Extensive-open AL race highlights 2nd MVP ballot of ’26

There’s a transparent favourite to win the 2026 Nationwide League Most Invaluable Participant Award. However within the American League, it seems to be like a three-man race thus far.

MLB.com’s second MVP ballot of the season revealed a trio of prime candidates within the AL, all of whom had been intently bunched collectively when it got here to the voting totals. And regardless of an apparent frontrunner within the NL, loads of different gamers earned consideration.

A complete of 35 MLB.com specialists participated within the survey, with 35 totally different gamers receiving at the least one vote within the balloting. Our voters thought-about how the season is anticipated to play out, not simply outcomes thus far.

Voters ranked their prime 5 picks in every league on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale — 5 factors for a first-place vote, 4 factors for a second-place vote and so forth. Listed here are the outcomes.

All stats are by way of Monday.

1. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (118 complete vote factors, 7 first-place votes)

Regardless of tying Aaron Decide with 19 first-place votes in our first MVP ballot of the season in early Could, Alvarez nonetheless ended up second in our projected AL balloting. That has clearly modified because the Astros slugger has continued to rake. Alvarez owns a .301/.416/.634 slash line, 20 house runs and 39 RBIs, unbelievable numbers for the left-handed designated hitter and outfielder. After being held to simply 48 video games final season because of a number of accidents, Alvarez has been a pressure. Can he web his first MVP Award?

2. Aaron Decide, Yankees (112 complete vote factors, 10 first-place votes)

Whether or not Alvarez can certainly develop into a first-time MVP will largely rely on the efficiency of Decide, who has claimed the AL’s previous two MVP Awards and three of the previous 4. Decide has nonetheless been wonderful with 17 homers and a .907 OPS, however in comparison with his regular requirements — he posted a 1.117 OPS from 2022-25 — he’s not fairly enjoying at an MVP stage. (A just lately revealed bone bruise may clarify that.) However for a hitter of Decide’s caliber, all it takes is one good sizzling streak.

3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (111 complete vote factors, 13 first-place votes)

Witt really obtained essentially the most first-place votes of any AL participant, however he nonetheless completed only a hair behind Decide and never far behind Alvarez by way of complete voting factors. That might be as a result of the Kansas Metropolis shortstop hasn’t had his finest offensive yr, boasting an .832 OPS with 9 house runs. However with 17 steals this season and the best defense in the Majors by Outs Above Average, Witt is an all-around star. If Alvarez falters or Decide fails to step it up, this might be his yr.

4. Ben Rice, Yankees (71 complete vote factors, 4 first-place votes)

After a breakout 2025, Rice has taken simply as huge a leap in his third Main League season. He’s batting .306 with 17 house runs and 44 RBIs and leads MLB in slugging proportion (.658) and OPS (1.055). It’s been fairly the yr for Rice, who has emerged as a left-handed complement to Decide within the Yankees’ potent lineup. Will it’s sufficient to surpass his teammate — and stars like Alvarez and Witt — in MVP voting, although? Solely 4 of our voters projected Rice to say the MVP Award on the finish of 2026.

Kurtz obtained zero first-place votes however acquired loads of down-ballot love from our voters. The A’s first baseman — the reigning AL Rookie of the 12 months — has confirmed himself to be an extremely well-rounded hitter, and he’s been again for extra in 2026. Kurtz’s .439 on-base proportion simply leads the Majors, 23 factors forward of Alvarez, and he has 41 RBIs and a .939 OPS as nicely. His 48-game on-base streak is not any extra, however Kurtz remains to be having an incredible yr worthy of MLB consideration.

Others receiving votes: Mike Trout (Angels), Junior Caminero (Rays), Munetaka Murakami (White Sox), Shea Langeliers (Athletics), Yandy Díaz (Rays), Cam Schlittler (Yankees), Julio Rodríguez (Mariners), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Miguel Vargas (White Sox), Colson Montgomery (White Sox), José Ramírez (Guardians)

1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (158 complete vote factors, 30 first-place votes)

Will probably be arduous to cease Ohtani from profitable his fifth profession and fourth straight MVP Award if he retains up his two-way success. Ohtani has taken his pitching prowess to a brand new stage in 2026, permitting simply 5 earned runs in 55 innings for a minuscule 0.82 ERA whereas hanging out 61. He’s additionally selecting issues up on the plate after a comparatively gradual begin: Since resting for 2 days as a hitter in mid-Could, Ohtani enters Tuesday with a .410/.500/.689 slash line over his previous 16 contests. He’s on the prime of his recreation each as a batter and a pitcher, so it’s of little shock why practically all our voters had Ohtani atop their ballots.

2. James Wooden, Nationals (66 complete vote factors, 2 first-place votes)

Wooden was in an analogous place this time final yr due to a stellar first half in 2025, taking 24 homers, 12 stolen bases and a .915 OPS into the All-Star break. However he struggled mightily to shut the season, batting .223 with a .660 OPS and hanging out 105 instances in 62 video games. Up to now, Wooden is again to his first-half numbers from final season after which some: He has 16 house runs and 10 steals, leads MLB in runs with 53 and ranks third within the NL with a .952 OPS. If he can sustain his numbers over a full season this time, the younger star has an opportunity to problem anybody for NL MVP. Our voters suppose he simply may.

The D-backs are certainly one of three franchises which have by no means had a participant take house MVP honors. May Carroll change that? It’s attainable: He’s an all-around star, a powerful defender and elite baserunner who’s having his finest offensive season so far. Carroll has a .286/.379/.534 slash line in 2026 with seven homers, seven steals and an MLB-high eight triples. He’s been amongst MLB’s finest gamers ever since his 2023 Rookie of the 12 months season, and he’s having his most interesting season but. Is it sufficient?

4. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (53 complete vote factors, 1 first-place vote)

Schwarber put the Phillies’ offense on his again in 2025 to energy his solution to second in NL MVP voting, enjoying in all 162 video games, hitting 56 homers and driving in an MLB-high 132 runs. One way or the other, he’s been even higher this season, rising his OPS to .940 from .928 and main MLB with 22 house runs to place himself on tempo for 62. As a chosen hitter with solely three appearances within the discipline this season, it received’t be straightforward for Schwarber to win MVP, however he’s a ok hitter to have a powerful shot.

5. Matt Olson, Braves (39 complete vote factors, 1 first-place vote)

It isn’t straightforward to be the perfect participant in a lineup that includes the likes of Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II, however that’s what Olson has been for the MLB-best Braves in 2026 by way of Baseball-Reference WAR (2.6). The extremely productive first baseman has a .261/.340/.543 slash line with 16 homers, an NL-high 18 doubles and 45 RBIs for a 40-20 Atlanta membership. Proprietor of the longest lively consecutive video games performed streak in MLB — which ranks within the prime 10 all time — Olson is as constant as they arrive, to not point out an elite hitter.

Others receiving votes: Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Juan Soto (Mets), Andy Pages (Dodgers), Jordan Walker (Cardinals), Cristopher Sánchez (Phillies), Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers), Drake Baldwin (Braves), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Oneil Cruz (Pirates), Paul Skenes (Pirates), CJ Abrams (Nationals), Michael Harris II (Braves), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs)