2015 AL MVP: Mike Trout vs. Josh Donaldson

The race for the 2015 AL MVP award looks like it’s going to come down between Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays and Mike Trout of the LA Angels — so who has the upper hand?

It’s always good to look at things from a fair and balanced point of view, but sometimes the numbers just speak for themselves.

Last season, Mike Trout had an unbelievable year with the LA Angels and showed everyone in the baseball world that the Dodgers were not the only California team that could produce studs at an immaculate level.

Despite not having the best season of his career in 2014, Trout was finally professionally recognized at number one in the most-valuable-player aisle.

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Trout’s notable stats from that campaign included 173 hits, 111 RBI, and 36 HR.

In 2012 and 2013 Trout would have been the winner of that same award if it weren’t for Miguel Cabrera both times around stealing Trout’s thunder.

But now, Trout seems to be headed for  a league of his own.

With last season’s MVP award came the disappointing finish in the playoffs courtesy of a romping from the wild-card Kansas City Royals.

Those memories, I assure you, are still fresh in his mind.

In 2015, Trout is making good pace on the stat sheet.

He’s got 129 hits, 72 RBI, and 33 HR.

And right in front of him this year in the running is Toronto’s Josh Donaldson.

Donaldson was dished to the Blue Jays thanks to the Oakland A’s in November of last year, and so far it seems to have payed huge dividends for baseball north of the border.

Donaldson’s stats currently sit ahead of Trout, and for good reason.

He’s been putting up numbers like 137 hits, 91 RBI, and 33 HR.

While Trout is no stranger to second place, that should only motivate him more to push himself above and beyond as baseball enters it’s final stretch.

Come playoff time, we could even potentially see a Blue Jays-Angels wild card game with how good other teams have been playing in the American League lately.

Toronto’s been that team that came out of the graveyard after picking up some quality pitching and offense in Troy Tulowitzki and David Price.

Bottom Line: Trout’s got some fish to catch.

The Angels have just continued to do their thing and do it well.

After all, they do have a guy like Albert Pujols to help compliment their batting lineup and add a little more power than usual.

The Blue Jays and Angels square off again today in a battle of true MVP-caliber talent in the first of a three-game weekend series.