MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL MVP candidates through May

5. 1B Anthony Rizzo – .316 BA, 9 HR, 30 RBI, 2.7 WAR

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

With his Chicago Cubs (27-22) currently sitting a comfortable 5.0 games back of the Cardinals in the NL Central and only 0.5 games back of occupying a Wild Card spot, there has to be whispers of postseason play around Wrigley Field these days. First baseman Anthony Rizzo is a large reason behind these speculated whispers.

His plate discipline is amongst some of the best in the league. His SO% is only at 11.4 percent, lower than his walk percentage of 12.3. Rizzo is third in the NL with an OBP of .438 and the big guy even has nine stolen bases on the year, already far surpassing his former personal best mark of six set back in 2013.

Rizzo also plays excellent defense at first base for the Cubbies, which is often an overlooked aspect of the game for players at his position. The 25-year-old will look to keep Chicago in contention in the coming months. With the help of rookies Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and a few other veterans on offense, the Cubs have some work to do. But nothing about Rizzo’s work ethic and emergence as a legitimate superstar in MLB should suggest he’s not capable of carrying this team through the days of summer ahead.

Next: Number 4