MLB Awards Watch: Here comes Mike Trout (again)

July 26, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) congratulates center fielder Mike Trout (27) after hitting a grand slam home run in the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Karns (51) throws a pitch during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Rookie of the Year

Nate Karns, SP Tampa Bay Rays – Karns leads AL rookies in innings pitched (115) and he has navigated those frames with a super respectable 3.37 ERA as a rookie. That production isn’t nearly on the level of the dominant duo in the NL ROY race, but the AL field is considerably weaker, and Karns continues to roll along.
Lance McCullers, SP Houston Astros – McCullers has been better than Karns, but without the longevity. He holds a significant lead in ERA (2.60 to 3.37) and strikeout rate (9.48 to 8.30), but Houston’s young stud has made only 12 starts to this point, and he needs two more months of counting numbers to have a realistic chance to win.
Devon Travis, 2B Toronto Blue Jays – There is nothing particularly sexy about Travis, but he actually leads AL rookies in fWAR (2.3). He has posted a slash line of .302/.360/.484 with good base-running and defense, and even if much of that occurred early in the year, the entire body of the season counts.

Next: NL Cy Young

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