It's very hard to imagine Aaron Judge not winning MVP again, especially with how he's been doing this season. With already 16 homers, he's on track to topping a 50 home run season and possibly even topping his own record of 62 homers. Along with 30 RBIs, a .988 OPS, and .590 Slugging Percentage, he seems to be having another year for the record books.
Aaron Judge's 2026 Stats
| Stat | Number | MLB Rank | AL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Runs | 16 | 3rd | 2nd |
| OPS | .988 | 5th | 4th |
| SLG | .590 | 6th | 4th |
| RBIs | 30 | T-23rd | T-10th |
Other Possible Contenders for AL MVP
Though Aaron Judge has been having an amazing year, other stars closely challenge him for his 4th MVP and 3rd in a row.
Some threats I think other than Aaron Judge for AL MVP are Bobby Witt Jr., Yordan Alvarez, Ben Rice, Mike Trout, and Julio Rodriguez.
Why Bobby Witt Jr. Could Threat Aaron Judge for AL MVP
Through roughly 1/4 of the MLB regular season, Bobby Witt looks to be one of Judge's most serious competitors. His value in hitting, fielding, and base running makes him a very complete player which is essential to win MVP, especially when you're going against Aaron Judge.
Witt is batting a .302 while he has also recorded 57 hits and 14 stolen bases which rank high in the American League. Witt's other stats are solid and if he can gain a little more heat, Bobby Witt could really make Aaron Judge shake in his boots in the AL MVP conversation.
What Makes Yordan Alvarez Dangerous
While Yordan Alvarez usually performs, this year he's taking it to another level. His 15 homers, 1.060 OPS, 31 RBIs, and .633 slugging percentage make Alvarez's early 2026 season extraordinary. His elite hitting this season is arguably the best in the AL and possibly best in all of the MLB. If Yordan Alvarez keeps his pace, he could snag this season's AL MVP.
| # | Player | Key Stats | Why They're in the Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | Bobby Witt Jr. | 57 H, 14 SB, .302 AVG | A master producer in all areas of the game, Bobby Witt's consistency really erupts |
| 3. | Yordan Alvarez | 1.060 OPS, .633 SLG, 31 RBIs, 15 HRs | Extraordinary and explosive hitting season with stats that rank top of the league |
| 4. | Ben Rice | 1.062 OPS, .662 SLG, 31 RBIs, 15 HRs | Exploding and standout youngster, Rice's hitting season is really breaking |
| 5. | Mike Trout | .393 OBP, 11 HRs, .866 OPS | When at full rhythm and health, Trout is always dangerous |
| 6. | Julio Rodriguez | 49 H, 8 HRs, 21 RBIs | Elite 5-tool player with a rocket arm and solid hitting |
Same case with Aaron Judge and the AL MVP, It's very hard to see who else could win the NL MVP other than Shohei especially with how high of an elite level he's been pitching. With an ERA and WHIP of 0.82, and only 11 walks allowed, + his okay hitting stats of 7 homers, 24 RBIs, and a .392 OBP, it seems like if you're anyone else trying to get this season's NL MVP, well… good luck. If Shohei keeps up his pitching and heats up a little more on his hitting, it'll be a sweep. The hardest thing for Shohei will be if he can maintain his elite pitching, because if he doesn't…, he could leave the door open.
Shohei Ohtani's 2026 Pitching Stats
| Stat | Number | MLB Rank | NL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERA | 0.82 | 1st | 1st |
| WHIP | 0.82 | 3rd | 2nd |
Shohei Ohtani's 2026 Hitting Stats
| Stat | Number | MLB Rank | NL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRs | 7 | T-48th | T-23rd |
| OBP | .392 | 15th | 6th |
| RBIs | 24 | T-62nd | T-31st |
Other Possible Contenders For NL MVP
Even with Shohei Ohtani's great pitching and so-so batting, other players still threaten to stop him from getting his 5th MVP and end his 3-in-a-row streak.
Some other contenders for NL MVP other than Shohei Ohtani I think are Matt Olson, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Elly De La Cruz, and James Wood.
| # | Player | Key Stats | Why They're in the Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | Matt Olson | .587 SLG, 14 HRs, 38 RBIs, .941 OPS | A dominant hitter and gold glove defender, Matt Olson is an outstanding producer for the Braves |
| 3. | Kyle Schwarber | 20 HRs, .980 OPS, .624 SLG, 36 RBIs | An explosive hitter, Schwarber has mastered the long ball |
| 4. | Bryce Harper | 12 HRs, .922 OPS, 48 H, .277 AVG | When heated, Bryce Harper is an elite player with rare talent that propels the Phillies |
| 5. | Elly De La Cruz | .297 AVG, 9 SBs, 57 H | Elly De La Cruz's hitting, explosive speed, and rocket arm is always dangerous, but when it all comes together, he's unstoppable |
| 6. | James Wood | 12 HRs, 30 RBIs, 7 SBs | A hot youngster with elite raw talent and physical abilities who, with a little work, is capable of changing the NL MVP conversation |
Why Matt Olson Could Really Threat Shohei Ohtani For NL MVP
Matt Olson's 3 Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger, and 5 Fielding Bible awards tell you that he's competitive. But this season, he's taking it to another level. Because Olson's fielding is always at an elite level, what really stands out this season is his hitting. Batting a .287 along with a .941 OPS, .587 SLG, 38 RBIs, and 14 homers is extraordinary. Matt Olson's combination of fielding and hitting this season is more than rare, and if he continues his trend, Matt Olson might win his 1st MVP.
How Kyle Schwarber Could Seriously Challenge Shohei Ohtani for his 5th MVP
Kyle Schwarber's 2026 season is looking like one for the record books. Having 20 home runs through roughly 1/4 of the season is not common. With 2 more homers added to his number a few days ago, it never seems to pause on its rapidly growing speed. If you add in his .980 OPS, .624 SLG, and 36 RBIs, it seems like Schwarber has a really good case to stop Shohei Ohtani from getting NL MVP. If Kyle Schwarber can actually keep up his violent pace, he could have a really fine shot at winning this season's NL MVP.
Jacob deGrom seems to present us with another year of elite pitching. His 3.02 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 8 BBs, and 61 Ks in his 50.2 innings pitched sounds very good to me. Though a lot of people might say "Cam Schlittler's stats are way better" and "Jacob deGrom's old, there's no way he's getting another Cy Young." Well… what I say is "Well, Jacob deGrom keeps putting out good numbers, why can't he do it again this year? Jacob deGrom's always been able to put out good numbers, (and he's shown that by winning 2 Cy Youngs) and if he can heat up a little more, I wouldn't be surprised to see him with his 3rd Cy Young.
Other Possible Contenders For AL Cy Young
Despite Jacob deGrom's elite start to the season, other pitching heroes have made the battle for Cy Young (so far) extremely close.
Some other candidates for AL Cy Young other than Jacob deGrom I think are Cam Schlittler, Jose Soriano, and Dylan Cease.
What Makes Cam Schlittler Such A Dangerous Threat To Jacob deGrom's 3rd Cy Young
I only have 2 words to describe Cam Schlittler's stats through the start of the 2026 season. Impressive. Outstanding. I mean, a 1.35 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 68 Ks in his 60 innings pitched is not something you see very often, especially from a 25 year old. Schlittler's start to the season is definitely Cy Young level and if he can keep it up, there will be almost certain chance that Cam Schlittler's 2nd season is one for the record books.
So far, this year's NL Cy Young is pretty close to me. But with how good and dominant Paul Skenes is pitching, he definitely deserves my vote. It seems that a 2.62 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, .667 W%, 8 BBs allowed, and 63 Ks in 55 innings pitched seems to be only a little above average for Skenes, but for the rest of the league, it's not anything close to normal. If you exclude his 1st 0.2 innings and his last game against the Phillies, his ERA would look a lot better. Paul Skenes's season is looking like one with a Cy Young if he can keep throwing at his elite level or in my words his "Skenes Machine" level.
Other Possible Pitchers For NL Cy Young
Though Paul Skenes has been pitching more like a "Skenes Machine," other pitchers have also been lights out and have made NL Cy Young predictions not anything close to easy.
Some other pitchers for NL Cy Young I think other than Paul Skenes are Shohei Ohtani, Christopher Sanchez, and Chris Sale.
How Shohei Makes Trying To Predict NL Cy Young So Difficult
Like I said with Paul Skenes, I think this season's NL Cy Young seems pretty close to me. I have Shohei Ohtani winning the NL MVP and I think it'll mainly be because of his elite pitching. It seems like he can almost win whatever award he wants, and if he wants to get a Cy Young, you got to watch out. Though he hasn't completed enough innings for his magnificent stats to count, his 0.82 ERA and WHIP along with only 11 BBs (walks) is elite. If he can keep up his lights out pitching, (and make sure it qualifies) he'll have a high chance of adding a Cy Young to his award closet.
Rangers
It's hard for me to see the Yankees take it all the way to the World Series again. I have Jacob deGrom winning the AL Cy Young and I think he will be a key part to their ALCS championship. The Texas Rangers are 3rd in their division, but they're only 2 games behind and it isn't the strongest division. I think that if Jacob deGrom wins Cy Young and Corey Seager and the rest of their team heats up a little, you're probably going to see the Rangers win the ALCS and make their 4th World Series appearance.
Dodgers
It's looking like another year where the Dodgers make it to the World Series. Their 4 elite pitchers, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow + their strong hitting lineup and defense make it look like they're going to the series just like the 2 years before. They are only 1st in their division by a little, (0.5 games) but with a little more heat, their team is unstoppable. With Kyle Tucker recently added to the lineup, it seems that their whole batting order is made up of all-star players. The Dodgers are looking for their 10th World Series ring and to be World Series champions 3 times in-a-row, and with their elite lineup of defenders and hitters, it's looking like they've got a good shot at it.
With their elite and World Series winning team, the Dodgers win in a 5-game sweep. Their all-star defense combined with their all-star offense, makes it very hard to argue against the Dodgers. Despite their surprisingly slow start to the season, they (have a little and will) heat up, and once the Dodgers are hot, good luck. If they can get 1st in their division and their stars get into rhythm, the Dodgers most likely will be cheering with their 10th World Series ring.
Murakami
Griffin