as he definitely deserves it. The sophomore has put together a stellar campaign so far, greatly improving his average from last year by about 20 points, .275 to .297. This isn’t to mention his 38 homers and 99 RBIs, both ranking among the top 5 in the NL. What might be even more impressive than his hitting is his versatility in the field, as Joe Maddon has had him playing 3rd base, to the outfield, to even first base. He leads the NL with a WAR of 7.5.
Sleeper: Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
Although Arenado’s numbers are as good as anyone’s if not better, (.294, 40 HR, 129 RBI) he’s in the same boat as Trout where his team is just not good and he gets overlooked. On top of that, Arenado plays 81 games at Coors Field which is notorious for being a launching pad for baseballs due to the thin air which may lead to his numbers being a bit inflated. With this being said though, Colorado's third baseman still deserves all the respect in the world and may very well get some MVP votes because of how crazy his numbers are. He’s also the only other 3rd baseman in MLB history (Miguel Cabrera) to have back to back 40 home run, 120 RBI seasons.
NL Cy Young: Kyle Hendricks (Cubs)
In a year where the National League was dominated by pitchers, Kyle Hendricks stands out above the rest in what has truly been an incredible season. Hendricks has been the Cubs’ most reliable starter all year, and is well deserving of his first Cy Young award. His record is only 15-8, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He owns an MLB best 2.06 ERA, and a 0.96 WHIP. Hendricks has been so great this year that he has drawn many comparisons to hall of fame pitcher Greg Maddux, arguably one of the greatest pitchers baseball has ever seen.
Runner Up: Max Scherzer/Jon Lester (Nats/Cubs)
Both Scherzer and Lester have had remarkable years, and they both have as good a shot as the other to make a serious run at the Cy Young award. Scherzer and Lester both have 18 wins under their belt, but Scherzer has 3 more losses than Lester with 7. Lester’s ERA is about half a run lower than Scherzer’s at 2.31 vs. 2.82, however Scherzer has eaten up way more innings pitching 217.1 compared to Lester’s 194.2. The one area Scherzer has Lester beat (and everyone else) is strikeouts, as Scherzer has punched out 267 batters on the year as opposed to 188 for the lefty. The NL Cy Young race will be so close that there are many candidates worthy not even mentioned here, such as Noah Syndergaard, Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto to name a few.
-Marco Moy
The young outfielder has really elevated his game to the next level this season as he has become one of the most well rounded players in all of baseball. His .321 batting average ranks 2nd in the AL (behind Jose Altuve) along with 31 long balls. His 119 runs scored and 108 RBIs are also among the top and could very well increase, hitting in the middle of a loaded Red Sox lineup. Betts doesn’t only do it with his bat however as he is a threat on the base paths with 26 stolen bases and plays great defense in right field. He boasts a WAR of 9.5 which is 2nd to only Mike Trout of the Angels at 10.5.
Runner Up: Jose Altuve (Astros)
Houston’s 5’6 2nd baseman is in the midst of the best season of his career. His .338 batting average is the best of the American League and has set career highs in power numbers, with 24 homers and 94 RBIs. He’s on pace to set a career low in stolen bases however, (excluding rookie season) as he has (only) swiped 27 bags this season.
Sleeper: Mike Trout (Angels)
MLB’s arguably best player has quietly put together another Trout-standing (sorry) year. However, he hasn’t gotten the attention he usually does playing on a pitiful Angels team. Trout has hit .318 with 28 homers and 97 RBIs, and an incredible .440 OBP and a 10.2 WAR. Those numbers could easily be higher but many teams opt to pitch around Trout (108 BB) given the weak Angels offense.
AL Cy Young: Corey Kluber (Indians)
Cleveland’s ace has rebounded after a disappointing 2015 season coming off winning the Cy Young in 2014. Although Kluber does not lead the AL in wins or ERA, his 18-8 record and 3.11 ERA are very impressive nonetheless. He is 3rd in the AL with 224 K’s, and leads all pitchers with a 6.5 WAR. His 1.05 WHIP is good for 4th.
Runner Up: Rick Porcello (Red Sox)
The veteran right hander has been one of the big surprises of the year, having by far and large the best year of his 7 year career. He leads all of baseball with 22 wins (albeit he has baseball’s #1 offense supporting him) and has only been beaten 4 times. He is tied with Corey Kluber with a shiny 3.11 ERA and is #1 in the AL with a 0.99 WHIP. He doesn’t have the overpowering stuff Kluber has but still has a very respectable 183 K’s over 217.0 IP.
Sleeper: Zach Britton (Orioles)
Although it’s completely unheard of for a relief pitcher to win Cy Young, it is very possible Britton may be the 1st to accomplish this feat in a league where there is no clear cut Cy Young worthy pitcher. Britton has been unbelievable at the back of the Bird’s pen, going a perfect 45 for 45 in save opportunities. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Britton’s ERA is a microscopic 0.57, as he has only given up 4 earned runs all year in 63.1 innings pitched. If not Cy Young, Britton is almost a lock to win AL fireman of the year.
NL MVP: Daniel Murphy (Nationals)
After leaving New York for the Nation’s Capital, Murphy is having a breakout year and the Mets are regretting not paying him. The 2nd baseman is doing it all, hitting a ludacris .347 with 25 dingers and 104 RBIs. His .987 OPS and 47 doubles are bests in the senior circuit. Murphy has been carrying Washington’s offense all year and the reason for their success as Bryce Harper has been a huge disappointment after coming off an MVP 2015 season.
Runner Up: Kris Bryant (Cubs)
Chicago’s young superstar will undoubtedly get his fair share of MVP considerations, as he definitely deserves it. The sophomore has put together a stellar campaign so far, greatly improving his average from last year by about 20 points, .275 to .297. This isn’t to mention his 38 homers and 99 RBIs, both ranking among the top 5 in the NL. What might be even more impressive than his hitting is his versatility in the field, as Joe Maddon has had him playing 3rd base, to the outfield, to even first base. He leads the NL with a WAR of 7.5.
Sleeper: Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
Although Arenado’s numbers are as good as anyone’s if not better, (.294, 40 HR, 129 RBI) he’s in the same boat as Trout where his team is just not good and he gets overlooked. On top of that, Arenado plays 81 games at Coors Field which is notorious for being a launching pad for baseballs due to the thin air which may lead to his numbers being a bit inflated. With this being said though, Colorado's third baseman still deserves all the respect in the world and may very well get some MVP votes because of how crazy his numbers are. He’s also the only other 3rd baseman in MLB history (Miguel Cabrera) to have back to back 40 home run, 120 RBI seasons.
NL Cy Young: Kyle Hendricks (Cubs)
In a year where the National League was dominated by pitchers, Kyle Hendricks stands out above the rest in what has truly been an incredible season. Hendricks has been the Cubs’ most reliable starter all year, and is well deserving of his first Cy Young award. His record is only 15-8, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He owns an MLB best 2.06 ERA, and a 0.96 WHIP. Hendricks has been so great this year that he has drawn many comparisons to hall of fame pitcher Greg Maddux, arguably one of the greatest pitchers baseball has ever seen.
Runner Up: Max Scherzer/Jon Lester (Nats/Cubs)
Both Scherzer and Lester have had remarkable years, and they both have as good a shot as the other to make a serious run at the Cy Young award. Scherzer and Lester both have 18 wins under their belt, but Scherzer has 3 more losses than Lester with 7. Lester’s ERA is about half a run lower than Scherzer’s at 2.31 vs. 2.82, however Scherzer has eaten up way more innings pitching 217.1 compared to Lester’s 194.2. The one area Scherzer has Lester beat (and everyone else) is strikeouts, as Scherzer has punched out 267 batters on the year as opposed to 188 for the lefty. The NL Cy Young race will be so close that there are many candidates worthy not even mentioned here, such as Noah Syndergaard, Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto to name a few.
-Marco Moy
