Three Astros who are most likely to win the AL MVP

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 29: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros high fives with George Springer #4 and Josh Reddick #22 after the final out against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on June 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 29: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros high fives with George Springer #4 and Josh Reddick #22 after the final out against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on June 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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In the midst of a historic season, three players have risen above and beyond. But which of the three has the best chance to take home the AL MVP at the end of the season?

HOUSTON, TX – JUNE 29: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros high fives with George Springer #4 and Josh Reddick #22 after the final out against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on June 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JUNE 29: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros high fives with George Springer #4 and Josh Reddick #22 after the final out against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on June 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

With the best record in baseball, the Astros have relied on contributions from their entire 25 man roster to dominate the majors. Even so, a team doesn’t become great without great players doing great things. And the Astros are no different. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer have all been spectacular so far this season. But which of the three has the best chance to take home the AL MVP?

Altuve is More Than Able

After finishing third in the AL MVP voting last season, Jose Altuve has the edge over Correa and Springer in MVP-caliber play. And that hasn’t stopped this season. With 4.4 WAR this season, Altuve leads the best team in baseball in that telling statistic. But it hasn’t just come from his speed or his hitting prowess, as Altuve has developed into a legitimate five-tool player.

His slash line of .334/.405/.538 combined with his 12 home runs and 45 RBIs has been a key cog in the Astros’ offensive machine. He has also been a terror on the base paths, as he leads the team with 17 stolen bases. Altuve’s offensive prowess alone would be enough to put him in the MVP conversation. But for him to be in the conversation at the end of the season, Altuve will need to continue his offensive output.

That hasn’t been a problem for Altuve, as he has been a top performer this season. His OPS has increased each calendar month, going from .874 in March/April, .903 in May and 1.007 in June. If he can keep up his torrid pace of production, Altuve will find himself in the same position as last season. But what about one of the younger Astros players?

Correa’s Chance

HOUSTON, TX – JULY 02: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros claps after hitting a two-run double in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on July 2, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JULY 02: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros claps after hitting a two-run double in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on July 2, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Carlos Correa entered the Astros organization in the midst of their massive rebuild. He was the first overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft and quickly progressed through the minor league system. But he has reached another level this season, just as the Astros organization has risen as well.

After batting .276 in his first two seasons, Correa has upped his game this season, batting .320 in the heart of the Astros’ order. He has also tapped into his immense power, leveraging his six-foot-four, 215-pound frame into 17 home runs and 58 RBIs. But he is not just mashing homers, as his .553 slugging percentage is over 100 points higher than his 2016 slugging percentage of .451.

For Correa to be a legitimate AL MVP candidate at the end of the season, he will need to maintain his play. He overcame a slow start to the season in which he slashed .233/.309/.349 in March/April by having an offensive explosion in May. Correa hit an astounding .386 in May, proving that when he is right, Correa can dominate offensively. He will need to have more months similar to May to outshine the rest of the AL MVP field, including another first-round selection.

Springer’s Spectacular Season

ATLANTA, GA – JULY 05: Right fielder George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros steals second base behind the tag of second baseman Brandon Phillips #4 of the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning during the game at SunTrust Park on July 5, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 05: Right fielder George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros steals second base behind the tag of second baseman Brandon Phillips #4 of the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning during the game at SunTrust Park on July 5, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Springer entered the Astros’ system in 2011, and quickly developed into a five-tool prospect. He has put those tools on display this season, especially his power. With 25 long balls this season, Springer is tied for second most homers in the major leagues. He has also amassed 55 RBIs this season, a spectacular number given he normally bats lead-off. But Springer has been more than just power, as his offensive game has begun to round out into MVP-caliber form.

After hitting .258 in his first three seasons, Springer has transformed into a .300 hitter this season. His slash line of .300/.374/.594 is by far the best of his career and has earned himself a 163 OPS+. He has also scored 70 runs in just 79 games played, pacing one of the most prolific offenses in baseball.

His ability to score hit for power, average and get on base has made Springer the best lead-off hitter in the major leagues. But that may hinder his MVP candidacy. Even with the second-most homers in the majors, he is tied for 23rd in RBIs. If Springer was slotted in the middle of the order, he could very well lead the league in RBIs with such a potent offense surrounding him. Even so, his MVP case should only grow if he can keep up his spectacular play.

Prediction

It is easy to make a case for Altuve, Correa, and Springer, as all three have had MVP caliber seasons. But it is much more difficult to predict who is the most likely to win the AL MVP, as all three are in the top 10 in WAR leaders this season.  You can’t go wrong with picking any of the three, as all of them have made a massive impact on the best team in baseball this season.

Even so, only one player can win the award. And for me, the most likely AL MVP winner of the three is Carlos Correa. Given that Correa plays a prime position, voters will be more likely to vote for him over second baseman Jose Altuve. But it’s more than just that. Correa is like a hybrid of Altuve and Springer, having more power than Altuve and a better hit tool than Springer.

Next: Julio Teheran a trade target for the Astros?

There is no wrong choice, as all three players have helped drive the Astros’ historic season. But with comparisons to three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez common for Correa, the MVPs shouldn’t be too far behind.

***Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference and MLB.com***

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