At the All-Star break, here are The Washington Examiner‘s picks for the MLB MVP and Cy Young Award winners:
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez
Boston’s offseason acquisition is leading the AL in batting (.354) and RBI (77) while also being one of the best defensive first baseman in the league. After spending the last five seasons in the Padres’ pitcher-friendly ballpark, Gonzalez has taken full advantage of his new home and new teammates and has been the best player on the team with the best record in the AL.
NL MVP: Matt Kemp
The Dodgers have been miserable on and off the field, but Kemp’s numbers (.313, 22 HR, 67 RBI) are too good to overlook. He’s in the top seven in the NL in the Triple Crown categories and is third in the league with 27 stolen bases. Kemp could become just the fifth player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season, joining Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano.
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander
The Tigers’ ace could make a run at the pitching Triple Crown. Verlander leads the AL in strikeouts (147) and is second in ERA (2.15) and wins (12). He has allowed one earned run or less in his last seven starts and has four complete games this season.
NL Cy Young: Jair Jurrjens
The last pitcher to have 12 wins and a sub-2.00 ERA at the break was Randy Johnson in 2000, and he went on to win the Cy Young. After having a 2.60 ERA during a breakout season in 2009, Jurrjens struggled last year. But he’s back to his 2009 form and leading a Braves pitching staff that has been comparable to the vaunted Phillies rotation this season.
