That’s a crazy pace. A day after Ronald Acuña Jr. (26-Atlanta Braves) became the first player in Major League Baseball 바카라사이트(ML) history to reach the 30-homer, 60-steal milestone, he added a home run and a stolen base to properly ignite the National League (NL) MVP race.
Acuña Jr. started at first base and in center field against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, on Sunday and went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, one walk and one stolen base. In the process, his season batting average went from 0.337 to 0.338 and his OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) finally broke through the 1.000 mark from 0.993.
Acuña Jr. had already put himself in the MVP race with a grand slam the day before. With that shot, Aquino Jr. became the 66th player in Major League Baseball history to record a 30-homer, 30-steal season. It was also the first 30-homer, 60-steal season in major league history, as only one player had previously hit 30 home runs and stolen 50 or more bases at the same time. Eric Davis (Cincinnati Reds, 1987) with 37 homers and 50 steals and Barry Bonds (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1990) with 33 homers and 52 steals.
This day was no different. After leading off the first inning with a walk, Acuña Jr. took a first-pitch fastball from Los Angeles Dodgers starter Julio Urias and smashed a solo shot to center field. His 31st home run of the season hit 110.7 miles per hour (178.2 km/h) and traveled 418 feet (127 meters).
In the fifth inning, he completed his multi-hit performance with a double to left. After advancing to second on a single by Ozzie Albies, Acuña Jr. promptly stole third base. His 63rd stolen base of the season. Austin Riley’s RBI single brought him home for his 122nd run. It wouldn’t be enough, but it was enough to give Atlanta a 6-3 win.
Ronald Acuña Jr. steals third base during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday./AFPBBNews=News1
Acuña’s back-to-back strong performances came in front of MVP contender Mookie Betts (31-LA Dodgers). Betts also started in right field and batted leadoff, but was quiet, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. In doing so, Betts saw his season batting average drop from 0.317 to 0.315 and his OPS drop from 1.033 to 1.028.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, noted the MVP race between Acuña Jr. and Betts. “Two guys who’ve been great all season long, who’s your NL MVP,” MLB.com asked in a side-by-side comparison of Acuña Jr. and Betts’ classic and sabermetric stats.
Through two days of play, Acuña Jr. is batting .338 (183-for-541) with 31 home runs, 84 RBI, 122 runs scored, 63 stolen bases, a .420 on-base percentage, a .580 slugging percentage and a 1.000 OPS in 134 games. Betts’ numbers are .315 with 38 home runs, 98 RBI, 116 runs scored, 10 doubles, a .409 slugging percentage, a .619 OPS and a 1.028 OPS in 128 games.
In terms of classic stats, Acuña Jr. has a significant lead. In the National League, Acuña Jr. ranks first in runs, hits, stolen bases, and slugging percentage, third in home runs, 10th in RBI, third in batting average, third in on-base percentage, and second in OPS, while Betts ranks first in on-base percentage and OPS, second in runs, fourth in hits, third in home runs, second in RBI, fifth in batting average, and third in slugging percentage.
Betts has the edge in sabermetric stats. According to Baseball Reference, a U.S. baseball statistics site, Betts has a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 7.8, while Acuña Jr. has a WAR of 6.9. FanGraphs WAR has Betts ahead at 7.7 and Acuña Jr. at 7.0. In wRC+ (adjusted run production), Betts has a 176, while Acuña Jr. has a 169.
Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. /AFPBBNews=News1