Dodgers’ Top of the Order is Loaded with MVP Candidates

Justin Turner

The leader of the Dodgers. When the leader (and possibly best player) on the best team in baseball is putting up ridiculously good numbers, he should be one of the favorites for the award.

JT leads the National League in batting average, has an OPS above 1.000, and is playing the best defense at third base after Nolan Arenado. Turner is arguably the best third baseman in baseball. Yes, possibly even better than Arenado.

His OBP of .436 is second in the NL, and his batting average hasn’t dipped below .343 at any point this season. That is not a typo. And he strikes out in less than 10% of his plate appearances.

JT is the heart and soul of this Dodger club. He plays with the perfect balance of grit and flair that embodies this team. Like last year, he has shown the ability to carry this ballclub when he gets going, and it feels like he always delivers the big hits when needed most.

He is my pick as the best Dodger candidate in the MVP race. There is no other person on the team that I’d choose with the game on the line. And he has the old “best player on the best team” argument backing him.

He’s been so good, that even with missing a few weeks because of a hamstring injury, he is in the top 10 in NL WAR according to FanGraphs.