Despite Injury, Christian Yelich Should be the NL MVP
In a victory over the Miami Marlins last night, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich fractured his right kneecap. The injury will force the 2018 National League Most Valuable Player to miss the rest of the 2019 season.
Yelich’s injury is a devastating one for the Brewers who currently sit one game back of the second NL Wild Card. Without their stud outfielder, the chances of the Brew-Crew making a push to get past their division rival Chicago Cubs diminish significantly.
Having only 18 games to play there is still a chance that Milwaukee can surpass either Chicago or the Washington Nationals for a wild card spot but Yelich has been the driving force in their lineup all season. That is why, despite the injury, Yelich should receive a second consecutive MVP award this season.
With Tuesday being his last game of 2019, Yelich finishes the season slashing .329 / .429 / .671. The right fielder also tallied 44 home runs, 97 RBI’s and 30 stolen bases.
There are arguments to be made for Cody Bellinger and Anthony Rendon for MVP, but Yelich is above those two in every sense for me. Take Bellinger off the Los Angeles Dodgers and they still make the postseason. Take Rendon off of the Washington Nationals and they still have Juan Soto to carry the offensive load. But if you take Yelich off the Brewers the team from Milwaukee has an issue. Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas are solid players, but they can not carry a lineup like Yelich. He is more valuable to the Brewers than Bellinger and / or Rendon are to their respective teams.
Yelich has also been a monster the entire season. You did not see that with Bellinger who becomes the MVP favorite with Yelich down.
Cody Bellinger‘s season broken into four 35 game stretches:
First 35 games: .403/.476/.815
Next 35 games: .307/.429/.591
Next 35 games: .276/.384/.598
Last 35 games: .238/.350/.566— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) September 10, 2019
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I expect to see the Brewers crawl to the finish and finish outside the wild card race, truly showing the value Yelich has. Without him the Brewers, like I mentioned, have such a small chance. That is why he is still the most valuable player in the National League.
-Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)