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MLB Awards Watch: How real is Dallas Keuchel?

By Brad Rowland

Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) rubs the baseball between pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) rubs the baseball between pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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American League infielder Miguel Cabrera (right) of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Mike Trout (27) of the Los Angeles Angels after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
American League infielder Miguel Cabrera (right) of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Mike Trout (27) of the Los Angeles Angels after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /

AL MVP

  1. Mike Trout, OF Los Angeles Angels – Mike Trout is pretty good at baseball. Once again, the Angels outfielder leads the AL in fWAR (2.8), and his across-the-board performance is jarringly good. Offensively, Trout has a .299/.392/.551 slash line (160 wRC+) to go along with 11 home runs and 8 stolen bases, and on the defensive side, he plays at a Gold Glove-caliber level in the outfield. It almost seems to easy to anoint him as the MVP favorite, but it’s still true.
  2. Miguel Cabrera, 1B Detroit Tigers – After a “down” year by his standards in 2014, Miguel Cabrera appears to be Miguel Cabrera again. Cabrera leads the AL in on-base percentage (.446) by a comfortable margin, and it isn’t as if there is empty production to go along with it, as the future Hall of Famer has blasted 11 home runs (.613 slugging) to provide a power lift. Defense is a sharp difference between Trout and Cabrera, but Miggy can still rake.
  3. Nelson Cruz, OF/DH Seattle Mariners – Speaking of defense, Nelson Cruz doesn’t play any. However, Seattle’s veteran slugger leads the Major Leagues with 17 home runs, and his 75-point AL lead in slugging percentage (.688) is a jarring reminder of just how powerful his bat has been at the quarter pole.

Next: MLB's Top 30 Leadoff Hitters of All-Time

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