MLB Stats Reveal Potential Triple Crown Chase, One Team's Dominance

Baseball has not seen a Triple Crown since 2012. Is this the year?

Yordan Alvarez and Ben Rice are both out to hot starts in the American League. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

It may be hard to believe about nearly a quarter of the Major League Baseball season is in the books. Some teams, like the Braves, have put themselves in excellent position. Others, like the Phillies, Mets and Red Sox, have dug enormous holes and are in varying states of panic. April numbers usually bring May regressions back to the mean but it is still worth taking a snapshot at some of the statistical leaders in both leagues because the days of saying "small sample size" are dwindling.

An interesting situation is shaping up in the American League triple crown categories as not one, but two players appear interested in contending for victory in all three disciplines. Ben Rice, who has broken out for the Yankees, leads with a .343 average and is second to his teammate, Aaron Judge, in home runs. He's also a single RBI back in that department. Astros star Yordan Alvarez is hitting .336, and has the same number of home runs and RBI.

Believe it or not, it's been 14 years since Detroit's Miguel Cabrera captured the last triple crown in baseball. It's a feat that has been accomplished 27 times in MLB history but only three times since 1957.

Meanwhile in the National League, if it wasn't readily apparent why the Braves have the best record to this point, a quick browse of that leaderboard provides some solid evidence.

Chris Sale leads all of baseball with six wins and Braves batters occupy the tops of most leaderboards. Matt Olsen is atop the home run and RBI charts with teammate Drake Baldwin hot on his heels in the latter. Baldwin, Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II are all in the top ten of NL average.

American League

Batting average

Player	Average	Team
Ben Rice	.343	Yankees
Shea Langeliers	.336	Athletics
Yordan Alvarez	.333	Astros
Vladimir Guerrero	.331	Blue Jays
Josh Young	.325	Rangers
Yandy Diaz	.322	Rays
Kevin McGonigle	.315	Tigers
Jeff McNeil	.314	Athletics
Christian Walker	.308	Astros
Chase DeLauter	.304	Guardians
Brandon Nimmo	.300	Rangers
Chandler Simpson	.299	Rays

Hits

Alvarez, Astros, 45; Langeliers, Athletics, 45; Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays, 43; McGonigle, Tigers, 41; Wilson, Athletics, 41; Clement, Blue Jays, 40; Simpson, Rays, 40; Walker, Astros, 40

Home Runs

Judge, Yankees, 14; Murakami, White Sox, 14; Alvarez, Astros, 12; Rice, Yankees, 12; Buxton, Twins, 10; Langeliers, Athletics, 10; Trout, Angels, 10; Caminero, Rays, 9; Henderson, Orioles, 9; Montgomery, White Sox, 9; Okamoto, Blue Jays, 9

RBI

Aranda, Rays, 28; Murakami, White Sox, 28; Alvarez, Houston, 27; Judge, Yankees, 27; Rice, Yankees, 27; Soler, Angels, 26; Walker, Astros, 26; Dingler, Tigers, 25

Steals

Caballero, Yankees, 13 ;Ramirez, Guardians; Chisholm Jr, Yankees, 11; Simpson, Rays, 11;Witt Jr., Royals, 11; Arozarena, Mariners, 8; Keaschall, Twins, 7; Neto, Angels, 7

Pitching Wins

Martin, White Sox, 5-1; Schlittler, Yankees, 5-1; Williams, Guardians, 5-1

Strikeouts

Cease, Blue Jays, 56; Soriano, Angels, 54; Schlittler, Yankees, 53; Williams, Guardians, 53; Hancock, Seattle, 46; Warren, Yankees, 46; Gore, Rangers, 45; Skubal, Tigers, 45; Weathers, Yankees, 45

Saves

Baker, Rays, 9; Bednar, Yankees, 9; Erceg, Royals, 9; Domínguez, White Sox, 8; Smith, Guardians, 8; Chapman, Red Sox, 7; Helsley, Orioles, 7; Munoz, Mariners, 7

National League

Batting Average

Player	Average	Team
Ildemaro Vargas	.382	Diamondbacks
Otto Lopez	.338	Marlins
Xavier Edwards	.333	Marlins
Ozzie Albies	.331	Braves
Nick Gonzalez	.328	Pirates
Michael Harris II	.318	Braves
Troy Johnston	.318	Rockies
Luis Arraez	.316	Giants
Drake Baldwin	.313	Braves
Andy Pages	.313	Dodgers
Brandon Marsh	.309	Phillies
Jordan Walker	.308	Cardinals

Hits

Albies, Braves, 46; Baldwin, Braves, 46; Lopez, Marlins, 46; Edwards, Marlins, 43; Arraez, Giants, 42; Olson, Braves, 42; Hoerner, Cubs, 41; Pages, Dodgers, 40; Walker, Cardinals, 40

Home Runs

Olson, Braves, 12; Moniak, Rockies, 11; Schwarber, Phillies, 11; DeLaCruz, Reds, 10; Walker, Cardinals, 10; Wood, Nationals, 10; Baldwin, Braves, 9; Cruz, Pirates, 9; Goodman, Rockies, 9; Muncy, Dodgers, 9; Stewart, Reds, 9

RBI

Olson, Braves, 32; Baldwin, Braves, 30; Hicks, Marlins, 29; Stewart, Reds, 29; Burleson, Cardinals, 28; Cruz, Pirates, 28; Abrams, Nationals, 27; Hoerner, Cubs, 27; Pages, Dodgers, 27;Walker, Cardinals, 27

Stolen Bases

Nunez, Nationals, 14; Cruz, Pirates, 11; Marsee, Miami, 10; Tatis Jr., Padres, 9; DeLaCruz, Reds, 8; Acuna Jr., Braves, 7; Doyle, Rockies, 7; Griffin, Pirates, 7; Hamilton, Brewers, 7; Hoerner, Cubs, 7; Stewart, Reds, 7; Turang, Brewers, 7

Pitching Wins

Sale, Braves, 6-1

Strikeouts

Misiorowski, Brewers, 59; Luzardo, Phillies, 51; McLean, Mets, 51; Sanchez, Phillies, 50; Sale, Braves, 49; Glasnow, Dodgers, 47; Burns, Reds, 46; Ashcraft, Pirates, 45

Saves

Miller, Padres, 11; O'Brien, Cardinals, 10; Sewald, Diamondbacks, 7; Pagan, Reds, 6; Duran, Phillies, 5; Fairbanks, Marlins, 5; Iglesias, Braves, 5; Diaz, Dodgers, 4; Megill, Brewers, 4; Suarez, Braves, 4; Vodnik, Rockies, 4; Williams, Mets, 4

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