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Here are some bold predictions for the rest of the Red Sox season

By Joshua Sadlock

BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field to start the game during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Wednesday May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts
BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field to start the game during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Wednesday May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field to start the game during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Wednesday May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field to start the game during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Wednesday May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) /

1. Mookie Betts will win MVP

The American League MVP award should really be viewed as Mike Trout’s award to lose each and every year during his peak years. Any player seeking to unseat the Los Angeles Angels center fielder — who has hit .336/.458/.720 with 12 home runs and 24 RBI in his first 34 games this year — is going to have to have an all-time great season.

Mookie Betts is having that type of season.

Trout has a bit of an edge on Betts so far according to the advanced metrics, but Betts has been nearly as good. In 30 games to start the year, Boston’s right fielder has hit .355/.434/.818 with 13 home runs and 26 RBI. He leads the major leagues in batting average, slugging percentage, runs and homers. Betts has also walked 14 times against only 13 strikeouts and has played his typical stellar defense in the outfield.

It’s clear that Trout is still the best player in baseball by a fairly wide margin, but Betts is getting back in the conversation after a down year. Few players handle the bat as well as he does without sacrificing power.

The race for AL MVP is going to go down to the wire between Trout and Betts (and possibly Manny Machado if he stays in the AL after the trade deadline). In the end, Betts will win out and take home his first MVP.

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