AL MVP power rankings: Who will separate in a tight race?

Many were wondering how Anderson would perform in 2020 after winning the AL batting title in 2019, but he seems to be getting better in a very scary development for the rest of the junior circuit. While he has missed some time due to injury, Anderson’s .373 average and 41 runs are both the best in the American League. TA7 has assumed the role of catalyst for a deadly White Sox team, constantly getting into scoring position for Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada.

Anderson and Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu have almost identical stat lines this year, but Anderson slightly gets the edge when you consider how the White Sox would fall off of a cliff if Anderson was to miss another extended period of time. If he wins a second batting title and helps the White Sox get a premier playoff spot, Anderson should not only get MVP votes and another trophy to put on the shelf, but he should get the national respect he deserves when the best shortstops in the league get brought up.

The MLB tried everything to get Trout, Anthony Rendon, and the Angels into the postseason by expanding it to 16 teams, but that seems unlikely with a 20-30 record. In 45 games this year, Trout has hit .294 with 16 home runs, posting a 1.038 OPS and 178 OPS+, numbers that are fractions lower than his numbers last year. For those who need a refresher, Trout won his third MVP after mashing a career-high 45 home runs while driving in 104 runs.

It’s the same old song and dance for Trout, as he is once again putting up some of the best numbers in the league on a largely awful team around him. The lack of team success and numbers that are a touch less impressive than the otherworldly totals he has produced in years past are factors working against Trout, but his numbers are once again up there with the best in the league nearly every category, and that’s worth MVP consideration.