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MLB Awards Watch: How good is Chris Archer?

By Brad Rowland

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) is congratulated by teammates after he pitched the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) is congratulated by teammates after he pitched the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) singles against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) singles against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

NL MVP

  1. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Los Angeles Dodgers – Gonzalez has been the best hitter in the Majors this season, and that is evidenced by a comical .776 slugging percentage in 19 games. The sweet-swinging first baseman also has seven home runs, 18 runs scored and 18 RBI over that stretch, but with a .510 wOBA mark, this race isn’t all that close in late April. Adrian Gonzalez is out of his mind.
  2. Matt Carpenter, 3B St. Louis Cardinals – You wouldn’t think of Matt Carpenter as a “power” hitter, but he is a doubles machine and that matters a great deal. The versatile infielder has 11 (!) doubles and three home runs in 18 games, and his .640 slugging percentage trails only Gonzalez among National League players. It would be tough to argue that his full line (.373/.427/.640) is sustainable, but the OBP could easily stay above .400 over the full season, and Carpenter also excels on the defensive side of things.
  3. Joey Votto, 1B Cincinnati Reds – It is very nice to see Joey Votto hitting with power again. Cincinnati’s highly-paid first baseman has six home runs in 19 games, and we all know that he can take a walk (17.2% BB) for his troubles. If he can remain healthy, there is no reason to think that Votto can’t lead the NL in on-base percentage (currently .425), and he is an above-average defender at the position for good measure.

Next: AL MVP

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