MLB awards watch: Kris Bryant, Jose Altuve front runners for MVP awards
Kris Bryant's two-home run performance over the weekend exemplified why he has become the front runner to win the National League MVP, just a year removed from winning rookie of the year honors.
Bryant, third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and occasional outfielder, received eight of the 10 first-place votes in USA TODAY Sports' NL MVP power rankings.
His defensive versatility and offensive numbers -- he leads the majors in runs scored (107), the NL in total bases (287) and is tied for the home run lead (35) -- has elevated his status one year after claiming NL Rookie of the Year honors.
With just over a month left in the regular season, he faces tough competition from teammate Anthony Rizzo, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Corey Seager, Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy and Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.
In the American League, second baseman Jose Altuve is putting up big numbers. The Houston Astros leadoff hitter leads the majors in batting (.355) and ranks second in the AL in on-base percentage (.415), third in slugging (.565), third in stolen bases (26) and second in strikeout rate (10.1%).
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Josh Donaldson, the reigning AL MVP, received one first-place vote.
The NL Cy Young race could come down the wire. San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner leads a tight race over Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer, who has one more first-place vote than Bumgarner. While there's still plenty of volatility in the AL Cy Young race, right now Texas Rangers lefty Cole Hamels is a clear choice of our panel, garnering nine of the 10 first-place votes.
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Here's a look at the top vote totals in our third release (Voting by a panel of 10 USA TODAY Sports writers and editors. First-place votes in parentheses):
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AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP - vote total (based on a 14-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale)
1. Jose Altuve, Astros (7) -- 122
2. Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays (1) -- 81
3. Mookie Betts, Red Sox (1) -- 80
4. Mike Trout, Angels (1) -- 79
5. Manny Machado, Orioles -- 72
6. David Ortiz, Red Sox -- 43
7. Francisco Lindor, Indians -- 29
8. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays -- 25
9. Robinson Cano, Mariners -- 23
10. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers -- 20
Also: Kyle Seager, Mariners, 6; Evan Longoria, Rays, 4; Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox, 2; Mark Trumbo, Orioles, 2; Zach Britton, Orioles, 1; Brian Dozier, Twins, 1.
NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP
1. Kris Bryant, Cubs (8) -- 130
2. Daniel Murphy, Nationals (2) -- 98
3. Corey Seager, Dodgers -- 74
4. Anthony Rizzo, Cubs -- 70
5. Nolan Arenado, Rockies -- 66
6. Brandon Crawford, Giants -- 29
7. Christian Yelich, Marlins -- 22
8. Joey Votto, Reds -- 21
9. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks -- 18
10. Starling Marte, Pirates -- 15
Also: Wilson Ramos, Nationals, 9; Justin Turner, Dodgers, 9; Matt Carpenter, Cardinals, 7; Yoenis Cespedes, Mets, 6; Freddie Freeman, Braves, 6; Ryan Braun, Brewers, 4; DJ LeMahieu.
AL CY YOUNG
(based on a 7-4-3-2-1 scale)
1. Cole Hamels, Rangers (9) -- 67
2. Corey Kluber, Indians -- 24
3. Chris Sale, White Sox -- 22
4. Jose Quintana, White Sox -- 14
5. Michael Fulmer, Tigers -- 12
6. J.A. Happ, Blue Jays -- 10
7. Zach Britton, Orioles (1) -- 9
Also: Justin Verlander, Tigers, 7; Danny Duffy, Royals, 3; Rick Porcello, Red Sox, 2.
NL CY YOUNG
1. Madison Bumgarner, Giants (4) -- 50
2. Max Scherzer, Nationals (5) -- 45
3. Jose Fernandez, Marlins (1) -- 20
4. Johnny Cueto, Giants -- 16
5. Kyle Hendricks, Cubs -- 13
Also: Jake Arrieta, Cubs, 9; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers, 8; Noah Syndergaard, Mets, 8; Jon Lester, Cubs, 4.
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (based on a 5-3-1 scale)
1. Michael Fulmer, Tigers (10) -- 50
2. Max Kepler, Twins -- 23
3. Nomar Mazara, Rangers -- 8
Also: Tyler Naquin, Indians, 6; Gary Sanchez, Yankees, 2; Tim Anderson, White Sox, 1.
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Corey Seager, Dodgers (10) -- 50
2. Trevor Story, Rockies -- 23
3. Kenta Maeda, Dodgers -- 11
Also: Steven Matz, Mets, 3; Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals, 1; Seung Hwan Oh, Cardinals, 1; Ryan Schimpf, Padres, 1.
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