We have seen some of the greatest names in baseball shine during this 2023 MLB regular season. With less than a month remaining, it’s time to figure out who are favorites to win the NL MVP Award. It’s been a tight-knit race, and there’s no telling who can go home as the winner this year. While many factors determine who wins in it, it’s far from over. For months it seemed like it was all eyes on one particular player. However, it’s become a two-man race between players representing the NL East and the NL West. Here’s a final look at the NL MVP race of the season.
NL MVP Candidates
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is having a legendary season. He’s the first player in MLB history to record thirty or more home runs and have over sixty stolen bases in a single season. His extraordinary play, alongside some of his teammates, has given Atlanta the best record thus far across the majors with a 90-48 record. In 138 games and 560 at-bats, Acuña Jr. has collected 185 hits, 32 home runs, 86 RBI, and 63 stolen bases while hitting .330/411/.570. Only four players have made it to the 40/40 club in MLB history. But Acuna, he became the first member of the 30-60 club. Acuna Jr. is on another level, as this would go down as one of the most successful seasons for a player if achieved.
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts is leading the Los Angeles Dodgers as World Series contenders as he did in 2020. The 2018 American League MVP has propelled Los Angeles to the top of the NL West division once again. Now, he’s continuing to make a case for the NL MVP and rightfully so for different reasons. His month of August bumped him up to third in OBP (.410) and fifth in batting average (.313). He finished the month with 11 home runs 30 RBI and an OPS of 1.355. That made him the third player since 1900 to have a .450 average with 50 hits and 10 homers in a single month. On the season, he has 38 home runs and 99 RBI whereas Acuna is hitting .335 with 32 home runs and 85 RBI. Betts has a strong chance to join Frank Robinson as the second player to win MVPs in both leagues.
Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman and Betts are Acuna Jr.’s biggest competition. The first baseman has also been unbelievable this year, turning some heads, while slowly becoming a top-three NL MVP finalist. Even if he trails his teammate in the running at the moment, he’s not far behind him. The Dodgers first baseman has racked up 50 doubles and he could have his first NL batting title. His .338 batting is second behind Luis Arraez of the Miami Marlins. The Dodgers have less than 35 games remaining on the schedule, Freeman needs to have a great September to do something special. He also has the chance to become the first-ever 30/60 player in baseball history as he reaches the 30 home run and 60m doubles mark. Freeman owns the fifth-best OPS (.997) in all of baseball.
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