While the MLB gets ready for the World Series, it means that awards season is only around the corner so we thought that might take a look at the top three candidates of the National League MVP.
Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
Position: Shortstop
Odds to win the MVP: +250
Fernando Tatis Jr. is an equal favourite to clinch the NL MVP along with LA Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts. Tatis Jr. has had a magnificent season for the Padres as he had a batting average of .272 in the regular season which was the seventh-best batting average from a shortstop in the whole MLB.
When looking at the National League he only moved up one place. Despite being ranked seventh in the batting average in the whole MLB, it turns out that Tatis Jr. hit the most home runs by a shortstop in the whole MLB with 16 (it was the same in the National League).
Tatis Jr. was also very handy in the field as he had the sixth-best fielding percentage in the whole MLB with 0.984 with 32 double plays (ninth-best in the whole MLB), meanwhile when it came to just the National League, he had the seventh most double plays.
Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Right Fielder
Odds to win the MVP: +250
The Dodgers right fielder has had an incredible first year in Los Angeles since moving from the Boston Red Sox. He has certainly proved his worth in the regular season as he has the fourth-best right fielder batting average in the National League and the in the MLB with .285.
To top off how valuable he is for the Dodgers, he was equal first in home runs scored in the MLB from a right fielder with 15 (he was ranked the same in the National League). When looking at fielding he had the eighth-best fielding percentage in the National League of 0.966 (11th in the MLB). He led the way in the MLB and the National League as he had the most putouts from a right fielder with 113.
Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
Position: First baseman
Odds to the MVP: +450
The Atlanta Braves first baseman is an outsider to claim the NL MVP (even if Tatis Jr. and Betts have the same odds) but he may even be a dark horse. Freeman finished the regular season with a batting average of .353 (more than Tatis Jr. and Betts) which was the best in the MLB and the National League from a first baseman.
He also proved his worth as he scored the fourth-most home runs by a first baseman in the MLB with 13, but when narrowing it down to just the National League he had the most home runs.
Looking at the fielding Freeman had the third-best fielding percentage in the MLB and second-best in the National League from a first baseman with 0.998. Freeman also had the second most putouts from a first baseman in the MLB and the most in the National League with 427.
*Odds are correct at time of publication.
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Image by: Joshua Peacock
