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MLB Awards Watch: Chris Archer makes the leap

By Brad Rowland

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer (22) waves off the trainer after being hit by a line drive in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer (22) waves off the trainer after being hit by a line drive in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) reacts after scoring a run against the Oakland Athletics in the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) reacts after scoring a run against the Oakland Athletics in the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

AL MVP

  1. Mike Trout, OF Los Angeles Dodgers – Trout is the default choice in what is a jam-packed race in the American League. He will remain the best choice for “best player in baseball” until proven otherwise (and Bryce Harper is trying), and Trout is having another Trout-like season. He has accumulated 4.0 fWAR in 71 games on the strength of 18 home runs, 8 stolen bases and high-level defense. On top of that, he stands second in the AL in wRC+ (166), measuring his overall ability as a hitter, and when all else fails, go with Mike Trout.
  2. Miguel Cabrera, 1B Detroit Tigers – Cabrera has been the best hitter in the American League this season, and he is looking like the player who was the best player in baseball during his prime. Defense is always going to be an issue for Miggy moving forward, but when he leads the league in batting average (.350), on-base percentage (.456) and slugging percentage (.593), it really doesn’t matter.
  3. Jason Kipnis, 2B Cleveland Indians – Let’s be honest. This could be Josh Donaldson or even Manny Machado, and no one would be “wrong”. However, I’m going with Kipnis this week as he leads the AL in fWAR. Cleveland’s often enigmatic second baseman is having a fantastic season to this point, with a .346/.422/.511 slash line (164 wRC+) to go along with 5 home runs, 10 stolen bases and extremely solid defense. Kipnis won’t have MVP-caliber numbers if he can’t keep up a scorching .385 BABIP, but his across-the-board value is appealing.

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