For once, Houston Astros don’t have American League MVP candidate
By Kyle Cardoza
Since the Astros started making the playoffs in 2015, it seems that every year they have at least one American League MVP candidate. But that’s not the case this season.
Houston Astros fans aren’t used to this. For at least the past three seasons, second baseman Jose Altuve has been in the mix for the American League MVP. Of course, the All-Star captured the award last season.
But Altuve’s numbers, while good, aren’t up to par with what he’s done in recent years. In fact, none of Houston’s players can compare this late in the season.
Journalists are writing, and analysts are predicting. And while it’s difficult to claim who will win the coveted award at this point, people will continue to make projections.
Typically, when a team owns one of the best records in the league, there is one or two players enjoying spectacular seasons. But that’s not necessarily the case for Houston.
Altuve has been his typical consistent self, though he hasn’t offered much pop. Meanwhile, Alex Bregman has flourished in his first All-Star season. He’s still developing too.
Justin Verlander earns some recognition as an MVP candidate. He did win the MVP award in 2011 after a fantastic season. What’s crazy is that his stats are even better this year than they were back then.
Yet, few baseball pundits will put the these players in the same category as guys like Mookie Betts and Mike Trout. For Trout, it makes sense since his team looks inadequate without him. Betts has a great supporting cast, but he’s the Red Sox’s driving force in most games.
Altuve and Bregman are valuable for the Astros. But fans could essentially make that argument for teammates like Springer and Correa. Even starting pitchers deserve some notice since the rotation has been tremendous.
However, none of Houston’s players are posting ridiculous numbers – no 1.107 OPS or 99 RBIs thus far. Nevertheless, as a team, the Astros are probably more dangerous than any club in the league.
So why is it that their stars aren’t in the MVP mix?