After a remarkable second half, Christian Yelich looks like the NL MVP favorite

Christian Yelich has absolutely torn the cover off the ball since the All-Star break, and it has made him favorite to win the National League MVP.

The Milwaukee Brewers have been a fun team to watch this season. Not only will they be heading to the postseason for the first time since 2011, but there’s also a good chance they’ll have the National League MVP leading them into their matchup. Christian Yelich is in the midst of his best season as a professional, and has seemingly run away with the NL MVP.

That’s not to say there aren’t other worthy candidates. Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs and Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies have both had excellent seasons, but Yelich’s incredible display after the All-Star break has certainly made him the favorite. Yelich leads or is in the top five of the majority of the NL batting ranks: batting average (first), home runs (tied for third), RBIs (second), runs (second), OBP (fourth), SLG (first), OPS (first) and WAR (first).

It’s been an incredible season for Yelich that has also seen him hit for the cycle twice; most players don’t even accomplish that feat once over the course of their careers, let alone twice in the same season. Yelich is just scratching the surface of his prime at the age of 26, so he can still conceivably get better, which is amazing. The Brewers surely hope that Yelich can lead them to a deep playoff run, and for years to come at that.