MLB MVP rankings: Can anyone catch the front-runners in 2nd half?

Welcome to the third edition of theScore's 2023 Most Valuable Player rankings, where we look at the top five players in each league. Historic performances from new and old stars in both leagues filled the season's first half. Who stands out at the break? Odds courtesy Barstool Sportsbook and theScore Bet.

American League

5. Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

Robert is finally fully healthy and showing the world that the hype surrounding his signing from Cuba several years ago was very real. Thanks to a ridiculous tear since May 1, he sits third in the AL in fWAR and OPS (.899) and second in home runs, slugging, and extra-base hits (49). Robert also isn't a one-dimensional player. He's one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball, sitting third in the AL at his position in outs above average (eight) and second in defensive runs saved (seven) and runs prevented (eight). Robert is singlehandedly carrying an otherwise dismal White Sox club and giving them a chance to win every night. The 25-year-old is hardly a perfect player, but he's as talented as they come and a legitimate MVP contender despite his team's record.

4. Adolis Garcia, Rangers

Always a solid player, Garcia's emergence as a catalyst of the Rangers' rise to the top of the AL West has been a pleasant surprise. The 30-year-old has taken things to another level in his third full season, entering the break as baseball's RBI leader. He also sits third in his league in home runs, slugging, and extra-base hits (43), second in runs scored, and fourth in fWAR. Garcia has refined his game to become more than just a home-run hitter. While still a free swinger, he's found a bit more patience to improve his walk rate from last year. Garcia is picking his spots to run, stealing six bases without being caught. And he plays very good defense in right field, saving seven runs and tallying an MLB-high 10 outfield assists. Garcia's a player the Rangers can't live without.

3. Bo Bichette, Blue Jays

Since 1901, only five players - Ty Cobb, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett, Ichiro Suzuki, and Jose Altuve - have led the AL in hits over at least three consecutive seasons. Bichette, the two-time reigning AL hits king, is poised to join that group as he enters the second half with a league-best 122 hits. Though he cooled off just a touch in June, he's remained consistent and productive overall. He maintains a wide lead atop the hits leaderboard and ranks second in average. Bichette also continues to place in the top 10 in total bases (191), extra-base hits (38), and wRC+ (134). The Blue Jays have been uneven at times this year, but Bichette's maturation into a bona fide MVP candidate has kept them steady through it all.

2. Wander Franco, Rays

You won't find too much black ink on Franco's Baseball Reference page, but don't let that fool you. The 22-year-old is powering the AL-best Rays with his stellar all-around play at shortstop. Franco places second in the Junior Circuit in fWAR and stolen bases and sits top 10 in hits (95). He's already set career highs in virtually every category with two-plus months to go in the season. Though a contact hitter by trade, he's patient enough to draw his walks as needed. His defense at shortstop is more than just elite; it's far and away the best at the position by multiple metrics, both traditional and advanced. The key to appreciating Franco is to understand that he's not great at any one thing; rather, he's really, really good at everything, and that's why he's here.

1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

Here's a player who leads the majors in homers, OPS, triples (six), slugging (.663), total bases (226), and wRC+ (181). Ohtani also tops AL position players in fWAR (4.3) and sits top 10 in RBIs, runs (63), hits (103), walks (48), average (.302), and OBP (.387). That's an easy first-half MVP win for any offensive player that doesn't also have 10 quality starts, sits third among AL pitchers in strikeouts (132), second in K/9, ninth in ERA+ (133), and 14th in pitchers' WAR (1.7) over 17 starts. All we've ever asked is that Ohtani earns his MVP awards purely on statistical merit rather than for being the lone two-way unicorn. Outdoing your own previously unheard-of accomplishments qualifies as meritorious. Only a trade to the National League can stop Ohtani now - and even then, he might still be the AL MVP.

National League

5. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Sometimes it feels like the baseball world takes Freeman's greatness for granted, and it's an especially strong feeling this year. The sweet-swinging first baseman's flying toward one of the best seasons of his career. Freeman leads the majors in doubles (31) while sitting third in the NL in average, OPS (.952), hits (114), and wRC+ (155). He's also tied for third in fWAR, ranks in the top 10 in a slew of other categories, and sits in the 98th percentile or higher in xSLG, xBA, and xwOBA. Freeman picks his spots on the basepaths, quietly swiping 12 bags, and is close to leading the NL in plate appearances for a third straight year. Few stars are as dependable and stellar on a daily basis as Freeman, an indispensable part of the Dodgers and a perennial top-tier MVP candidate.

4. Luis Arraez, Marlins

Arraez isn't hitting .400 anymore and remains a long shot to do it over the entire season, but a .383 clip at the break is nothing to sneeze at. It's the highest average through his team's first 92 games since Nomar Garciaparra in 2000 (.396). Lest you think he's a one-trick pony, Arraez also remains baseball's OBP leader by 15 points and places top 10 in OPS (.905). He's the toughest hitter in baseball to strike out and has been patient enough to draw 27 walks in addition to his league-leading 126 hits. Maybe the only place where his stat line looks out of whack is his surprisingly low total runs scored, but that's a product of his Marlins teammates not driving him in. Nevertheless, Arraez is the Marlins' offensive leader and the spark behind their surprising first-half success. That, along with his pursuit of .400, is why he's an MVP candidate.

3. Corbin Carroll, D-Backs

Carroll has made an incredible impact on the D-Backs and is having the kind of eye-popping rookie season that warrants MVP consideration. His slash line resembles that of a seasoned veteran, and his .915 OPS places seventh in the majors and fifth in the NL. Carroll's on track to become only the second rookie ever, and first in the NL, to post a 30-30 season, and his 26 steals (while being caught just twice) rank second in the Senior Circuit. He also places third in his league in WAR and top 10 in average, runs, slugging, and wRC+ (144). Only two rookies - Fred Lynn in 1975 and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 - have been named MVP, and both were in the AL. Carroll's rookie season is already in that kind of all-time great company.

2. Mookie Betts, Dodgers

Betts has been more valuable than ever for the Dodgers. He sits second in the NL in fWAR, homers (tied with Pete Alonso), runs (tied with Freeman), OPS (.965), and wRC+ (157). He also leads the Senior Circuit in slugging and extra-base hits (50) and is top 10 in several other important categories. A spark plug up top, his 10 leadoff home runs set a pre-All-Star break record. Then there's his defense and newfound versatility. A natural second baseman, Betts hasn't missed a beat while bouncing between right field, second, and shortstop throughout the year. His three total defensive runs saved in 254 innings as a middle infielder are four more than his output in right. Betts will push hard for his second career MVP in the second half.

1. Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves

Watching Acuna at the peak of his powers is something special. He's the first player ever to enter the All-Star break with at least 20 homers, 40 steals, and 50 RBIs. He's already got a 30-30 season in the bag and is flying toward not only the fifth 40-40 campaign ever but an unheard-of 40-60 season as well. Acuna leads the majors in runs scored. He also tops the NL in steals, OPS, WAR, wRC+ (164), and total bases (209) and places in the top three in the other three slash-line categories and hits (119). Additionally, Acuna ranks in the top five in extra-base hits (47) and doubles (25). He has almost as many walks as he does strikeouts for the first time in his career while lowering his K rate below 23%. Acuna's widened the gap considerably and has shown no signs of letting up.