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On Sunday Matt Carpenter hit his twenty-ninth home run of the season, the most of any player in the National League. In fact, if one were to peruse the Fangraphs batting leader-boards, he or she might notice that Matt Carpenter leads the NL in a number of categories among qualified hitters. From left to right across the board, he leads in:
- Home runs (HR)
- Isolated Power (ISO)
- Slugging (SLG)
- Weight Runs Created Plus (wRC+)
- Fangraph Wins Above Replacement (WAR)
He is also in the top five in several other offensive categories such as Walk Rate (BB%) and On-Base Percentage (OBP).
Credit the new hitting coach, a new approach, or salsa, the fact remains that Matt Carpenter is the most valuable player in the National League right now (according to Fangraphs - Baseball Reference has Lorenzo Cain ahead of him, most likely due to difference in how defense factors into the two site’s respective WAR calculations). Will he win the award for Most Valuable Player? It is tough to say. As of now, though, according to the numbers he is undeniably the league’s MVP.
Here is how he did it:
what else is going on in baseball...
Corey Kluber throws Maddux shutout vs. Halos | Cleveland Indians
Carlos Gomez exaggerated HBP | MLB.com
Johan Santana catches first pitch from son | MLB.com
Carlton's 4,000th strikeout | 08/06/1986 | MLB.com
August Trade Targets to Fight the Post-Deadline Blues | FanGraphs Baseball
Goodbye, my almost Scioscia | SBNation.com
Mike Scioscia reportedly out as Angels manager at the end of 2018 | SBNation.com
Roberto Osuna joins Astros after 75-game domestic abuse suspension | SBNation.com
Mound Visits: Marines streaking, Dodgers disrespected, and Godzilla | SBNation.com
Archie Bradley's dog watched him pitch | MLB.com
Tony La Russa lost World Series ring in Joe Kelly's glove | MLB.com
Ventura charges mound after HBP | 08/05/1993 | MLB.com
what the cardinals are up to...
MLB Network's Stern Says Pham Was Very 'Dejected' in Having to Leave STL | 101Sports.com
After Their Best Homestand In More Than 3 Years, Cards Take Revived Hope On the Road | 101Sports.com
Flaherty shuts down Pirates, Carpenter homers in 2-1 win | Viva El Birdos
A Team Victory in the Steel City 8.4.18 | Viva El Birdos
Cardinals Drop Opener in Pittsburgh | Viva El Birdos
KNOW THINE ENEMY...
the miami marlins
Despite good return, Marlins may regret trading NL MVP candidate Yelich | Fish Stripes
the nl central
Chris Archer exits in 5th but Bucs win debut | Pittsburgh Pirates
Elias Diaz changes catcher's gear after inning | MLB.com
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