3 Chicago Cubs MVP candidates, and 1 player who should be benched

Cody Bellinger (24) acknowledges the crowd during a video tribute prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Cody Bellinger (24) acknowledges the crowd during a video tribute prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

Cubs MVP candidate: Patrick Wisdom

I’ll admit it — this one probably won’t last. But for now, Wisdom has eight home runs on the season and an OPS of 1.139. The Chicago third baseman is performing far better than any of us expected, and has solidified a position that was otherwise up for grabs entering the season.

Wisdom is just the fourth Cub since 1901 with 8 HRs in the first 15 games of a season. He follows Gabby Hartnett (1925), Hank Sauer (1954) and Lee Walls (1958).

Wisdom is trusting his approach at the plate, and despite a pedestrian strikeout rate, is taking opposing pitchers deep on the regular.

“You can still feel locked in, but hits aren’t going your way and things aren’t dropping,” Wisdom said. “But you can kind of feel terrible, too, and get knocks.”

Bellinger, the previous player on this list, has loved watching every minute of Wisdom’s recent stretch of games from the batters box.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Bellinger said. “I’ve had some pretty cool views right behind him. Some moonshots, man. He’s just strong and he’s locked in, and it’s really fun to watch.”

More than likely, Wisdom’s hot stretch will eventually cool down. But for now, it’s enough to land him on this list as a solid maybe.