MLB awards watch: MVP races
By John Buhler
Most Valuable Players
American League
Jose Altuve
Second Base, Houston Astros
He’s been in the driver’s seat for American League MVP since May, but it has to go to Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve. He is the heart and the driving force behind the best team in the Junior Circuit. Houston has to be the favorites to come out of the American League this year.
Altuve has a 6.9 WAR. He is hitting .355 with 20 home runs and 70 runs batted in. Altuve has a .414 on-base percentage and a .563 slugging percentage. He may only be 5-foot-6, but the five-time All-Star is about to add an MVP Award to his impressive MLB resume.
National League
Max Scherzer
Pitcher, Washington Nationals
The Los Angeles Dodgers might be the best team in baseball with over 90 wins through August, but Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer is the best pitcher on the planet. He is coming off a Cy Young winning season with the Nationals. Look for him to repeat in that department and maybe earn MVP honors.
Scherzer already has a 7.0 WAR. He is 13-5 on the season with a 2.21 ERA. Scherzer has a 0.855 WHIP, a 199 ERA+ and 230 strikeouts on the season. If the Nationals are going to go on a deep postseason run, they’ll have to lean on their ace pitcher. He can handle it.