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MLB: These are the 5 (or so) best National League MVP candidates

By Bill Felber

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 04: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores a run against catcher Tony Wolters #14 of the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 04: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores a run against catcher Tony Wolters #14 of the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

NL MVP candidates: Freddie Freeman

Freeman may be the leader in most voters’ minds as the race enters its compressed stretch run. The Atlanta Braves first baseman has certainly had a solid season.

At 2.3, Freeman ranks third in WAR among position players and seventh overall, His .352 batting average leads the league – that’s always a credential.

Freeman also leads in on base average and slugging, giving him a 1.113 OPS. His 188 Adjusted OPS+ is also the NL’s best.

Beyond that, he’s first in Base-Out Wins Added (2.3), and third in Win Probability Added (1.8).

Freeman’s raw numbers are candidate-worthy. He leads the league in both doubles (18) and RBIs (46), and he has 11 home runs. MVP voters love an RBI leader.

He also has history on his side. Freeman finished fourth in MVP voting two years ago and eighth last season.

Voters who prefer a player from a team in contention will also be drawn to Freeman. His Braves have been in first place in the NL East most all season, and have all but formally wrapped up a playoff berth. They are eight games over .500 with 10 to play in a year in which .500 teams in the NL are virtually guaranteed to play in October.

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