MLB midseason awards: Shane Bieber has AL Cy Young wrapped up

Most of the 30 MLB teams have reached the mid-way point of the 60-game 2020 season. A lot could change between now and the end of September, but here are our unofficial mid-season award winners.

National League

MVP: Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres)

The sensational Fernando Tatis Jr. gets a tepid nod over Mookie Betts for NL midseason MVP. Betts has him beat in WAR (2.2 to 2.0), but Tatis has more homers (12 to 11) and RBI (29 to 24) while also carrying a higher batting average (.301 to .293). He wasn’t the only reason behind the Padres’ 18-12 record through the first 30 games of the year, but he was perhaps the biggest one.

Runner-up: Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Cy Young: Max Fried (Atlanta Braves)

Max Fried has become the rock that the Braves’ rotation desperately needed following a slew of injuries. He currently leads the NL in pitcher WAR (2.4), wins (five, tied with the Cubs’ Yu Darvish) and ERA (1.35). Amazingly, despite having tossed the second-most innings of any NL hurler (40, trailing the Rockies’ German Marquez by just two frames), Fried has yet to allow a home run.

Runner-up: Yu Darvish (Chicago Cubs)

Rookie of the Year: Jake Cronenworth (San Diego Padres)

Tatis Jr. isn’t the only blossoming star on the San Diego infield. Jake Cronenworth has had an outstanding rookie campaign thus far, batting .342 with three homers and 12 RBI. No NL rookie has come close to his 1.3 WAR through 30 games.

Runner-up: Alec Bohm (Philadelphia Phillies)

Manager of the Year: David Ross (Chicago Cubs)

The Cubs appear to have made a brilliant hire in David Ross. A late-season slide in 2019 doomed Joe Maddon, and many were beginning to question if the core of Chicago’s 2016 world title needed to be broken up. But Ross, a member of that championship squad, has rejuvenated Javier Baez and company, as they’re 18-12 through 30 games and first in the NL Central.

Runner-up: Jayce Tingler (San Diego Padres)

American League

MVP: Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox)

Jose Abreu has always been good for 30 homers and 100 RBI for the White Sox, but he’s taken his game to new heights in 2020. He has been the linchpin in Chicago’s dynamic offense, as Abreu leads all AL position players in WAR (1.9), homers (12), RBI (30) and total bases (84).

Runner-up: Brandon Lowe (Tampa Bay Rays)

Cy Young: Shane Bieber (Cleveland Indians)

Cleveland’s Shane Bieber is running away with the AL Cy Young Award at the midway point of the campaign. He leads all AL pitchers in WAR (2.3), wins (six), ERA (1.35), and innings pitched (46 2/3). He also has a commanding lead in strikeouts with 75 – White Sox Lucas Giolito is far behind in second at 58.

Runner-up: Liam Hendriks (Oakland Athletics)

Rookie of the Year: Kyle Lewis (Seattle Mariners)

Kyle Lewis has given Mariners fans a reason to tune in to what’s been an otherwise unwatchable season for the organization. The Seattle outfielder leads all AL batters in average (.360) and OBP (.446). Additionally, Lewis is tied for second in AL position player WAR (1.7) with Lowe, trailing only Abreu (1.9).

Runner-up: Luis Robert (White Sox)

Manager of the Year: Kevin Cash (Tampa Bay Rays)

Kevin Cash continues to coordinate the Rays’ pitching staff with a deft touch despite the multitude of injuries Tampa’s hurlers have suffered in 2020. The Rays were 19-11 at the mid-way point and have started the "second half" with two straight victories. As of Thursday, they have a 2.5-game lead (five in the loss column) in the AL East over the Yankees.

Runner-up: Rick Renteria (Chicago White Sox)