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MLB Awards Watch: Max Scherzer dominates the National League

By Brad Rowland

Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in the sixth inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in the sixth inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Paul Goldschmidt (44) dives back into first base against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Paul Goldschmidt (44) dives back into first base against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

NL MVP

  1. Bryce Harper, OF Washington Nationals – It is mid-June and Harper is still the best player in baseball. The 22-year-old is on pace for more than 50 home runs this season (21 in 62 games), and with the fact that he leads the NL in slugging percentage (.712) while landing second in on-base percentage (.473), it isn’t difficult to fashion his MVP case. The gap is a bit smaller than in previous weeks given the assault by the second-ranked player on this list, but Harper remains unconscious.
  2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B Arizona Diamondbacks – Goldschmidt would unquestionably be the AL MVP front-runner if he landed on a different roster, but Harper stands in the way. Still, Arizona’s cornerstone has 18 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 63 games, and Goldschmidt leads the NL with an unbelievable .473 on-base clip. It remains amazing how some national pundits refuse to acknowledge him as he toils in relative obscurity in the desert, but Goldschmidt has proven to be a worthy challenger to Harper.
  3. Todd Frazier, 3B Cincinnati Reds – In the interest of full disclosure, I’m not a believer in Frazier producing at this level in the long-term. However, he has been ridiculously effective this season, blasting 18 home runs, stealing 8 bases and posting a .289/.357/.599 slash line with above-average defense. Over the 162-game slate, I would imagine that a healthy Joey Votto would be the best player on the Reds, but Frazier continues to defy expectations this season.

Next: AL MVP

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