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Home / frontmlb / 2022 MLB Award Races: MVP, Cy Young (July 29)
AP Photos/Wolf Sports Illustration

2022 MLB Award Races: MVP, Cy Young (July 29)


There’s no movement in this week’s ranking of the Major League Baseball’s MVP and Cy Young awards, and players continue to show that they are clear favorites with August coming up.

 

American League MVP

 

1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

Ohtani has six straight starts of double-digit strikeouts, and he is of course a juggernaut at the plate. Even more is on his shoulders now with Mike Trout out due to a back issue—assuming he’s not traded, which is reportedly a remote possibility.

 

2. Aaron Judge, Yankees

Judge is back on a big-time homer streak, with six in the eight games since the All-Star break—putting him on pace to break the American League record for home runs in a season. He’s very close to reclaiming the No. 1 spot and easily could be there now. What Ohtani is doing is just tough to beat.

 

3. Yordan Alvarez, Astros

As things stand, Alvarez is more of a clear third behind Ohtani and Judge, but he’s enjoying a fantastic campaign. The 25-year-old is hitting .309 with 29 home runs, and he’s walked 51 times compared to a relatively strong 64 strikeouts in today’s game.

 

National League MVP

 

1. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals

Unfortunately, Goldschmidt was not allowed to play in Toronto because he is unvaccinated, but he is also back in a scorching home-run streak of five consecutive games (including a two-homer game in his last outing on July 24). A lot can happen in two months, but the veteran might run away with the NL MVP.

 

2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Something Freeman has going for him in a potential race between two first baseman for MVP is that he’s playing on the top team in the league. Freeman had eight hits in seven games since last week.

 

3. Austin Riley, Braves

Riley only has one homer since July 16, but he’s racking up non-home-runs and is getting the average closer to .300 (.294) to go along with his 28 homers, 64 RBI, and 60 runs scored.

 

American League Cy Young

 

1. Shane McClanahan, Rays

Like the AL MVP award, this is turning into a bit of a two-horse race as July comes to an end. McClanahan simply isn’t giving up many hits, leading to his insane 0.77 WHIP. In his latest outing, the Rays starter gave up just two hits in seven innings of work, though both were solo homers.

 

2. Justin Verlander, Astros

Verlander appears to be getting stronger and stronger in his first season after Tommy John. His ERA is down to 1.86, and he has a 13-3 record. The 39-year-old threw his fastest pitch since 2017 in his latest start.

 

3. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

Ohtani gave up six runs to the Braves a couple of starts ago, but the six consecutive outings of double-digit strikeouts was touched on earlier. He’s recorded 145 strikeouts in 17 games this season. Alek Manoah and Dylan Cease are also in the mix for the top three.

 

National League Cy Young

 

1. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins

For the first time since May 5, Alcantara didn’t go at least seven innings in a game. Yet he allowed just two runs on two hits while striking out ten in his last outing. Next up, another matchup with the Mets.

 

2. Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers

Gonsolin had another down outing a few days ago, allowing four runs to the Cubs. The ERA has jumped dramatically to 2.26, but that’s to be expected considering how low it was before. The overall body of work keeps the Dodgers starter at No. 2.

 

3. Corbin Burnes, Brewers

Tyler Anderson (11-1 like his teammate Gonsolin) is creeping closer to the top three. But Burnes struck out 11 in six innings (three runs) against the Twins, making it three of his past four games with ten-plus strikeouts.