Top five MVP contenders in National League
As May comes to a close, division races are taking shape and great players are separating themselves from the rest of the league. Here are the top five NL MVP contenders in inverse order.
5. Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Alonso leads the majors in homers (20) and the NL in RBI (46). The first baseman is on pace for 60 HRs and 142 RBI, but he isn't generating major buzz as an MVP candidate. The major reason is his batting average (.238).
Taking a deeper look into his plate appearances, Alonso has an xBA of .280 and xSLG of .619. These advanced stats tell us that despite his 20 HRs, Alonso is unlucky and hitting better then the numbers show. His batting average should improve, and as it does, so will the rest of his stats. Expect Alonso to move up the MVP list as the season continues.
4. Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals
This may not be a familiar name for an MVP list, but the Cardinals have played better recently, and Gorman is a big reason why. The 23-year-old is slashing .272/.360/.555 and has a .915 OPS. Gorman's 41 RBI put him third in the NL, behind only Alonso and Atlanta's Matt Olson.
Gorman, in his second big-league season, is the youngest player on this list and an MVP long shot because he is a DH and gets no defensive consideration. However, if he keeps this pace, he could get the Hank Aaron Award as the best offensive player in the NL.
3. Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
The catcher leads the majors in def (9.9), a stat that measures a player’s total defensive value relative to the league average, and is fifth in the NL in WAR (2.0). He is on pace to win the Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger. Unfortunately for Murphy, he is the second-best MVP candidate on his team.
2. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Freeman is slashing .344/.416/.589 and has an OPS of 1.006 to go with 47 runs. The Dodgers are leading the NL West, and Freeman's NL-leading WAR of 2.8 is a big reason why.
Freeman is as dependable and consistent as any player in the MLB. He has played in all 56 games for the Dodgers this season and averaged 142 games every season since his rookie year in 2011. He is also on pace for 29 HRs and 135 runs.
1. Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta Braves
Acuna is running away with the NL MVP through the first two months of the season. Acuña's defense in the outfield is questionable, but it's overshadowed by his wRC+ of 159 and a WAR of 2.6, which is third in the National League.
Additionally, he has a .323 average and is on pace for 32 HRs and 66 stolen bases. If Acuna can produce a home run surge, he could become the fifth member of the 40/40 club. As long as Atlanta remains the best team in the NL and Acuna remains healthy, he'll be the MVP favorite.
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