Around The League

With MLB’s All-Star Game just a couple of weeks away, the season has begun to take shape. Some of baseball’s biggest stars have solidified their position atop the game, while a few fresh faces have emerged as superstars ⭐️

• Shohei Ohtani remains baseball’s one true unicorn, leading everyone in HRs while racking up the fourth-most strikeouts in the bigs as a pitcher 🤯

• After a slight sophomore slump, Wander Franco has returned to freshman form, posting well-above average offensive numbers, along with best-in-the-business defense at SS (2nd in fWAR)🔒

• Zac Gallen and Framber Valdez each rank in the top four of pitching fWAR, but will need to continue to deal in order to keep pace in their respective Cy Young races

While repeat juggernauts like the Braves and Rays remain atop their divisions, a few other teams have come from the cellars and entered the contenders chat 📈

• Behind the second-best offense in baseball, the Rangers have rolled to 47 wins in 78 games, good for first place in the AL West 🔥

• The Diamondbacks have jumped out to a surprise lead in the typically tough NL West, ahead of hopeful contenders like the Dodgers, Padres and Giants 🐍

Despite paying some of the biggest bills for what they presumed to be surefire winners, a few teams have to be disappointed with their performances leading up to the season’s midpoint 😔

• As the most expensive team in the majors, the Mets likely hoped to get off to a better start than 35-43, the second-worst record in the NL East 💸

• With Aaron Judge on the shelf indefinitely and offseason addition Carlos Rodon yet to start a game, the Yankees and their second-highest paid roster remain firmly behind the Rays and O’s in the AL East’s pecking order 🤕

• With the third-highest payroll in baseball and two of the game’s brightest young stars in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto, the Padres have scuttled to 47-51 and sit in third in the NL West 😕

NL MVP Watch

With a whole second half of the season to go, the MVP races are far from over. However, Ronald Acuna Jr.’s absolute tear has him running away from the competition 🏎️

• He’s on pace for the first 30+ HR/70+ SB season in MLB history

• He’s leading all of baseball in fWAR by a full half-win

• And he might just have the best outfield arm in baseball 👇

Corbin Carroll, a virtual lock to win the NL Rookie of the Year (-450), is making a MVP push of his own. In terms of raw talent for a 22-year-old, MLB’s former top prospect has a collection of skills that are almost unheard of

• 99th percentile sprint speed

• 91st percentile power (Max Exit Velocity)

• Above average walk and strikeout rates

What’s even crazier is Acuña and Corbin lead the NL MVP field, despite the fact that Luis Arraez is nearly on pace to bat over .400 for the first time since 1941. As of today, Arraez is hitting .399, the best batting average through 79 games in 30 years. Peep how sportsbooks are pricing the NL MVP right now 🏆

NL MVP Betting Preview

• Ronald Acuna Jr.: -175

• Corbin Carroll: +550

• Freddie Freeman: +800

• Luis Arraez: +2000

• Mookie Betts: +2500

Any scenario where Acuña doesn’t win likely involves one where he misses time due to injury. Since he’s only two calendar years removed from an ACL tear that derailed his last MVP-caliber campaign, let’s all keep our fingers crossed for one of baseball’s top talents’ sustained health 🤞

Trivia Question: Can you name every player in MLB history with more than three MVPs?

For My Parlay Gurus

If you want to get in on some action tonight, why not bet on Carroll’s Diamondbacks to take down the Rays as home-dogs tonight in Arizona? I also like the Astros and Giants taking care of business as dogs, especially with Framber Valdez and Logan Webb toeing the slab 🎲

• Diamondbacks ML vs. Rays: +122

• Astros ML @ Cardinals: -102

• Giants ML @ Blue Jays: +104

$100 on this bet would win you $797 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: Barry Bonds, who was named MVP a record seven times, is the only player in baseball history to win the award more than three times (a feat accomplished by 10 different players)

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Many will enter, only some will win. Giveaway ends 12 hours after the completion of the final game references within the giveaway. The winner will be notified via the email address used to enter. Restrictions apply. See the General Conditions and Releases sections of Overtime's Terms of Use at https://overtime.tv/terms for additional giveaway terms

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