2026 MLB Awards Tracker: Ohtani Leads MVP Race; Misiorowski and Schlittler Shine

The excitement is building as the All-Star Weekend approaches, and the competition for the MVP and Cy Young awards heats up in the second half of the season. While Shohei Ohtani appears to be running away with the National League MVP, the races for the other three awards are far from settled.

In his latest outing against Boston, Jacob Misiorowski faced a setback, allowing two earned runs, which marked his third loss of the season. However, his performance was historic as he threw 47 pitches clocked at 101 mph or more, setting a Statcast record. The 24-year-old currently leads the league with a remarkable 1.45 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts. Over his last nine starts spanning 60.1 innings, he has permitted only three earned runs, striking out 87 while walking just 10. If he maintains his health in the latter part of the season, Misiorowski is a strong contender for the award, though competition is fierce.

Christopher Sanchez has also been impressive since his scoreless inning streak was snapped at the beginning of June. With a 2.85 ERA and a .216 opponent batting average, Sanchez has a 3-1 record and has struck out 26 batters against four walks over four starts. Philadelphia has won eight of his last ten starts, and he is now part of an elite group of pitchers who have recorded over 120 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.80 or better in their first 16 starts of a season, a feat accomplished by only ten others.

On the other hand, Paul Skenes is struggling with run support despite a solid 2.86 ERA and a 6-7 record. He has faced back-to-back losses, allowing two earned runs in each game. Nonetheless, Skenes has been consistent, permitting two or fewer earned runs in five straight games and ranking in the top ten for strikeouts, opponent batting average, and WHIP. He finds himself in third place behind Misiorowski and Sanchez, with Ohtani and Chase Burns close behind.

Chase Burns has been on fire in May and June, leading the Reds to victory in seven of his last eight starts, with six wins during that span. The 23-year-old has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 12 consecutive games, a franchise record since Edinson Volquez in 2008. His performance has also seen him strike out seven or more batters in seven straight games, a feat only one Reds pitcher has surpassed since 1900.

Another standout, Cam Schlittler, recently achieved a career-high 13 strikeouts in a shutout victory over the Reds, becoming the youngest Yankee to accomplish this feat. His next challenge will be a trip to Fenway Park to face the rival Red Sox.

Dylan Cease continues to showcase his talent with a 1.62 ERA and 26 strikeouts in June. Although he has not consistently pitched six innings, he remains third in the league for strikeouts and has allowed four or fewer hits in six consecutive games. Drew Rasmussen is also making waves with a 1.00 ERA this month, bolstered by a career-high 13 strikeouts in a recent game.

As for the offensive side, Yordan Alvarez is having an outstanding season, hitting .391 in June with impressive stats, including 27 hits and five home runs. He is on track to set new career highs, positioning himself as a leading MVP candidate if he can maintain his health.

Nick Kurtz is also making headlines with nine home runs in June and an impressive OPS. His achievements have placed him in the company of baseball legends, and he continues to make a name for himself. Ben Rice has been hot lately as well, hitting four home runs in his last eight games and boasting the second-best slugging percentage in the league.

Byron Buxton is quietly having a remarkable season, already nearing his career high in home runs. If he can stay healthy, he stands a good chance of breaking his personal records.

Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani is experiencing a slight slump on the mound but remains a dominant force at the plate. Despite recent challenges, his overall performance keeps him firmly in the MVP race. Kyle Schwarber has also been a spectacle, recently hitting three home runs in a game against the Mets and leading the league in home runs this season.

Jordan Walker is emerging as a key player for the Cardinals, already setting career highs in several categories. With the Nationals performing well, James Wood continues to impress, leading the league in runs scored and showing potential for a top-five finish in MVP voting.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.