Lindor implores voters to give co-MVP to Bieber, Ramirez

The race for American League MVP is as close as it gets, and Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor finds it especially difficult to pick either his team's ace, Shane Bieber, or fellow star infielder Jose Ramirez.

So, he thinks both should win.

"To all you voters: co-MVPs, Bieber and Ramirez," Lindor said following Cleveland's playoff-clinching win Tuesday, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic.

Ramirez provided extra-innings heroics in the club's clinching game by walking off the Chicago White Sox with a three-run homer in the 10th. The 28-year-old has posted a .289/.376/.603 slash line with 17 homers and 10 steals.

Meanwhile, Bieber is putting the finishing touches on what will most definitely be a Cy Young season, and he could also become the first pitcher to win an MVP award since Clayton Kershaw in 2014 and the first in the AL to win since Justin Verlander in 2011. Both Kershaw and Verlander won the Triple Crown those seasons.

Bieber has authored a 1.74 ERA and 2.13 FIP over 72 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander made his first All-Star appearance last year, winning MVP of the Midsummer Classic which was held in Cleveland.

There haven't been co-MVPs in baseball since 1979 when the National League award was given to both Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals.