National League MVP Race: Acuna vs. Betts - OPS & SLG
OPS is calculated by adding the on-base percentage and slugging percentages together. Slugging percentages are calculated in the fashion of batting average but include total bases to identify players who hit for more power.
So, a single is worth one, doubles are worth two, triples are worth three, and homers are worth four. Add them together and divide by total at-bats and you have the slugging percentage. At some point, we started adding the on-base percentage and slugging together to get an idea of who gets on base and slugs the best.
To put these two guys' production into perspective, the total OPS in the MLB this year is .734. The MLB has an OBP of .320 with an SLG of .414.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has a 1.001 OPS this year. Mookie Betts has 1.028 OPS.
Acuna has him beat on OBP but Betts wins SLG. Acuna is rocking a .580 SLG while Betts is channeling his inner Babe Ruth* with a .619 SLG. Both are great.
*Fun Fact: Mookie's .619 SLG leads the league. Babe Ruth's career SLG was .690...over 22 years.
Advantage: Mookie Betts