3. Acuna vs Betts MVP chase will come down to the wire
To circle back to the beginning of this article, the MVP race between Mookie Betts and Ronald Acuna Jr. is going to be a fun time.
Acuna took a bit of an edge after this four-game series between the Braves and Dodgers. Right now, it could go either way and both players would deserve it.
Let's compare the numbers for both players and see where they stand on the season because it is a very close race.
Here is where Betts and Acuña Jr. stand on the season so far. I want Ronnie to win it, obviously. However, Mookie is having a remarkable season as well. It’s going to be a fun final month of the 2023 season. pic.twitter.com/1u1pua3wjC
— Steven Teal (@realteal09) September 5, 2023
Mookie has a clear edge when it comes to WAR, HR, RBI, SLG, OPS, and OPS+ but it isn't too far off. Ronald has the edge when it comes to games played, plate appearances, hits, stolen bases (by a mile), batting average, and on-base percentage. But, again, it's very close outside of the stolen bases conversation.
Acuna also is leading Major League Baseball in runs scored with 123 of them but Betts is again right on his tail with 117 of them. Mookie leads in the walks department with 78 of them with Acuna sitting at 71.
I think you can see the pattern here. While each player leads in different categories, that could change at any point with how close their numbers are. Ronald is having a historic season for the Braves and just did something that has never ever been done in all of Major League Baseball with 30 steals and 60 stolen bases in a season. Shoot, he even has a shot at having a 40 HR/70 SB season.
RELATED: Ronald Acuna Jr. Sets MLB History with 30 HR/60 SB season
Betts is doing historic things as well. He hit 2 home runs in game one against the Braves. The first homer was his 250th career homer and the second one gave him 51 hits in the month of August. That was the most hits in a month by a Dodger since 1958 when the team moved to Los Angeles.
He also became just the 3rd player since 1900 to have a .450 average, 10 home runs, and 50 hits in a single month. So, he's having just a ridiculous stretch right now that made this race closer than it was at the end of July.
Both players are deserving so really there is no wrong answer here but we'd love to see Acuna bring home the honor after having such a ridiculous season.
Regardless of what happens, we all know that this matchup in the postseason would be a lot of fun to watch. Albeit, nerve nerve-wracking at times, but still fun to watch two baseball titans go at it looking for a shot at a World Series title.