Dodgers News: Insider Predicts Mookie Betts Finishes as Consensus NL MVP
Mookie Betts was the best player in all of Major League Baseball in August. With a 1.355 OPS, 11 home runs and 30 RBIs, Betts now ranks sixth or better in batting average, home runs, RBIs and OPS across the league.
He has seen his odds of winning the National League MVP soar, as a bet on the 30-year-old winning the award would pay out even money. Ronald Acuna Jr. is still the favorite, but Betts is hot on his trail.
MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince is among those who believe Betts will pick up his second MVP award, as he won the American League MVP in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox — who went on to win the World Series that same season.
Castrovince said that Betts’ ridiculous August will cause voters to heavily consider picking him over Acuna Jr.
Mookie’s monster August — capped with two home runs against Atlanta on Thursday night — was enough to spark serious discussion about an award race that wasn’t really taking place previously. It’s going to compel more voters to take a look at the rarity of a guy spending roughly 60% of his time in right field and 40% of his time in the middle infield while potentially cranking out 40-plus home runs and what is, so far, the best OPS (1.033) and OPS+ (172) in the NL.
(Via MLB.com)
Acuna Jr., as Castrovince notes, has done nothing to hurt his case as he recently achieved something no MLB player has ever done before, hitting 30 home runs and stealing 60 bases in the same season.
There is no doubt that Betts’ impact on the Dodgers has been monumental, as LA went 24-5 and flew away from contending NL West teams, healthily ahead in the divisional standings.
The two MVP candidates will continue to battle head-to-head for the final time this season — unless the two powerhouse teams meet in the playoffs. The Dodgers host the Braves at 6:10 p.m. Saturday night.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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