Fansided

MLB awards watch: MVP races

By John Buhler

Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs the bases after hitting a game winning, walk-off three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs the bases after hitting a game winning, walk-off three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 22, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez hits a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez hits a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

National League No. 3

3

Eugenio Suarez

3B, Cincinnati Reds

Well, it doesn’t look like the Cincinnati Reds are going to be terrible after all. Heading into the season, Cincinnati looked to be on a collision course for the worst record in the National League. Though they are only 10-11 through 21 games, the Reds have a better record than both the St. Louis Cardinals (9-11) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (8-12).

If the Reds were going to win games this season, they were going to have to do it at the plate. Replacing the popular third basemen Todd Frazier was controversial at the time, but Eugenio Suarez seems to now have the Reds hot corner on lock.

The 25-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .352/.432/.676 this season with five home runs and 12 runs batted in. He’s had power at the plate, as he hit 21 homers last year, but Suarez’s batting average is over 100 points better than it was last season. His emergence at the plate is making Cincinnati a better than advertised baseball team.

For Cincinnati, it will inevitably come down to pitching. With the Chicago Cubs not exactly blowing teams out of the gate, the Reds are hanging in there with the North Siders and the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Not to say Cincinnati will make the NL Postseason, but Suarez has been a huge get for Cincinnati baseball this April.

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