MLB Lists 2 Dodgers Among Top 5 Early MVP Candidates in National League
The Dodgers are slowly getting back to their dominant ways. Since starting the year 13-13, they’re 9-2 in their last 11 contests, and look much better in just about every facet of the game.
One player who has really keyed their success is infielder Max Muncy, whose run of dominance even earned him a National League Player of the Week Award in April.
A trip on the paternity list and an illness have slowed him down a bit, but he’s still done more than enough to be considered a leading MVP candidate in the National League — he’s not the only Dodger in consideration, though.
MLB.com recently released their first MVP poll of the season, and had two Dodgers in the top five in the National League — Muncy and Mookie Betts. Here’s what Thomas Harrigan had to say about voting Muncy into the No. 4 spot for the NL MVP Award right now, only trailing Ronald Acuna Jr. and Sean Murphy of the Braves, and Luis Arraez of the Marlins.
“After suffering a torn UCL in his left elbow on the final day of the 2021 regular season, Muncy dealt with recurring issues related to his elbow in 2022 and struggled at the plate for much of the year. However, he’s returned to form in 2023, producing an MLB-leading 12 homers -- including a walk-off grand slam last week -- with 29 RBIs and a .935 OPS.”
Despite missing his fifth game of the year on Wednesday, Muncy is still tied for the league lead with 12 home runs, and has an OPS over .900. The flu has definitely cooled him down, but he should be healthy and ready to pick right back up where he left off this weekend against the Padres. Now onto what Carrigan had to say about Betts, who was voted into the No. 5 spot.
“Betts won the AL MVP Award in 2018 and has earned top-five finishes in the NL voting in two of his three seasons with the Dodgers, so he’s a good bet to be there when 2023 comes to a close. Coming off a career-high 35 homers in 2022, the dynamic outfielder (and now an occasional middle infielder) has gone deep six times while recording an .827 OPS over his first 34 games in 2023.”
While Betts isn’t excelling in any specific category, he’s doing everything well, and is playing much better in May than he did April. He’s played three positions — right field, second base and shortstop — and is starting to get hot as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter.
He’s not playing anywhere near his best baseball, and is still in the top five of MLB.com’s MVP voting. He’ll likely only continue to climb these ranks as the year goes on.
Two more Dodgers — Freddie Freeman and James Outman — received votes from the MLB.com poll. Freeman, like Betts, is playing nowhere near his best baseball yet this season.
As long as the Dodgers continue their winning ways, they’re sure to have a few MVP candidates all season long.
