MLB Award Race Updates: Favorites Through the First Half

Before the second half of the 2026 season gets underway, let’s check in on the current state of the four major award races.

AL MVP

Front-runner: DH Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros

• .318/.426/.633, 31 HR, 70 RBI, 4.3 bWAR

It takes a truly historic year for a designated hitter to win MVP. Neither Edgar Martinez nor David Ortiz ever claimed the award, and it took a 50-50 performance from Shohei Ohtani to win MVP in his DH-only season in 2024.

​That should tell you just how good Yordan Alvarez has been this season, as he has practically single-handedly kept the Astros in the playoff race by leading the American League in hits, home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS.

​By any measure, Alvarez has been easily the best hitter in baseball this year, making him the current MVP favorite despite his non-existent defensive and baserunning value.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters put 10 names on their MVP ballots. Here’s who would fill out mine:

2. 3B Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

• .279/.372/.555, 28 HR, 59 RBI, 3.7 bWAR

3. 1B Ben Rice, New York Yankees

• .279/.372/.599, 29 HR, 68 RBI, 2.8 bWAR

4. SS Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

• .286/.355/.461, 13 HR, 39 RBI, 30 SB, 4.8 bWAR

5. 1B Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox 

• .285/.379/.542, 20 HR, 61 RBI, 3.5 bWAR

6. SS Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers

• .283/.392/.420, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 4.7 bWAR

7. 1B Nick Kurtz, Sacramento Athletics

• .266/.405/.497, 20 HR, 66 RBI, 3.7 bWAR

8. CF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins 

• .271/.328/.575, 25 HR, 45 RBI, 3.1 bWAR

9. SP Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees

• 20 GS, 2.05 ERA, 118.2 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 10.4 K/9, 4.1 bWAR

10. C Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers

• .262/.323/.508, 19 HR, 60 RBI, 3.1 bWAR

After a relatively slow start to the year, Junior Caminero has gone pound-for-pound with Alvarez since May 16, slashing .305/.406/.632 with 17 home runs over his last 51 games. That torrid stretch, along with the Rays’ AL-best 56-38 record, is enough to earn him the runner-up spot despite accumulating a whopping -12 Outs Above Average at third base.

​With Aaron Judge battling and ultimately succumbing to a rib injury, Ben Rice has stepped up as the most consistent figure in a notoriously streaky Yankees lineup. He trails Alvarez by just two home runs and two RBI for the American League lead, and his .971 OPS trails only Alvarez and James Wood for the MLB lead.

​Had Bobby Witt Jr. repeated the .332/.389/.588 line from his 2024 runner-up campaign, he would have been a shoo-in for the MVP in a Judgeless American League. Yet while he still leads the American League with a 4.8 bWAR and 30 stolen bases, his offensive production (.286/.355/.461) has been merely “great” rather than “otherworldly,” which causes him to slip to fourth on my ballot.

​Perhaps no American League hitter besides Alvarez has meant more to their team than Willson Contreras, who has been the only consistent source of power in a Red Sox lineup that ranks last in baseball in home runs. The fiery first baseman could easily find himself inside the top three if he is able to lead the surging Red Sox into a surprising playoff appearance.

​In a race full of prolific power hitters, Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle stands out as something of a throwback player. His AL-leading 4.7 bWAR is a product of his outstanding baserunning, strong shortstop defense, and otherworldly bat-to-ball and plate discipline skills, making him already one of the most well-rounded players in the American League.

​Nick Kurtz has been sort of a watered-down version of Alvarez, combining outrageous raw power with a league-leading 70 walks. Unlike Alvarez, however, Kurtz’s propensity for strikeouts leaves him susceptible to long cold stretches, including his 0-for-18 slide that preceded an IL stint with a thumb sprain.

​Only a hip injury could slow down the electric factory that is Byron Buxton, who earned a starting outfield spot in the All-Star Game by placing inside the AL’s top five in both home runs and OPS to go along with his usual stellar defense in center field. Health will always be the biggest concern with Buxton, but he has proven that he is still among the most talented players in baseball as he enters his thirties.

​While no American League pitcher has won MVP since Justin Verlander in 2011, it’s not uncommon to see the top Cy Young finishers claim some down-ballot MVP votes. Last year, for instance, saw Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal finish fifth, while runner-up Garrett Crochet came in eighth.

​Cam Schlittler may not have the volume of either of those two horses, but his ability to keep the Yankees’ rotation afloat despite Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón missing significant time at least puts him in the MVP conversation.

​Rounding out the top 10 is Tigers backstop Dillon Dingler, who has made another leap from his 2025 breakout campaign and now has a case to be called the best catcher in baseball. He leads all American League catchers with a .508 slugging percentage and a .841 OPS and ranks in the 89th percentile or higher in pop time, framing runs, and blocks above average.

Also in Consideration

• OF Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox 
• SP Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox
• SP Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays
• DH Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
• 1B Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles 
• 3B Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox
• 1B Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox 
• OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
• OF Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners
• C Shea Langeliers, Sacramento Athletics
  

NL MVP

Front-runner: SP/DH Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

• .288./.404/.522, 18 HR, 51 RBI, 2.7 bWAR
• 14 GS, 1.79 ERA, 85.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 10.0 K/9, 2.9 bWAR

No surprise here: Shohei Ohtani is well on track for his fourth straight MVP and his fifth in the last six seasons. He is second in the National League in ERA, third in on-base percentage, WHIP, and OPS, and seventh in total bases. There’s not much more to say.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters put 10 names on their MVP ballots. Here’s who would fill out mine:

2. CF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

• .291/.386/.531, 21 HR, 53 RBI, 24 SB, 5.8 bWAR

3. SP Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers

• 18 GS, 1.62 ERA, 111 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 13.5 K/9, 4.2 bWAR

4. RF James Wood, Washington Nationals

• .279/.393/.522, 28 HR, 64 RBI, 4.2 bWAR

5. SS Otto Lopez, Miami Marlins

• .334/.368/.505, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 17 SB, 4.7 bWAR

6. DH Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

• .254/.367/.560, 32 HR, 59 RBI, 2.6 bWAR

7. LF Juan Soto, New York Mets

• ,290/.405/.562, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 2.8 bWAR

8. SP Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia Phillies

• 18 GS, 2.00 ERA, 127.1 IP, 23 BB, 10.5 K/9, 5.4 WAR

9. 1B Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves

• .267/.339/.534, 25 HR, 58 RBI, 3.3 bWAR

10. RF Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals

• .294/.354/.532, 22 HR, 74 RBI, 3.8 bWAR
  

The real prize in the National League these days is who comes in second in MVP, and it is looking increasingly likely that it will be Pete Crow-Armstrong.

​After a slow start at the plate, PCA has batted an incredible .375/.475/.758 since May 29, homering 15 times and driving in 29. That stretch, along with an unfathomable +16 Outs Above Average already in center field, has powered him to a 5.8 bWAR, a full point higher than any other position player in baseball.

No National League pitcher has finished inside the top five in MVP voting since Jacob deGrom in 2018, but that’s the kind of conversation that Jacob Misiorowski belongs in. His 1.62 ERA is the lowest mark since Greg Maddux in 1994, and he is on pace to become the first pitcher since Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander in 2019 to strike out 300 batters.

​The Washington Nationals have enjoyed a surprisingly competitive season powered by emerging young star James Wood. The 25-year-old has played in all 97 of the club’s games and trails only Juan Soto with a .984 OPS. And while he still ranks among the MLB leaders in strikeouts, he balances it with an MLB-best 77 walks.

​The only other National League position player besides Crow-Armstrong with over 4.5 bWAR is Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez, perhaps the most underrated player in all of baseball. He may not have the power numbers of a traditional superstar, but with an MLB-leading .334 batting average, 17 stolen bases and three Outs Above Average, he has become the centerpiece of a Marlins team squarely in the NL East mix.

​It’s always difficult to know exactly where to place Kyle Schwarber. He doesn’t provide any value on the bases and the field, leads MLB with 144 strikeouts, and ranks just 24th in the NL with 2.6 bWAR. At the end of the day, however, 32 first-half home runs is 32 first-half home runs, and his booming bat, along with the return of Zack Wheeler, may be the single biggest reason for the Phillies’ stunning turnaround.

​A lot has gone wrong for the Mets this season, but you can’t put the blame on Juan Soto. The 27-year-old superstar trails only Wood with a .967 OPS to go along with an absurd 55-to-43 strikeout ratio. Only a multi-week absence with a calf strain and some mediocre right-field defense keeps him from ranking higher on this list.

​Although a recent implosion against the Royals put a dent in his overall numbers, Cristopher Sánchez was invaluable to a Phillies rotation that missed Zack Wheeler for the first month of the season and saw Jesús Luzardo post a 5.50 ERA through the end of April. Only Sandy Alcantara has pitched more than Sánchez’s 127.1 innings, and his 14 quality starts are tied for the most in all of baseball.

​He might not be flashy, but Matt Olson continues to cement himself as one of the most dependable and consistent power hitters of this era. He has yet to miss a game in his five seasons in Atlanta and ranks inside the NL’s top five in both total bases and home runs.

While some may argue that standout rookie JJ Wetherholt has been the most valuable player on the Cardinals, Jordan Walker’s incredible offensive turnaround earns him the final spot on my ballot. He leads MLB with 74 RBI while ranking fifth in the NL with 22 home runs, and has added 13 stolen bases for good measure.

Also in Consideration

• 1B Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
• SP Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies 
• CF Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
• SP Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
• SP Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins 
• SS CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals
• INF Luis Garcia Jr., Washington Nationals 
• 2B Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
• 2B JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals
• 2B Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh Pirates
• OF Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates
• OF Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
• 2B Luis Arraez, San Francisco Giants
• 3B Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
• OF Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1B Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
• RP Mason Miller, San Diego Padres
• C Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies 

AL Cy Young

Front-runner: SP Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees 

• 20 GS, 2.05 ERA, 118.2 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 10.4 K/9, 4.1 bWAR

Despite how well he pitched in last year’s postseason, even the most optimistic of Yankees fans couldn’t have forecasted the first half that Cam Schlittler has put together. The 25-year-old right-hander has sliced his BB/9 in half from 3.8 to 1.9 and leads the American League with a 2.05 ERA and a 0.944 WHIP.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters only select five names on their Cy Young ballots, but let’s go 10 deep:

2. SP Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays

• 17 GS, 2.56 ERA, 98.1 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 13.5 K/9, 3.6 bWAR

3. SP Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox

• 17 GS, 2.54 ERA, 95.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 8.0 K/9, 2.5 bWAR

4. SP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins

• 20 GS, 2.85 ERA, 110.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 10.4 K/9, 2.8 bWAR

5. SP Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians

• 19 GS, 2.73 ERA, 112.0 IP, 36 BB, 2.9 K/9, 3.5 bWAR

6. SP Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners

• 19 GS, 3.32 ERA, 114.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 9.6 K/9, 2.5 bWAR

7. SP Ranger Suárez, Boston Red Sox

• 17 GS, 3.15 ERA, 91.1 IP, 26 BB, 9.6 K/9, 1.6 bWAR

8. SP Drew Rasmussen, Tampa Bay Rays

• 18 GS, 3.26 ERA, 99.1 IP, 17 BB, 8.9 K/9, 2.1 bWAR

9. SP Louis Varland, Toronto Blue Jays

• 44 G, 19-19 SV, 1.10 ERA, 49.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 12.3 K/9, 2.7 bWAR

10. SP Nick Martinez, Tampa Bay Rays

• 18 GS, 2.65 ERA, 105.1 IP, 19 BB, 5.3 K/9, 2.2 bWAR

Dylan Cease put an exclamation point on a fantastic first half by taking a no-hitter into the ninth in his final start before the break. Though he wasn’t able to make history, Cease’s league-leading 2.19 FIP and 13.5 K/9 rate have him closing the gap on Schlittler in a hurry.

​Though he might not have been selected as an All-Star, Sonny Gray has been everything the Red Sox could have hoped for after acquiring him from the Cardinals this past winter. The MLB wins leader trails only Cam Schlittler with a 2.54 ERA and has allowed just 16 runs in 12 starts since being activated from the injured list in early May.

​After appearing like an outsider to this race just a few weeks ago, Joe Ryan caught a huge break when MLB changed a Taylor Trammell single to a Royce Lewis error, which changed what appeared to be a blow-up inning to six unearned runs.

​This decision dropped Ryan’s ERA from 3.36 to 2.85, which aligns more closely with his 2.77 FIP. The All-Star right-hander now ranks inside the AL’s top six in ERA, strikeout, strikeout-to-walk ratio, and bWAR, putting him on track to receive Cy Young votes for the first time if he can avoid repeating his 2025 second-half fall-off.

Guardians All-Star left-hander Parker Messick has picked up right where he left off from a strong cup of coffee at the end of 2025. He trails only Schlittler and Cease with a 3.4 bWAR while also ranking inside the top five with a 2.73 ERA.  

​One of the most consistent and durable pitchers in all of baseball, Mariners ace Logan Gilbert has put together yet another phenomenal season. The lanky right-hander has eaten 114 phenomenal innings while ranking inside the AL’s top 10 in both strikeouts and BB/9 rate.

​Had we done this exercise two weeks ago, it’s likely that Drew Rasmussen would have slotted in right behind Schlittler and Cease. Yet after posting a 2.45 ERA and a 94-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first 16 starts, the Rays right-hander has allowed 11 runs and struck out just four over his last two outings, causing him to slip to the number seven spot.

​Like Gray, Ranger Suárez has exceeded expectations in his first year in Boston, setting a new career-high 25.8% strikeout rate and is second only to Cease with a 2.61 FIP. The only thing holding Suárez back from a spot inside the top five is health: He missed a week in May with a hamstring strain and is currently on the injured list with a groin strain.

​The only reliever to crack the top 10, Louis Varland has taken the Blue Jays closer mantle from Jeff Hoffman and run with it. The flame-throwing righty has converted all 19 of his save opportunities and allowed just six runs in 49 outstanding innings.

​Despite a shiny 2.65 ERA, Nick Martinez gets dinged a bit here for some underwhelming underlying numbers, including a 4.67 xERA and a lowly 14.5% strikeout rate. He will rise higher on this ballot if he can continue his magic act into the second half, but it’s difficult to see him sustaining this incredible pace.

Also in Consideration

• RP Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox
• SP Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays
• RP Bryan Baker, Tampa Bay Rays
• SP Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals
• SP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
• SP Gavin Williams, Cleveland Guardians
• SP Jacob DeGrom, Texas Rangers
• RP Jacob Latz, Texas Rangers
• SP Bryce Miller, Seattle Mariners
  

NL Cy Young

Front-runner: SP Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers

• 18 GS, 1.62 ERA, 111 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 13.5 K/9, 4.2 bWAR

Even with all of the great pitching performances in the National League, there is no question that Jacob Misiorowski and his 1.62 ERA are a cut above the rest. As long as the arm fatigue that caused him to miss the All-Star Game doesn’t affect his blazing fastball, Misiorowski should be the heavy favorite to become just the second Brewer in the last 40 years to win the Cy Young Award.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters only select five names on their Cy Young ballots, but let’s go 10 deep:

2. SP Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia Phillies 

• 18 GS, 2.62ERA, 117 IP, 1.8 BB, 10.2 K/9, 5.4 bWAR

3. SP Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

• 17 GS, 2.20 ERA, 98.0 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 10.7 K/9, 3.0 bWAR

4. SP Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

• 15 GS, 2.13 ERA, 93.0 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 10.5 K/9, 4.8 bWAR

5. SP Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds

• 18 GS, 2.54 ERA, 102.2 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 10.3 K/9, 4.2 bWAR

6. SP Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

• 14 GS, 1.79 ERA, 85.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 10.0 K/9, 2.9 bWAR

7. RP Mason Miller, San Diego Padres

• 38 G, 0.91 ERA,25-25 SV, 39.2 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 16.3 K/9, 2.2 bWAR

8. SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers

• 17 GS, 2.85 ERA, 110.2 IP, 2.0 BB, 8.6 K/9, 2.7 bWAR

9. SP Max Meyer, Miami Marlins

• 18 GS, 2.58 ERA, 108.0 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 9.7 K/9, 3.0 WAR

10. SP Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks

• 19 GS, 2.29 ERA, 114.0 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 6.2 K/9, 4.3 bWAR
  

Cristopher Sánchez looked like the favorite for the award when he set a new Phillies record with 50 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, but a 5.56 ERA and 11.9 H/9 rate over his last six starts suggest he might be wearing down from a massive first-half workload.

Ageless wonder Chris Sale continues to defy logic, posting a 2.20 ERA and somehow posting the highest average four-seam fastball velocity of his career in his 16th season. Health is always the concern for Sale in the second half of the season, but it’s hard to poke holes in his performance thus far.

Zack Wheeler has shown no ill effects from the heroic outlet decompression surgery that cut his 2025 short and cost him the first month of this season. The 36-year-old has posted a career-low 2.13 ERA and 0.892 WHIP and already ranks second among NL pitchers with a 4.8 bWAR despite ranking 35th in innings pitched.

​If not for Misiorowski, we would be talking about Chase Burns being the National League’s breakout pitching star. The 23-year-old earned his first All-Star selection thanks to a dazzling 11-1 record and a 2.54 ERA that ranks fifth in the National League.

Though Shohei Ohtani’s sparkling 1.79 ERA and 2.62 FIP have made the MVP race a blowout, his Cy Young case is a bit trickier. His rate stats may be second only to Misiorowski, but the fact that he only ranks 42nd in the NL in innings pitched leads to him sliding down the list.

No reliever has won the Cy Young Award since Eric Gagne in 2003, but Mason Miller and his mind-blowing 0.53 FIP are making a pretty strong case. His Baseball Savant page is reflective of the most dominant pitcher in the game on a per-inning basis, as he ranks in the 100th percentile in expected ERA, expected batting average, whiff rate, strikeout rate, and hard-hit percentage.

​A massive postseason workload has done little to slow down Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The World Series MVP has once again been a model of stability in a Dodgers rotation decimated by injuries, delivering 13 quality starts out of his 17 total outings and trailing only Misiorowski with a 0.91 WHIP.

​After his first four MLB seasons were undercut by injuries and expectations, Marlins right-hander Max Meyer is finally showing why he was the third overall pick in the 2020 draft, riding a pair of dominant breaking balls to a 2.54 ERA while striking out over a batter per inning.

​Much like Martinez in the American League, veteran Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez has defied the underlying metrics en route to the first All-Star appearance of his 11-year career. His 4.12 FIP, 5.07 xERA, and 17.1% strikeout rate all point to an overall mediocre performance, but a 2.29 ERA through 19 starts deserves major props.

Also in Consideration

• SP Jesús Luzardo, Philadelphia Phillies
• RP Jhoan Duran, Philadelphia Phillies
• SP Nolan McLean, New York Mets
• SP Foster Griffin, Washington Nationals
• SP Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
• SP Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
• SP Braxton Ashcraft, Pittsburgh Pirates
• SP Kyle Harrison, Milwaukee Brewers
• SP Michael King, San Diego Padres
• SP Justin Wrobleski, Los Angeles Dodgers
  

AL Rookie of the Year

Front-runner: SS Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers

• .283/.392/.420, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 4.7 bWAR

While unseating Alvarez for MVP may be too big of an ask, Kevin McGonigle has established himself as the clear frontrunner for the American League Rookie of the Year. The 21-year-old shortstop has made the Tigers look like geniuses for boldly putting him on the Opening Day roster, as his combination of elite bat-to-ball skills and supernatural plate discipline has already made him one of the most difficult outs in the game.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters put five names on their Rookie of the Year ballots. Here’s who would fill out mine:

2. SP Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians

• 19 GS, 2.73 ERA, 112.0 IP, 36 BB, 8.8 K/9, 3.5 bWAR

3. 1B Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox

• .232/.371/.540, 20 HR, 42 RBI, 1.8 bWAR

4. SP Payton Tolle, Boston Red Sox

• 15 GS, 3.11 ERA, 84.0 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 9.3 K/9, 1.3 bWAR

5. C/DH Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles 

• .249/.309/.464, 16 HR, 46 RBI, 1.5 bWAR

Parker Messick fell just short of exceeding his rookie status in 2025, but his performance over seven starts (2.72 ERA, 2.98 FIP) foreshadowed his All-Star breakout in 2026. He leads all American League rookies with 112 innings pitched, 110 strikeouts, and a .209 batting average, becoming the unlikely ace of a strong Guardians rotation.

​Only a hamstring injury that sidelined him for over a month could slow down the incredible Munetaka Murakami. The Japanese slugger was right in the mix for the MLB home run and RBI leads at the time of his injury, as his combination of prodigious power and elite plate discipline has more than made up for the swing-and-miss issues that forced him to take an underwhelming two-year, $34 million deal this winter.

​After posting a 6.06 ERA over a 16.1-inning cup of coffee in 2025, Payton Tolle returned to The Show at the end of April as a more refined pitcher. His 1.07 WHIP is tied with Messick for the lowest among American League starting pitchers, and his 3.11 ERA trails only Messick and Angels right-hander Walter Urena.

​Despite being thrust into an awkward catching time-share with All-Star Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo has been one of the steadiest offensive contributors in an uneven Orioles lineup. The 21-year-old has raised his OPS by over 200 points from his 2025 debut while ranking third among AL rookies with 16 home runs.

​Also in Consideration

• SP Connelly Early, Boston Red Sox
• SP Jake Bennett, Boston Red Sox
• 3B Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays
• SP Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays
• 2B Travis Bazzana, Cleveland Guardians
• OF Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians  
• OF Sam Antonacci, Chicago White Sox
• OF Tristan Peters, Chicago White Sox
• C Carter Jansen, Kansas City Royals
• SP Walbert Urena, Los Angeles Angels
• SP Gage Jump, Sacramento Athletics
  

NL Rookie of the Year

Front-runner: 2B JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals

• .259/.356/.399, 13 HR, 36 RBI, 3.8 bWAR

JJ Wetherholt began the first half as a surprise addition to the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster and ended it with an eight-year, $112 million contract extension. In between, he has accumulated the sixth-most bWAR in the National League and leads all position players with 16 Outs Above Average at second base.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters put five names on their Rookie of the Year ballots. Here’s who would fill out mine:

2. SP Foster Griffin, Washington Nationals

• 19 GS, 2.77 ERA, 110.1 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 8.9 K/9, 3.3 bWAR

3. 1B/3B Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds

• .256/.338/.474, 19 HR, 65 RBI, 1.6 bWAR

4. SP Nolan McLean, New York Mets

• 19 GS, 3.52 ERA, 107.1 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 10.5 K/9, 1.3 bWAR

5. 1B Bryce Eldridge, San Francisco Giants 

• .271/.364/.468, 8 HR, 20 RBI, 1.0 bWAR
  

Speaking of surprises, former NPB standout Foster Griffin signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the hope that he could eat up innings for a rebuilding Nationals team. Instead, Griffin earned an All-Star selection with a 2.77 ERA and over a strikeout per inning, and the Nationals are battling for their first winning season since 2019.

​Sal Stewart appeared to be the early favorite for this award after slashing .303/.398/.626 with nine home runs over his first 27 games, but has since batted an underwhelming .239/.314/.417. Even after coming back down to earth over the last two months, Stewart still leads all NL Rookies with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, which was enough to earn him an All-Star nod.

​Nolan McLean hasn’t quite been the ready-made ace he appeared to be last September, but he has still been the club’s most consistent and effective starting pitcher. The 24-year-old right-hander leads all NL rookies with 125 strikeouts and a .207 batting average against while trailing only Griffin and Brewers swingman Shane Drohan with a 3.52 ERA.

​Though a crowded Giants lineup and a delayed callup have limited Bryce Eldridge to just 188 at-bats, his performance has begun to force the Giants to create playing time for him. His .832 OPS trails only TJ Rumfield among qualified rookies, and his .301/.391/.522 line over his last 37 games suggests he still has more in the tank.

Also in Consideration

• CF A.J. Ewing, New York Mets
• RF Carson Benge, New York Mets
• SS Konnor Griffin, Pittsburgh Pirates
• SP/RP Shane Drohan, Milwaukee Brewers
• 1B TJ Rumfield, Colorado Rockies
• RP Brandyn Garcia, Arizona Diamondbacks

AL Manager of the Year

Front-runner: Will Venable, Chicago White Sox

While the White Sox began to show signs of emerging from their rebuild in 2025, nobody could have predicted that they would be leading the American League Central at the All-Star break in 2026. The fact that a team this young can be so far ahead of schedule is a credit to 43-year-old skipper Will Venable, and he should be a shoo-in for the award if he can lead the White Sox to just their second division title since 2008.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters put three names on their Manager of the Year ballots. Here’s who would fill out mine:

• Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays
• Chad Tracy, Boston Red Sox

Though he is already a two-time American League Manager of the Year, this may be Kevin Cash’s finest performance to date. He has guided a Rays team that was widely predicted to finish last in the ultra-competitive American League East to an AL-best 56-38 record, six wins above their Pythagorean win-loss record of 50-44.

​When the Red Sox fired Alex Cora and five other members of their coaching staff after a 10-17 start and named Triple-A manager Chad Tracy as his replacement, the prevailing thought was that the 2026 Red Sox were dead in the water. Instead, Tracy has guided the Red Sox to a much-improved 36-31 mark, which includes 14 wins in their last 16 games.

NL Manager of the Year

Front-runner: Clayton McCullough, Miami Marlins

Despite being handed a roster that ranks last in MLB in payroll and consists largely of cast-offs from other teams, Clayton McCullough has steered the Marlins into playoff contention on the back of a 20-6 June. The Fish lead MLB with 24 triples and trail only the Nationals with 101 stolen bases, while their pitching staff ranks fourth in the NL in both ERA and WHIP.

The Rest of My Ballot

BBWAA voters put three names on their Manager of the Year ballots. Here’s who would fill out mine:

• Don Mattingly, Philadelphia Phillies
• Oli Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals

Though the return of Zack Wheeler and natural regression from the likes of Jesús Luzardo certainly played a major role in the Phillies’ turnaround, a lot of credit needs to be given to Don Mattingly. The bench coach took over from Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start and has guided the club to a 45-24 record, which is tied with the Brewers for the best record in baseball during that span.

​Both Blake Buetera and Oli Marmol have exceeded expectations for teams that were expected to finish near the bottom of the National League, but the slight edge goes to Marmol and his Cardinals.

​After subtracting Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan from a 2025 team that finished 78-84, the Cardinals are just a game out of the Wild Card with a 50-45 record, a credit to Marmol’s ability to manage one of the game’s youngest rosters.

Also in Consideration

• Blake Butera, Washington Nationals
• Walt Weiss, Atlanta Braves
• Don Kelly, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers
• Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers