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MLB Awards Watch: Clayton Kershaw headlines All-Star break update

By Brad Rowland

Jun 15, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) winds up to throw during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) winds up to throw during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 26: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 26, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 26: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 26, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

NL MVP

SP. Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw. 1. player. 71. <p>Kershaw leads the NL in both fWAR (5.5) and bWAR (5.0) and while I don’t love putting a pitcher in this position, the left-hander has just been that good. It is hard to imagine a pitcher being better than Kershaw has been over the first half of the 2016 MLB season, and without a no-doubt, slam-dunk candidate to challenge him, I just can’t point in any other direction.</p>

9. <p>Bryant wins the NL “hitter of the year” award as of right now, even if the Cubs are struggling mightily. The wunderkind trails only Kershaw in both major WAR categories, and Bryant leads MLB in both runs scored (73) and home runs (25). His .286/.384/.578 slash line (153 wRC+) is quite stellar and Bryant also grades well in most advanced defensive metrics, with the added ability to play multiple positions effectively. He is a monster in every way.</p>. 3B/OF. Chicago Cubs. Kris Bryant. 2. player

St. Louis Cardinals. Matt Carpenter. 3. player. 32. <p>Carpenter leads the National League in OBP at .420 and he lands within the top three in every major “overarching” hitting category among NL talent. He remains one of more underrated players in MLB, simply by nature of his power playing in different ways than simply in the home run column, and Carpenter’s value is off the charts. Players like Anthony Rizzo and Brandon Crawford could be considered here, but it’s Carpenter for me.</p>. IF

Next: AL MVP

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