The 162-game grind of a baseball season is already a quarter of the way completed, and a select number of players have come out of the gates on fire. Here is the short list of the AL MVP and CY Young awards so far in 2024.
AL MVP:
Juan Soto - RF, NY Yankees - When the Bronx Bombers acquired the star outfield in December of 2023, the team knew they were getting a once-in-a-generation talent. The start Soto has been off to has even surpassed the lofty expectations heading into this season. He currently has a .314 Avg, .414 OBP, and a .955 OPS through 42 games this season. Soto has certainly been the driving force to the Yankee's start, and is on his way to a lucrative contract in free agency after the season.
Kyle Tucker - RF, Houston Astros - One of the most underrated players in all of baseball is finally getting the national attention he deserves, and it is clear to see why. While the Astros as a whole have been extremely disappointing with a 16-25 record through May 13th, Tucker has pulled his wait and then some. He leads the MLB in HR with 13 and is first in the AL with an OPS of .994.
Gunner Henderson - SS, Baltimore Orioles - After winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2023, Henderson is looking to build on that achievement by becoming the first Oriole to win MVP since Cal Ripkin Jr. in 1991. He leads the 1st place birds in HR with 12, RBIs with 27, and a .892 OPS. Henderson is one of the main catalysts who have turned Baltimore into a formidable force, and the team as a whole is set up to make a World Series push every season for the next decade.
AL CY Young:
Tarik Skubal - SP, Detroit Tigers - The current odds-on favorite (+260) to win the award is the new ace of the Tigers. Skubal is 5-0 and has a 2.02 ERA to go along with 60 punchouts in 8 starts this season. The #1 man for the motor city has shown improvement with his ERA decreasing every season from 2020-2024. His MLB-leading 2.03 FIP (field independent pitching) has been a leading factor in Detriot’s winning record thus far.
Corbin Burns - SP, Baltimore Orioles - The 2021 CY Young winner is having a fantastic start in his first month with the Orioles since being traded from the Brewers in the offseason. Burns has been exactly what the Orioles needed, a certified #1 pitcher for their rotation. He owns a 2.68 ERA, 1.006 WIP, and 49 strikeouts in 8 starts this season. Burns has not allowed more than 3 runs in any start so far and is currently the 2nd betting favorite to win the award.
Seth Lugo - SP, Kansas City Royals - 2024’s biggest award surprise comes from someone who has only been a starting pitcher for just over one season. Lugo signed a 2 Yr, $30 million contract with the Royals this past offseason, and has been worth every penny. He leads all AL SP with an outstanding 1.66 ERA and is T-1 in the AL with a 2.2 WAR in 2024. The former reliever sits atop the MLB with a 247 ERA+ and has been a main contributor to Kansas City’s great start this season.
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