The finalists for 2014 Most Valuable Player Awards -- three players in each league -- were announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday, with a pair of Southern California players in line to receive the award.
Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw lead 2014 MVP award finalists
Trout is the AL MVP favorite in 2014 after two straight second-place finishes.
Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Trout of the Angels and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers were favored by Bovada at the end of the regular season, which is when the BBWAA ballots were due.
Both MVP awards will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network.
The other two finalists in the National League are Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins and Andrew McCutchen on the Pirates. On Sept. 29, Bovada had Kershaw at 1/2 odds to win the award with 3/1 odds for both Stanton and McCutchen.
Bovada didn't even list odds for Trout, who seemed to be a foregone conclusion after finishing second in American League MVP voting in 2012 and 2013. Joining Trout as 2014 MVP finalists are Victor Martinez of the Tigers and Michael Brantley of the Indians.
Kershaw was 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA and 239 strikeouts for the Dodgers in 2014, and had a 41-inning scoreless inning streak. Kershaw pitched a no-hitter against the Rockies on June 18, with 15 strikeouts and no walks. If he wins the award, Kershaw will be the first NL pitcher named MVP since Bob Gibson in 1968.
McCutchen won the award in 2013, and the center fielder followed up with another stellar season in 2014. He hit .314/.410/.542 with 38 doubles and 25 home runs, leading the NL in on-base percentage, OPS and OPS+ (168).
Stanton led the NL with 37 home runs, tying his career high, and hit .288/.395/.555 and 105 RBI, leading the league in slugging percentage while finishing second to McCutchen in on-base percentage, OPS and OPS+ (160).
Trout hit .287/.377/.561 with 39 doubles, 36 home runs, and led the AL with both 115 runs and 111 RBI. The 22-year-old also stole 16 bases in 18 attempts while patrolling center field for the Angels.
Martinez had a career year for the Tigers, hitting .335/.409/.565 with 32 home runs and 33 doubles, all while striking out just 42 times. The designated hitter led the league in on-base percentage and OPS, and finished second in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS+ (168).
Brantley hit .327/.385/.506 with 20 home runs and 45 doubles for Cleveland while patrolling left and center field.
BBWAA voters -- two from each city in each league -- are asked to rank their top 10 players for the MVP, with 14 points awarded for a first-place vote, then nine points down to one for second through 10th-place votes.
See More:
