MLB MVP rankings: Judge continues dominance, NL race tightens

Welcome to the third edition of theScore's 2024 Most Valuable Player rankings, where we look at the top five players in each league. Let's run through some of the best performances this season as the campaign's second half gets underway. Odds courtesy of theScore Bet.

National League

5. Christian Yelich, Brewers

Yelich bumps his Brewers teammate William Contreras off the list as he makes his first appearance of 2024. The 2018 NL MVP is recapturing the form he showed in 2018-19, when he established himself as one of the game's best offensive players. Yelich missed time with a back injury but has accumulated 3.1 fWAR in 73 games, buoyed in part by his highest fly ball rate since 2020.

4. Francisco Lindor, Mets

Lindor was snubbed from the NL All-Star team but is one of the reasons for the Mets' turnaround after a dismal 24-35 start. The 30-year-old has improved his OPS in each month, going from .639 in April, to .762 in May, to .871 in June, to 1.010 in July thus far. Lindor also continues to be an elite defensive option at shortstop, ranking in the top five at the position in fielding run value and outs above average.

3. Marcell Ozuna, Braves

Ozuna continues to be the one consistent offensive producer for the Braves in a season where the team is underachieving as a whole at the plate. The 33-year-old hasn't had a month with an OPS under .874 and should have no issue reaching the 30-homer plateau for the third time in his career. The Braves are below league average in runs scored and around average in OPS as a team, but things would be a lot bleaker without Ozuna anchoring the lineup.

2. Bryce Harper, Phillies

Harper missed a few weeks with a hamstring injury but remains among the NL leaders in wRC+, OPS, and fWAR. Most of Harper's offensive stats aren't far off from his MVP-winning campaign in 2021, and a strong finish to the season at the plate - and in the standings for the Phillies - could go a long way in helping the slugger beat out Ohtani as both stars search for a third MVP to add to their respective mantles.

1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

Ohtani went into the All-Star break leading the NL in home runs while sitting second in batting average and third in RBIs. Many find it hard to give the MVP to a DH, but Ohtani's all-encompassing offensive brilliance should poke holes right through that argument. The 30-year-old is on pace for the first 30-homer, 30-steal season of his illustrious career and continues to be a terror for opposing pitchers.

American League

5. Steven Kwan, Guardians

Kwan makes his 2024 debut, bumping his Guardians teammate José Ramírez off the list in the process. It's a deserving inclusion, even with less games played than some of his counterparts. Kwan has already set a new career high in home runs and is in strong position to contend for his first batting title. The 26-year-old also provides tremendous value with his glove, ranking in the 89th percentile in outs above average and speed on the bases.

4. Juan Soto, Yankees

Soto is catching fire in the second half of July after a relatively chill stretch to begin the month. The 25-year-old returned from the All-Star break and had 11 hits, including a pair of home runs in a four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays. Soto continues to be an ideal fit in the lineup and has done nothing this season that should discourage the Yankees, or any other interested team, from handing him one of the largest contracts in MLB history when he becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the campaign.

3. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles

Henderson matched his 2023 home run total of 28 in 55 fewer games this season. The 23-year-old also started his first All-Star Game and appeared in the Home Run Derby. He's third in fWAR among all MLB position players and has made strong improvements defensively, ranking in the 95th percentile in outs above average this season after finishing in the 55th percentile last year.

2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

Witt's breakout season continued with his first All-Star Game nod and a run to the finals of the Home Run Derby, which he ultimately lost to Teoscar Hernández. The momentum is carrying over into the season's second half, as he put together four straight three-hit games with a pair of homers following the break. The star shortstop is rewarding Kansas City's decision to give him the largest contract in franchise history with one of the best all-around seasons by a Royal in recent memory. Witt's well on pace to surpass Carlos Beltran's 2003 season (6.9) with the highest fWAR by a Royals player since 2000.

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees

Judge leads the AL portion of the rankings for the second straight time. The slugger set a franchise record with 34 home runs before the All-Star break and is in position to flirt with 60 long balls for the second time in three years. He and Soto are the only consistently fearsome hitters in a Yankees lineup that looks alarmingly thin. Opposing pitchers should start thinking about giving Judge more of the Barry Bonds treatment.