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MLB Awards Watch: Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson battle for AL MVP

By Brad Rowland

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) leaps but can't reach a home run hit by Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (not pictured) in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) leaps but can't reach a home run hit by Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (not pictured) in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) singles in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Nationals 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) singles in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Nationals 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

NL MVP

  1. Bryce Harper, OF Washington Nationals – Harper’s early-season numbers were never sustainable over 162 games, but his MVP lead remains comfortable. The brash outfielder holds the edge over the rest of the league in wRC+ (195), home runs (31), on-base percentage (.455) and slugging percentage (.640), and that is basically an insurmountable pile of evidence in his favor. In short, Bryce Harper is awesome.
  2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B Arizona Diamondbacks – Goldschmidt has already surpassed the 20-20 mark, and given the position that he plays, that is exceedingly noteworthy. He has been lapped by Joey Votto (171 to 164) for second-place in wRC+ behind Harper, but Goldschmidt’s combination of power and speed make him one of the more underrated players in the sport. It is a shame that he languishes in relative obscurity in Arizona.
  3. Clayton Kershaw, SP Los Angeles Dodgers – Votto should be in consideration, but Kershaw’s fWAR (6.2) trails only Harper among NL players, and he has been this good. It isn’t an every year occurrence to see a pitcher dominate nearly every statistical category in this fashion, and if he can continue the pace he has been maintaining for the past three months, he could finish second.

Next: AL MVP

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