World Series 2013: Possible MVP Candidates for Both Teams

With Game 6 of the 2013 World Series on Wednesday and the MLB season drawing to a close, it's time to start looking at possible candidates for the World Series MVP for both the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.

Through the first five games, the Red Sox have a 3-2 lead in the series and could walk away as the World Series champions with a win on Wednesday.  However, the Cardinals have shown that they can win games as well, so there's a chance that this could become a seven-game series.

With that being said, let's break down the most likely players to be named World Series MVP for each team based off of how well they've played through the first five games.

St. Louis Cardinals

Carlos Beltran

Despite playing with a bruised rib, Carlos Beltran continues to make plays for the Cardinals, much like he has done all postseason.

Beltran is currently hitting .308 in the series with two runs batted in and one run scored.  While those numbers aren't incredibly impressive, he's also been making plays on defense, including robbing David Ortiz of a grand slam in Game 1, which was the reason for his injury.

In the postseason, Beltran is hitting .397 with 14 RBI and two home runs.  He's come up with a number of clutch hits like his walk-off single in the bottom of the 13th inning during Game 1 of the NLCS.

If the Cardinals are able to make a comeback and win the World Series, it will likely involve big plays by Beltran, and the 36-year-old is easily the most deserving Cardinals player of the World Series MVP award.

Michael Wacha

At just 22 years old, Michael Wacha is having an unbelievable postseason run, and it has continued into the World Series.

So far, Wacha has made four starts in the playoffs, posting a 1.00 ERA with just 11 hits allowed and 28 strikeouts in 27 innings of work.  He didn't allow a single run in his two starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning the ALCS MVP award.

In his first start in the World Series, Wacha went six strong innings with just two earned runs, six strikeouts and just three hits allowed.  He will be pitching again in Game 6 and will have to step up once again if the Cardinals want to stay alive.

The Cardinals have to win Game 6 in order to take the series in Game 7, and that would likely mean yet another great performance for Wacha.  If that's the case, then he would be a great candidate for the MVP award.

Boston Red Sox

Koji Uehara

There hasn't been a more dominant pitcher for the Red Sox in both the regular season and postseason than Koji Uehara.

After posting just a 1.09 ERA and a 0.57 WHIP in the regular season, Uehara has somehow gotten even better in the postseason.  He's made 12 appearances with just a 0.71 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, 15 strikeouts and seven saves.

In the World Series, Uehara has been almost unhittable.  He's appeared in four games and pitched 3.2 innings, allowing just two hits and zero runs while grabbing two saves.

It seems like no one can touch Uerhara right now, and he will likely be considered for the World Series MVP, but we all know who the winner will be if Boston wins it all.

David Ortiz

No one is having a crazier run in the World Series than David Ortiz, who is simply on fire at the plate.

Hitting .360 with a 1.196 OPS and .720 slugging percentage, Ortiz has been hot all postseason.  He's had five home runs and 13 RBI, making even the best pitchers in the majors think twice about pitching to him.

Ortiz has heated up even more in the World Series.  In 15 at-bats, he's had 11 hits, two home runs, six RBI and five runs scored.  He has a .733 batting average, .750 on-base percentage and slugging percentage of 1.267.

As long as the Red Sox are able to win the series, it's a no-brainer as to who their World Series MVP will be.  Perhaps this heat map for Ortiz says it best.

If that doesn't make him a World Series MVP, I don't know what will.