MLB Awards Watch: Nolan Arenado is a superstar

1. player. 108. <p>The Rockies aren’t very good, but Nolan Arenado certainly is. Arenado leads the National League in home runs with 19, and that puts him on the map with immediate credibility when it comes to the MVP race. However, the young third baseman contributes much more than that, playing <em>elite</em> defense at the hot corner while exercising fantastic plate discipline. Arenado needs to have massive numbers to counteract his ballpark and a lack of team success, but he has done that with flying colors to this point, leading the NL in both bWAR (3.5) and fWAR (3.1) among position players.</p>. 3B. Colorado Rockies. Nolan Arenado

<p>There is an easy argument for Kershaw as the NL MVP right now, and if you want to make it, I probably won’t argue. He leads the league in both major WAR categories by a significant margin, and while a starting pitcher has to be <em>dominant</em> to earn traction in the MVP race, Kershaw hasn’t had any trouble living up to that with a 1.52 ERA and obscene strikeout-to-walk numbers. As the season progresses, Kershaw will have the opportunity to claim the top spot, and if he can sustain this current level of performance, he’ll probably win the hardware.</p>. SP. Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw. 2. player. 71

Chicago Cubs. Ben Zobrist. 3. player. 9. <p>Three members of the Cubs have a legitimate claim on this spot, but I’m going with Zobrist over Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant… at least for now. Zobrist ranks second in the NL in on-base percentage (.426) with top ten marks in batting average (.319) and OPS (.919), and with a 149 wRC+, it is tough to discount how good he has been at the plate. Throw in above-average defense and the versatility to play multiple positions and the case is made, even if it is done with less than full confidence.</p>. 2B/OF