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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TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 29: Chris Sale No. 41 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 29, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 29: Chris Sale No. 41 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 29, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Third Place

American League

3

Chris Sale

Pitcher, Boston Red Sox

The greatest acquisition of the offseason in baseball has to be the Boston Red Sox getting one of the best pitchers in baseball in southpaw Chris Sale. He has commanded a rotation that features former Cy Young winners like Rick Porcello and David Price. Sale’s dominance on the mound has the Red Sox in line to win the AL East.

Sale has a 5.4 WAR on the year. He is 15-6 in 27 starts. Sale boasts a 2.77 ERA, a 0.912 WHIP and a 163 ERA+. He is mowing batters down with his powerful side-armed delivery. Sale has already recorded 264 strikeouts. 300 on the year in totally in play. He became the youngest pitcher to 1,500 career strikeouts in baseball history. This guy is incredible.

National League

3

Paul Goldschmidt

First Base, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks will likely face the division rival Colorado Rockies in the NL Wild Card Game. Both teams have been among the best in the Senior Circuit for nearly all the season. Arizona’s best player will win an MVP one day, possibly this year, in first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt has a 6.1 WAR. He is hitting .302 on the year with 32 home runs and 105 runs batted in. Goldschmidt has an on-base percentage of .427 and a slugging percentage of .599. He has made five straight National League All-Star squads and twice finished runner-up to being NL MVP. Maybe a hot September gets Goldschmidt and the Diamondbacks over the top?

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