Most Valuable Player Awards 2015: Time, TV schedule and finalists

Nov 19, 2015, 4:01 PM UTC

Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson figure to finish first and second, in some order, for the 2015 American League MVP award.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The final day of award season is upon us, with the Baseball Writers Association of America announcing Most Valuable Player winners for both the National League and American League on Thursday evening.

There is one thing that is certain on Thursday: a Chicago Cubs player will not capture the Most Valuable Player Award after the team swept the first three days of National League BBWAA awards. Third baseman Kris Bryant won Rookie of the Year on Monday, Joe Maddon captured Manager of the Year honors on Tuesday, and ace Jake Arrieta won the Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

But none of the three top three finishers for MVP, announced last week, make their home at Wrigley Field.

The announcement of MVP winners in both the American and National Leagues will be made on MLB Network beginning at 6 p.m. ET, with Greg Amsinger hosting the hour-long show, and BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O’Connell announcing both awards.

American League finalists

Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
Mike Trout, Angels
Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals

Trout won the AL MVP in 2014 after finishing second in each of his first two seasons. He figures to finish no worse than second this year after hitting .299/.402/.590 with 41 home runs. He’ll face stiff competition from Donaldson, a defensive wizard at third base who hit .297/.371/.568 with 41 home runs and 41 doubles in his first season in Toronto, leading the AL in runs (122) and RBI (123).

Cain had a fantastic season for the World Series winners, though figures to finish a distant third behind Donaldson and Trout. Cain hit .307/.361/.477 with 34 doubles, 16 home runs and 28 steals, all while patrolling center field better than most. He finished fourth in the AL with 7.2 Wins Above Replacement.

National League finalists

Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

Harper is the favorite here, vying to be the fourth-youngest MVP in baseball history. The outfielder, who turned 23 in October, hit .330/.460/.649 with 42 home runs and 131 walks, leading the National League in runs (118), home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+ (195).

The other two finalists are extraordinary first basemen. Goldschmidt hit .321/.435/.570 with 33 home runs, 38 doubles, 21 steals and 118 walks. Votto, the 2010 NL MVP winner, hit .314/.459/.541 with 29 home runs, 33 doubles and 143 walks, and had an absurd .535 on-base percentage after the All-Star break.