What’s the one thing that could stop Bryce Harper from becoming NL MVP? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Last night, Bryce Harper added to his already torrid month of June with three extra-base hits and five RBIs in another win for the Phillies. He’s the hottest hitter in the National League this month and it’s not close.
So far this month, Harper leads all NL players in hitting (.385), extra-base hits (14), slugging percentage (.718) and OPS (1.185!). He was already NL Player of the Month in May.
So so far he’s the MVP in a landslide, right?
No.
That’s because despite all his efforts, having been the best ranked player in the league for two months, there is another player who continues to match him step by step and even surpass his insane numbers.
He’s a man who knows a thing or two about hitting. And pitching. And winning MVP awards.
It’s Dodgers megastar Shohei Ohtani.
As good as Harper has been this season, Ohtani has actually been better somehow. In fact, Ohtani did better in every statistical category except OBP, where Harper has a marginal edge (.401 to .395).
Fanatics currently has Ohtani at better than even money to win the MVP, with odds of -120, implying a win rate of 54.55%. Harper is second, with +185, or a 35.1% chance.
Both players are aiming for his third career MVP award. Ohtani won the MVP with the Angels in 2021 and 2023. Harper won his in 2015 with the Nationals and 2021 with the Phillies.
This has a very Embiid versus Jokic feel to it. Two players at the top of the sport, both doing their best, and basically leaving it up to the voters.
So what should Harper do, or what does Ohtani do? not what to do – barring injuries – to overtake his rival and with his third MVP?
Harper appears to be closing quickly. Even yesterday he was at +230 to win. The main issue was his start to the season, against Ohtani’s April. Through the first month of the season, the two had similar HR/RBI numbers, but Ohtani slashed .336/.399/.618/1.017, compared to Harper’s .230/.345/.460/.805.
That’s where your difference lies.
Since May 1, here are the slashes for the MVP frontrunners:
Harper: .345/.433/.644/1.077
Ohtani: .305/.393/.632/1.025
To put it even more clearly: those figures for Harper have been the best in the NL since May 1. All four.
But Ohtani was so good at keeping pace, he continues to lead the way because his April was so good.
The result of this is that half of the regular season remains. Three full months of battling the numbers, the National League and each other. One thing is certain: this will be a great MVP race.
