Fansided

MLB awards watch: MVP races

By John Buhler

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 09: Jose Altuve No. 27 of the Houston Astros hits a double in the 3rd inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 09: Jose Altuve No. 27 of the Houston Astros hits a double in the 3rd inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 29: Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) all smiles in the dugout after his homer to center field during the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers on August 29, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Coors Field. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 29: Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) all smiles in the dugout after his homer to center field during the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers on August 29, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Coors Field. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Fourth Place

American League

4

Aaron Judge

Outfield, New York Yankees

Admittedly, the fun, giant outfielder for the New York Yankees Aaron Judge has cooled off a bit since that Home Run Derby in Miami. He’s been striking out a ton, seeing his batting average plummet. However, he has been a huge story in baseball and is still very much an AL MVP candidate.

Judge is hitting .280 with 37 home runs and 82 runs batted in. He is on base 41.2 percent of the time, slugging at .581 for the Bronx Bombers. Judge might be leading the league in strikeouts, but he’s a big reason so many Yankees fans can’t wait for October, even if it’s just a wild card game in the Bronx.

National League

4

Nolan Arenado

Third Base, Colorado Rockies

Playing in Coors Field has its benefits, but let’s not use that to overlook the great season a great player in Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is having. He is a complete player and will win an NL MVP one day. That’s the kind of talent he has and he will have his shot this year.

Arenado is hitting .307 with 30 home runs and 111 runs batted in. He gets on base 36.3 percent of the time and has a slugging percentage of .589. With a 5.8 WAR already, if he puts together a monster September, he could be the latest Rocky to win NL MVP.

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