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Power ranking the NL MVP candidates following Giancarlo Stanton’s injury

By Connor Muldowney

Jun 15, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Washington Nationals designator hitter Bryce Harper (34) walks back to the dugout after he stuck out during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The Rays won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Washington Nationals designator hitter Bryce Harper (34) walks back to the dugout after he stuck out during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The Rays won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 7, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) follows through on a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Turner Field. The Pirates defeated the Braves 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) follows through on a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Turner Field. The Pirates defeated the Braves 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

SP. Pittsburgh Pirates. Gerrit Cole. 4. player. 4.

Here we are, arriving at our first pitcher on the list. While I won’t tell you who the next pitcher to show up will be, I can tell you that it was pretty tough to decide between Pittsburgh Pirates ace Gerrit Cole and Dodgers vet Zack Greinke. In the end, after weighing all the categories of pitching excellence into the decision, Cole won.

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    • Cole leads all of baseball in wins (11), and has held opposing batters to just a .236 batting average. In doing so, he has also posted a 1.13 WHIP and minuscule 2.16 ERA.

    The only reason Cole’s ERA is even above the 2.00-mark right now is because of a five-earned run outing on June 24 that ballooned his former 1.78 mark. You know you’re having an MVP-type season when you can say that your ERA “ballooned” to 2.16 and the calendar is turning to July.

    Pittsburgh is currently leading the National League Wild Card race, and you can be sure that it’s not due to the team’s hitting prowess — which ranks in the bottom half of the league in almost every category — but instead a dominant pitching staff, which is led by Cole.

    Much like Todd Frazier, Gerrit Cole is another player that may not be household name just yet, but will be soon enough.

    Next: 3. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks

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