Dodgers: Los Angeles may have five potential MVP candidates

With the win over the Kansas City Royals, the Dodgers are now 30 games above .500. With this success have brought the Dodgers quite the case for MVP.

Wow, what a time it is to be a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team seemingly does everything right, whether it takes three consecutive home runs in the ninth, or three walks, this team always finds a way to win. After starting the year on a sour 10-12 note, Los Angeles has undoubtedly been the best team in baseball.

This is causing many fans to proclaim that this is the year the Dodgers finally bring home gold. A Dodger fan myself, I hold this same excitement as 2017 has seemed special. However, to avoid disappointment I have avoided the expectations that this could be the year we finally win it all.

The reason for this great record can be attributed to one underlying factor; they are finally playing as a team. Everybody has stepped this season when the team needed it. We have seen clutch home runs from Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor turning into one of the best players on the team, and a perfect catching platoon between Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes.

Typically, a team can point at any one player and proclaim that he is their superstar. While last year’s Cubs had a plethora of talent, everyone knew that Kris Bryant was the heart and soul of that team. That is what makes the Dodgers so special, they have multiple superstars, all of which can make their case for the NL MVP when the season is over.

Three batters and two pitchers make up these five guys. Starting with the Batters we have seen something special out of Corey Seager, Justin Turner, and Cody Bellinger.

Starting with Bellinger, he has provided the spark that has turned this season around. While he has not single-handedly righted the ship, Los Angeles has played to a 50-18 record since his call up.

Sabermetrics aren’t in the favor of Bellinger, as he has only posted a 2.1 WAR on FanGraphs, his power numbers have been incredible. Despite missing almost and entire month, Bellinger has slugged 24 home runs and driven in 56 RBIs. This is good for the second and 15th best mark in the NL, respectively.

That is with Bellinger being cold the last 11 games, in which he has zero home runs and only one RBI. As he gets hot again, which he likely will, his case will be even stronger.

Then there is Seager and Turner, who together have put together masterful seasons. Turner ranks second in the NL in WAR, despite not even being qualified. If he had the same amount of plate appearances as leader Joey Votto his WAR would be 5.6; demolishing Votto’s 4.1.

Turner, as he catches us to the qualified amount of at-bats, will likely bring home the batting title. He is hitting for a Godly .380 clip with eight long bombs and 33 RBIs.

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As for Seager, he ranks fifth in the NL in WAR with a 3.6 clip. Seager has seemingly taken a back seat behind Bellinger and Turner, however, he has been really hot as of late. After hitting .255 in May Seager has turned it around with a .321 average, six home runs, and 21 RBIs between June and July.

Then there is the two pitchers, and quite frankly, we could even make a case for Kenley Jansen if we wanted to. However, the two pitchers that can potentially win the MVP are Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood.

While it is hard to win the MVP as a pitcher, Kershaw himself has done it. Together, the two pitchers have been nothing short of excellent. The duo ranks second and third in pitching WAR for the NL, with Wood being only 0.1 behind Kershaw despite not being qualified. Again, if Wood had Kershaw’s innings pitched his WAR would be an NL best 4.9.

Regardless, the two have been absolutely lights out. Combined they hold a 23-2 record with a 1.98 ERA and 243 strikeouts in 204 innings pitched. Together they provide the best one-two punch in baseball, and individually they could finish in the top ten in MVP voting.

Next: How the Dodgers can get another ace with prospects

Overall, fans of the Dodgers want to see this hot streak going. If this really is our year, well, we need the play of these five guys to continue.

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