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Home / frontmlb / 2022 MLB Award Races: MVP, Cy Young (May 13)
AP Photos/Wolf Sports Illustration

2022 MLB Award Races: MVP, Cy Young (May 13)


There’s little debate for the top players in the latest MLB award race rankings for the 2022 season.

American League MVP

 

1. Mike Trout, Angels

Trout and his 1.188 OPS are just on another level, and we just have to pray that the best player in baseball stays healthy all 2022.

 

2. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

If anyone can threaten a healthy Trout for AL MVP, his teammate is the most likely choice. Ohtani is feeling it on the mound right now, coming off six shutout innings (allowing just two hits) versus the Rays.

 

3. Jose Ramirez, Guardians

This came down to Ramirez or Aaron Judge in the final spot of the AL MVP race. The Guardians star gets the slight advantage thanks to his .402 on-base percentage and an MLB-leading 30 RBI.

 

National League MVP

 

1. Manny Machado, Padres

Machado leads the majors in batting average (.383), hits (46), runs scored (27), and WAR (2.8) this season, and he’s obviously been a massive part of the Padres getting off to an excellent start despite not having Fernando Tatis Jr.

 

2. Eric Hosmer, Padres

And Hosmer has also had a lot to do with the strong start for San Diego. There were heavy trade rumors this offseason, but Hosmer is more than living up to his huge contract at the moment.

 

3. Nolan Arenado, Cardinals

Arenado had an 0-for-4 and an 0-for-5 in back-to-back games a few days ago, and that’ll quickly drop the high batting average down quick. But he had a couple of hits and a couple of RBIs in the past two games and will look to have a big weekend series when the Cardinals host the Giants.

 

American League Cy Young

 

1. Justin Verlander, Tigers

Verlander flirted with another no-hitter on May 10, eventually going eight shutout innings while allowing just one hit. Verlander’s 0.64 WHIP this season is plain stupid.

 

2. Alek Manoah, Blue Jays

The Jays have lost each of Manoah’s last two starts, but the young starter has done his part and still holds a perfect 4-0 record.

 

3. Logan Gilbert, Mariners

While Gilbert has cooled off a bit (giving up a grand slam as his only four runs allowed in his latest start didn’t help), but the 25-year-old has still shown dazzling stuff and possesses a 4-1 record through seven starts.

 

National League Cy Young

 

1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Kershaw handled the Cubs with ease early in the week, bringing his WHIP and ERA down to 0.73 and 1.80. We’ll see if he can up the strikeout numbers, as he hasn’t K’d over seven since his season debut.

 

2. Pablo Lopez, Marlins

Lopez bounced back from his first rough outing of the campaign (three runs allowed in 4.2 innings against the D-Backs) with his best outing, tossing eight scoreless innings at San Diego. Lopez’s ERA is right at 1.00.

 

3. Joe Musgrove, Padres

While the No. 1s and the top three in each of the other awards was relatively straightforward this week, the National League Cy Young race looks like it could be completely wide open all year. Max Scherzer could again be included in the top three (he was ranked first last week before suffering his first loss since last May), but Joe Musgrove gets some recognition this week. The Padres starter has gone seven innings with eight strikeouts in each of his past two outings, and he has a 2.08 ERA with a 4-0 record in 2022.