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Home / frontmlb / 2022 MLB Award Races: MVP, Cy Young (June 24)
AP Photos/Wolf Sports Illustration

2022 MLB Award Races: MVP, Cy Young (June 24)


2022 MLB award races are really heating up as we enter the final stretch of June.

 

American League MVP

 

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees

You could argue that Judge, leading the first-place Yankees, should be the clear No. 1 in the American League MVP race. But there are several worthy candidates right now, and it’s tough to narrow the AL down to three. Judge has his arbitration hearing for his 2022 salary today, and it comes on the heels of a walk-off hit last night versus the Astros.

 

2. Mike Trout, Angels

 

 

Talk about a good weekend. Trout had one, with a homer on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday against the Mariners. Unfortunately, the Angels as a club remain under .500.

 

3. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

 

 

LA’s lack of success as a team is no knock on Trout and Ohtani. The Japanese superstar became the first player in history to have an 8 RBI game and a 13-strikeout game—and he did it in back-to-back days.

 

National League MVP

 

1. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals

Goldschmidt’s scorching hot streak has continued all throughout the month. He has 16 hits and five homers over the past ten games.

 

2. Bryce Harper, Phillies

Harper missed a few days with a blister, but he was back in the DH spot for the Phillies a couple of nights ago and picked up where he left off, bringing his hitting streak to eight games including yesterday at San Diego. It’s been a while since Harper homered, but his approach at the plate has been exceptional.

 

3. Manny Machado, Padres

Machado has been out of the lineup for a few days due to an ankle sprain, and it’d be nice to see him on the field for this weekend series against the Phillies. Before the injury, Machado had nine hits and two home runs in his previous four full games.

 

American League Cy Young

 

1. Shane McClanahan, Rays

It’s a tough draw facing the Yankees in back-to-back starts, but McClanahan allowed just two earned runs in 12 innings (six innings each start) for Tampa Bay. McClanahan has racked up 113 strikeouts this season.

 

2. Alek Manoah, Blue Jays

Manoah gave up four runs in 5.1 innings to the Yankees in his latest start, but it was his worst outing of the year in what’s been a very solid campaign. It was Manoah’s first time giving up more than three runs this season.

 

3. Justin Verlander, Astros

Verlander couldn’t get out of the fourth inning against the White Sox, who tagged him for nine hits and four earned runs. The veteran needs some help defensively, as he’s allowed 11 unearned runs in his previous two starts.

 

National League Cy Young

 

1. Sandy Alcántara, Marlins

Another game, another workhorse outing by Alcantara. The young Dominican starter hasn’t gone fewer than seven innings since May 6, which is just uncommon and awesome to see in today’s game.

 

2. Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers

The innings that Alcántara has eaten gives him the edge at No. 1, but the numbers Gonsolin continues to put up are highly impressive. While he’s not going extremely deep into games, the Dodgers starter is now 9-0 with a 1.58 ERA.

 

3. Joe Musgrove, Padres

Musgrove finally lost a game, giving up six runs in six innings versus the Phillies last night. The ERA jumped from 1.59 all the way to 2.12, but the 29-year-old is still 8-1 with a 0.95 WHIP while helping anchor a contending Padres staff.