Dodgers News: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman Gaining Ground on Ronald Acuna in MVP Poll
After claiming the title of first-half MVP, Ronald Acuna Jr. could have some competition when it comes to the National League MVP at the end of the year. The Braves outfielder has two Dodgers coming for his first career Most Valuable Player.
As the season is going on, both Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts are making it a close race in the NL according to MLB.com.
In a recent poll from multiple MLB.com writers, Acuna was named the NL MVP, however, the writers have said that the gap between Acuna and the pair of Dodgers is inching every day.
Currently, Acuna is on pace for a 40 home run/40 stolen base season. He would be the fifth player ever to record a 40/40 season and the first one since Alfonso Soriano in 2006. Soriano won MVP that season.
After a hot week that won him NL Player of the Week, Freeman has propelled himself into second place. The Dodgers first baseman hit .500 with two home runs in the past week. This has helped his batting average shoot up to .339 and his OPS to 1.013.
Freeman has also been trying to keep up with Acuna when it comes to his speed. The 33-year-old has set a career-high for stolen bases with 16.
Freeman is now first in the NL in OPS, third in RBI and second in batting average behind only Luis Arraez from the Marlins. Unfortunately for Freeman, Acuna has him beat in both home runs and on-base percentage.
While Freeman has the best shot of catching up to Acuna, he isn’t the only Dodger that is in the MVP conversation.
Mookie Betts is having one of the best seasons of his career. This includes when he won the award in the American League back in 2018.
Betts has already hit 31 home runs this season which is the third most in the NL and the most in his career. Currently, he ranks fourth in OPS and slugging percentage.
Not only has Betts played like an MVP with his bat, but he’s also doing it in the field. Betts has made the transition from right field to the middle infield this season. Even though this is the first season he is regularly playing both shortstop and second base, it looks like he’s been playing those positions his entire life.
In the infield, Betts has played 43 games and has a fielding percentage of .968. The value that he has added to the Dodgers by being a utilityman is some of the most in baseball.
Although it seems like Acuna has built himself a lead big enough to last until the end of the season, it could be likely that a Dodger steals the award.
Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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