Just like in the AL, the NL awards are sure to be the topic of debate once the postseason is all said and done. With the postseason starting next week, players have only a few games left to impress the baseball writers and earn themselves recognition for their successful seasons. After making predictions for the AL and now the NL, I can pretty confidently state that the NL awards will be much more controversial once they are announced. Without further adieu, I will now attempt to predict the major NL awards for 2020:
MOY: Jayce Tingler (SD)
The 2020 San Diego Padres have been arguably one of the most surprising teams in the National League. The Padres currently sit as the 4th seed in the NL and have punched their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2006. The team has shown that they are fully committed to winning now, which is something that not many would have expected coming into this season. They were certainly the most active team before the trade deadline and have put themselves in a good position to be a contender this year and for years to come. Marlins manager Don Mattingly is another candidate worthy of recognition, as the Marlins have gone from last place in the NL East to second. Like the Padres, the Marlins have also clinched a postseason berth, in a year where they were certainly not expected to be a contender. The Marlins have witnessed impressive seasons from many of their young players, and have outperformed teams like the Phillies, Mets, Nationals, and Cardinals. It seems like every year Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is up for the award, and I do not think there will be anything different this year. Will he win the award? I wouldn’t count on it. Does he deserve the recognition? Of course! The Dodgers are set to finish with the best record in all of baseball, and this is not a surprise as the Dodgers have been among the top teams for the past few years. The final manager who I believe will get votes for the manager of the year award is none other than the Chicago Cubs manager David Ross. Now this is not to say that the Cubs were expected to be a poor team, because they weren’t, but I think Ross deserves some credit for how well the Cubs have done this season. The Cubs are set to win the NL Central and are expected to claim the 3rd seed in the playoffs. The team comes off a disappointing 2019 season where they barely missed the playoffs. With a playoff spot already guaranteed, Cubs fans can at least be sure their team makes it to the first round this year. With all being said, I think that Tingler will get the most first-place votes due to the Padres surprisingly impressive season.
Rookie of the Year: Alec Bohm (PHI)
The Philadelphia Phillies are on the verge of a postseason spot with a few games left to play, and Alec Bohm has been one of the reasons why. In just 44 games, Bohm has hit 4 home runs and has driven in 23 runs while batting above .330. He has also maintained an OPS over .800 and has shown some versatility with the team as he can play both corners of the infield. Bohm is not the only rookie who will almost definitely get some first-place votes, as both Jake Cronenworth and Ian Anderson have turned in very good rookie years. Cronenworth has played 10 more games than Alec Bohm, and has put up an average of .285 with 4 home runs and 20 runs driven in. As for Braves starter Ian Anderson, through 6 starts he has an ERA at 1.95 and a WHIP just above 1. It was tough for me to choose between Anderson and Bohm, and I imagine many writers will have the same problem when they have to vote. Anderson is expected to play an important role for the Braves in the playoffs, especially with Mike Soroka out for the rest of the season. I think many writers may favor the higher WAR of Ian Anderson over Alec Bohm, but personally I think Bohm is the most deserving. Along with these players, Marlins starter Sixto Sanchez and Brewers reliever Devin Williams. Sanchez is a big part of the Marlins unexpected success this year, as he finished the year with a 3.46 ERA and a WHIP at 1.205. He struck out 33 batters in 7 appearances this year and will serve as an important piece of the teams playoff journey. Devin Williams has performed exceptionally well in the Brewers bullpen this year, as he holds a 0.33 ERA and a WHIP well under 1. The Brewers ended up securing the final seed in the NL playoff bracket, and Devin Williams is sure to play a huge role if they plan on making it any farther.
Cy Young: Trevor Bauer (CIN)
After being traded from the Cleveland Indians last summer before the trade deadline, Trevor Bauer struggled with his new team. In 2020, he has done everything but struggle, as he has put up insane numbers with the Reds. Through 11 starts, Bauer carried an ERA at 1.73, with a FIP at 2.87, a WHIP at 0.795, and an even 100 strikeouts. He finishes among MLB’s leaders in strikeouts, quality starts, and ERA. The Reds are set to return to the postseason this year for the first time since 2013, and many like their chances with Trevor Bauer in game 1. The 2020 New York Mets have certainly disappointed as a team, but one man who has not is Jacob DeGrom. DeGrom has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball over the past few years, as he is looking for his 3rd straight Cy Young. Degrom finished this year with an ERA at 2.38, 104 strikeouts, a WHIP at 0.956, and a FIP at 2.26. DeGrom sits among MLB’s leaders in strikeouts at seasons end, but I think he may fall short of his 3rd straight Cy Young. Yu Darvish, Max Fried, Clayton Kershaw, Corbin Burnes, and Dinelson Lamet are other pitchers who have put together phenomenal seasons and will be among the NL Cy Young discussion. Darvish has put together what seems like the best year of his career, as he is set to finish among MLB’s leaders in quality starts, ERA, and wins. Burnes, Lamet, and Fried have surprised many with their impressive seasons as they are all carrying ERA’s slightly above 2. Dodgers supposed ace Clayton Kershaw has turned in a 0.830 WHIP to finish the season, which is the lowest of his elite career. Similar to Shane Bieber in the AL, Trevor Bauer seems almost guaranteed to take home the award this year.
MVP: Freddie Freeman (ATL)
Freddie Freeman is considered by many as the best first-baseman in baseball right now and one of the best players as well, but oddly has never won an MVP. I think this year will be the exception, as Freeman has put together yet another impressive season, hitting 13 home runs, driving in 53 runs, and hitting well over .300. We’ve known that Freeman is a very good player, but in 2020 he may have had his best year yet. You can argue that since the regular season is only 60 games this year that it is unfair to compare statistics, but nevertheless Freeman’s 2020 “season” has been superb. The biggest competition Freeman will have, in my opinion, is Nationals superstar OF Juan Soto. Soto is expected to win the NL batting title, as he has been one of the few bright spots on a Nationals team who will miss the postseason following a World Series championship in 2019. Soto finished the season with 13 home runs, 37 runs batted in, a .351 average, and a SLG near .700. Soto leads Freeman in average, SLG, OPS, OBP, OPS+, so you may be wondering why I chose Freeman over Soto. The issue I have choosing Soto, is playing, as he has played almost 2 weeks less (13 games) than Freeman. Freeman also will finish the season with a higher WAR than Soto, and voters tend to value that statistic highly. Coincidentally enough, both Freeman and Soto have a teammate who will very well be involved in MVP talks in early November. In regards to the Braves, Marcell Ozuna stands among baseball’s leaders in hits, home runs, batting average, and runs batted in. Nationals shortstop Trea Turner also put together an MVP-caliber year, as he was among the league’s leaders in hits and stolen bases. Hopefully, you can see a theme here as the San Diego Padres also have a pair of players having very solid seasons, in this case Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado. Last year’s MVP Mookie Betts, is looking for a repeat in 2020 as he has had a memorable first year with the Dodgers. I’d like to think Braves fans will finally get their wish this year, as I predict that Freddie Freeman will take home the MVP honor.
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