The 2024 MLB season has officially reached the All-Star break, and with over half of team games completed, certain players have stated their cases for winning some silverware. Here are the NL MVP, CY Young, ROY, Team of the Year, and Manager of the year.
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers - What many people would call the greatest baseball player since Babe Ruth is looking to become the first player in MLB history to win MVP as a full time DH. Ohtani could also become the first player since Frank Robinson in 1966 to win MVP in the NL & AL. Despite not playing the field, Ohtani has the best WAR (5.2) in the NL through 94 games. He also leads the NL in pretty much every hitting category including HR, Slug%, OPS+, & WRC+. With his teammate Mookie Betts going down with an injury, Ohtani is the clear frontrunner for the award.
NL CY Young: Chris Sale, Braves - A complete turnaround for an Atlanta team that is struggling at the plate, but has 2 of the best pitchers in baseball. Sale was traded from the Red Sox to the Braves in the offseason and many had questions if he could stay healthy for a full season. He has certainly put those rumors to bed with the best WAR (3.7) for pitchers in NL, in 110 IP. His teammate Reynaldo Lopez does have a better ERA, but Sale has almost 20 more IP, so he is my pick for the award.
NL ROY: Paul Skenes, Pirates - The easiest selection of this article is choosing the flame-throwing righty from LSU. There is a real argument to be made that if Skenes was on the opening day roster, he could win CY Young. He has an unfathomable 1.90 ERA with 90 K’s in 66 IP, and will be the NL starting Pitcher at the All-Star game. He is already the heavy favorite at -390 to win ROY, and this race is pretty much wrapped up.
NL Team of the Year: Phillies - With the best record in all of baseball (62-34) at the break, the Phillies have been atop the NL standings for the entire season. Currently top 5 in Runs and ERA in the NL, with 3 starting All-Stars, this could finally be the year the Phillies break through and win the World Series.
NL Manager of the Year: Pat Murphy, Brewers - The Brewers are actually the only team who have not had a Manager win the “Manager of the Year” award, and that looks to end this year. After Craig Council left for the Cubs, nobody really expected the Brewers to be this good in 2024. Atop the NL Central with a 55-42 record, Milwaukee seems to find a way to win ball games regardless of who is coaching the squad.
Those are my selections for the NL awards at the All-Star Break, we shall see how many of these end up becoming the real winners in November. Later this week, I will be covering the same Awards this time for the American League.
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