With the regular season winding down, here’s a breakdown of some likely candidates by division for the big MLB awards — MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year — based on current performance, projections, and momentum. Of course, things can shift in the final weeks, but these seem to be the front-runners or surprise names to watch.
What we already know / frontrunners
-
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes is widely seen as the leading contender, with a very strong case.
-
AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal is the favorite, with Garrett Crochet his main challenger.
-
AL Rookie of the Year: Nick Kurtz is “runaway” in many discussions.
-
NL Rookie of the Year: It looks like a two-player race between Cade Horton (Cubs) and Drake Baldwin (Braves) with Horton slightly ahead.
-
AL MVP: Aaron Judge is still leading the odds, with Cal Raleigh closing in.
-
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani has been dominant, and most projections have him far ahead of the rest.
By Division: Players to Watch for Awards
Below are some players in each division who could either claim or have credible shots at one of those major awards. Some are favorites, others sleepers with upside.
AL East
-
Aaron Judge (Yankees) — Strong MVP candidate, likely the leader if he can stay healthy.
-
Cal Raleigh (Mariners) — Could upset Judge for AL MVP if his power surge and RBI totals stay high.
-
Nick Kurtz (Athletics) — As mentioned, likely AL Rookie of Year.
AL Central
-
Tarik Skubal (Tigers) — For Cy Young. He’s favored to repeat.
-
José Ramírez (Guardians) — Could be in the MVP conversation; if his offense keeps rolling and he stays healthy. (From earlier preseason projections)
-
Jacob Wilson (Athletics) — Rookie breakout, but AL Central is deep; he’d need a strong finish.
AL West
-
Jeremy Peña (Astros) (or others) — If their offensive production holds, could be a sleeper. (Preseason and mid-season talk)
-
Garrett Crochet (Red Sox) — As a challenger to Skubal for Cy Young.
NL East
-
Juan Soto (Mets) — MVP candidate if he keeps up his strong production.
-
Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) — Trying to close the gap to Ohtani in the NL MVP race.
-
Drake Baldwin (Braves) — Rookie of Year candidate.
NL Central
-
Paul Skenes (Pirates) — The frontrunner for NL Cy Young. Domination + innings have given him a big lead.
-
Elly De La Cruz (Reds) — Could press on the MVP conversation depending on counting stats and how voters value his defense & toolsy profile.
-
Cade Horton (Cubs) — One of the top rookies in NL; in ROY race.
NL West
-
Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) — Probably the biggest lock in the NL for MVP, given his two-way contributions.
-
Corbin Burnes (D-backs) — Preseason and some midseason talk had him as a Cy Young candidate for this division.
Dark Horses / What to Watch
Some players who aren’t front and center yet, but could force their way in if they finish strong:
-
Geraldo Perdomo — Under the radar but having a hot second half; could grab some NL MVP votes.
-
Roman Anthony (Red Sox rookie) — Getting positive attention in AL Rookie of the Year conversations.
-
Cade Horton vs Drake Baldwin — NL ROY race is close; Baldwin has to maintain momentum.
