MVP poll: Who's leading the race in AL, NL?
As the end of the first half of the season approaches, it's time to revisit the MVP races.
We asked our panel of MLB.com experts to rank their top three MVP candidates in the American League and National League. Players were assigned a point total on a 5-3-1 scale (5 points for a first-place vote, 3 for a second-place vote and 1 for a third-place vote).
The last time we did this poll, at the end of April, Angels superstar Mike Trout and Braves phenom Ronald Acuña Jr. took the No. 1 spots. But a lot has changed over the last two months.
Who would be the MVP of each league right now? Here are the results. (Stats are through Friday's games.)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
1) Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, Angels (23 of 28 first-place votes)
If it's not one Angels superstar, it's another. Trout was our first AL MVP pick, and now Ohtani takes his place. The two-way sensation is leading the Major Leagues with 30 home runs after hitting two on Friday night, while pacing the Majors with a .705 slugging percentage. And he has a 3.60 ERA in 12 starts as a pitcher, with 83 strikeouts in 60 innings. He's in the middle of a historic season.
2) Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (5 first-place votes)
This is the big Vlad Jr. breakout everyone was waiting for. In his third big league season, the 22-year-old slugger is living up to the hype. Guerrero leads the Majors with a 1.118 OPS, and he's hitting .338/.442/.676 with 27 home runs and 69 RBIs. That's why he's the AL's starting first baseman for the All-Star Game.
3) Carlos Correa, SS, Astros
The Astros are in first place in the AL West, and their star shortstop is a big reason why. Correa is batting .295/.393/.521 with a .914 OPS, 15 home runs and 50 RBIs. He's been the best hitter on a team loaded with great hitters like Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Michael Brantley and Yuli Gurriel.
4) Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox
What Correa is to the Astros, Bogaerts is to the surprising Red Sox, who are 21 games over .500 and in first place in the AL East ahead of the Rays, Blue Jays and Yankees. Bogaerts was just named the AL's starting All-Star shortstop for the second time in his career, because he's hitting .324/.388/.543 with a .930 OPS, 13 home runs and an AL-leading 25 doubles.
5) Matt Olson, 1B, A's
Oakland's slugging first baseman is having a huge year at the plate, and a huge bounceback from 2020. Olson has hit 20 home runs already, putting him on pace to surpass his career high of 36 in 2019. His .284 batting average is also a career best after hitting under the Mendoza Line a year ago (.195).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
1) Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres (15 of 28 first-place votes)
One phenom passes the NL MVP baton to the next in our new poll. While Acuña is still a deserving candidate, Tatis has stolen the show in the National League. The Padres' 22-year-old shortstop leads the NL with 26 home runs and a 1.089 OPS, and he leads the NL with a .702 slugging percentage. He'll be starting his first All-Star Game this month.
2) Jacob deGrom, SP, Mets (12 first-place votes)
A pitcher for MVP? Yes, deGrom is that good. The Mets ace has a Major League-best 0.95 ERA through 14 starts, and he's challenging Bob Gibson's historic 1.12 mark from 1968. deGrom has racked up 136 strikeouts in 85 innings -- an MLB-best 14.4 per nine innings -- thanks to his 100 mph fastball and wipeout slider and changeup.
3) Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves (1 first-place vote)
Acuña didn't quite hold onto the first-place MVP spot, but he'd still be a finalist according to the MLB.com experts. The 23-year-old is heading to the All-Star Game as the first of the NL's three starting outfielders, and it's well-deserved. Acuña has 22 home runs, 16 stolen bases and an NL-leading 64 runs scored.
4) Nick Castellanos, OF, Reds
The second All-Star starter in the NL outfield, Castellanos' huge season for the Reds has made him an All-Star for the first time in his career. Castellanos leads the Majors with 104 hits and 27 doubles, and he's also leading the MLB batting race at .344. He's also slugged 16 home runs.
5) Kevin Gausman, SP, Giants
Another ace pitcher makes it into our MVP voting. Gausman leading the staff is one of the keys to the Giants' surprising run to first place in the NL West ahead of the Dodgers and Padres. The veteran right-hander is 8-2 with a 1.68 ERA in 16 starts and 116 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings.