Sizing Up the MLB Award Favorites at the All-Star Break

Mike Trout with Angels in 2018.
Mike Trout with Angels during the Royals vs Angels game in 2018. Photo by Peter Joneleit/CSM/REX/Shutterstock

The 2019 MLB season is already one to remember. From the Dodgers’ 8 Opening Day home runs to the Angels’ combined no-hitter last Friday night, there has been plenty of excitement so far in the league this season.

There have also been unforgettable individual performances and breakout stars that have taken the next step to be some of the game’s elite most players. So, let’s take a look at the favorites for each MLB award at the All-Star Break.

NL MVP: Cody Bellinger (Dodgers)

Cody Bellinger has been the best player in the National League, powering the Dodgers to the NL’s best record with a .341 batting average and with a league-leading 33 home runs. He’s been absolutely unstoppable at the plate, and if it weren’t for Christian Yelich’s encore to his 2018 MVP year, no one else would be a close competition.

Close in the running: Christian Yelich (Brewers), Pete Alonso (Mets)

AL MVP: Mike Trout (Angels)

The best player in baseball has continued to be peerless in 2019, as he’s been baseball’s best player by the WAR metric. Trout’s 30 home runs and absurd .455 on-base percentage means that he’s on the way to the best season of a sure-fire Hall of Fame career, which is nothing to sneeze at. He is the runaway favorite.

Close in the running: Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox), Alex Bregman (Astros)

NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer (Nationals)

Mad Max looks to be the favorite to take home his 4th Cy Young Award after starting 2019 with a bang, leading the NL in strikeouts with 181 and in second place in ERA behind Dodgers standout Hyun-Jin Ryu. It’s a two-horse race at this point, but Scherzer gets the nod for having worked deeper into games than Ryu and for his gaudy strikeout totals.

Close in the running: Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers), Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks)

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander (Astros)

The lanky veteran right-hander for the division-leading Houston Astros comes out as a slight favorite in what is a very tight AL Cy Young race. It could be said that Morton, who has a better ERA, has had the better season, but Verlander has simply been the better team’s ace and has put up a 2.98 ERA in an extreme hitter’s park. He gets the edge (for now).

Close in the running: Charlie Morton (Rays), Gerrit Cole (Astros)

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