2019 MLB midseason awards: Tight races at the All-Star break

It’s hard to fathom.

Mike Trout, the best player in baseball, is only getting better.

At the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder is on track for this third American League Most Valuable Player award in six seasons. 

Trout, who competed in his eighth All-Star Game on Tuesday, is enjoying another incredible season, perhaps his best of his career. He leads the majors in WAR (5.9) and leads the AL in home runs (28), RBI (67) and OPS (1.098). He’s also on pace to shatter his personal bests in home runs and RBI.

MORE MLB: Strike coming down the road?

ALL-STAR GAME: Good, old-fashioned baseball

The National League MVP race is tight between two sluggers having monster seasons — Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers and Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The second half of the season is set to get underway and the races are far from over, but here a look at USA TODAY’s ballot for the awards at the season’s halfway point.

(first-place votes in parenthesis):

American League MVP

Voting on a 14-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale

Mike Trout, Angels (4) – 74
DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (2) – 61
Alex Bregman, Astros – 50 
Carlos Santana, Indians – 35
Matt Chapman, Athletics – 34
Rafael Devers, Red Sox– 29
Xander Bogarts, Red Sox – 28
Jorge Polanco, Twins – 19
Max Kepler, Twins – 9
George Springer, Astros – 4

Also receiving votes: Gleyber Torres, Yankees; Luke Voit, Yankees; Michael Brantley, Astros; Austin Meadows, Rays; Joey Gallo, Rangers

NL MVP

Christian Yelich, Brewers (4) – 74
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (2) – 64
Josh Bell, Pirates – 43
Freddie Freeman, Braves – 42
Anthony Rendon, Nationals – 32
Nolan Arenado, Rockies – 25
Javy Baez, Cubs – 17 
Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves – 13
Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks – 12
Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres – 11

Also receiving votes: Kris Bryant, Cubs; Pete Alonso, Mets; Charlie Blackmon, Rockies; Willson Contreras, Cubs; Hunter Renfroe, Padres

Mike Trout and Christian Yelich are our MVP voting leaders at the All-Star break. (Photo: Tannen Maury, EPA-EFE)

AL Cy Young

7-4-3-2-1 scale

Justin Verlander, Astros (3) – 32
Charlie Morton, Rays (2) – 30
Mike Minor, Rangers (1) – 20
Gerrit Cole, Astros – 10
Lucas Giolito, White Sox – 4
Jose Berrios, Twins – 4
Shane Bieber, Indians –2

NL Cy Young

Max Scherzer, Nationals (3) – 33 
Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers (3) – 32
Luis Castillo, Reds – 15
Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks – 14
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals – 4

Also receiving votes: Jacob de Grom, Mets; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Walker Buehler, Dodgers; Mike Soroka, Braves

AL Rookie of the Year

5-3-1 scale

Brandon Lowe, Rays (6) – 30
Michael Chavis, Red Sox – 12
Eloy Jimenez, White Sox – 6
Spencer Turnbull, Tigers – 3
John Means, Orioles – 3

NL Rookie of the Year

t-1. Pete Alonso, Mets (3) – 24
t-1. Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (3) – 24
3. Mike Soroka, Braves – 5
4. Alex Verdugo, Dodgers – 1

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