All 30 MLB Teams' Top Candidates for a 2026 Award
With roughly six weeks left in the 2026 MLB regular season, the various award races are starting to take shape, from MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year to Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers.
The three major awards get the most attention, but the wide variety of different postseason honors gives all 30 fanbases something to root for down the stretch, as an individual standout on a last-place team can still take home some hardware.
Ahead we've highlighted the top candidate to watch from each MLB team, with a look at their relevant stats and an overview of their chances.
AL East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: Pete Alonso (Silver Slugger)
Stats: 134 OPS+, .259/.353/.480, 48 XBH (26 HR), 77 RBI
If the season ended today, the AL Silver Slugger at first base might go to Willson Contreras, but Alonso is firmly in the race. With Nick Kurtz sidelined, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. not performing up to his usual standard and Ben Rice spending more time at DH, it is shaping up to be a two-horse race.
Boston Red Sox: Ceddanne Rafaela (Gold Glove)
Stats: 995.1 INN, 16 DRS, 14 OAA, 2.1 dWAR
After sporadically using him at second base and shortstop in past seasons, the Red Sox have committed to Rafaela as their everyday center fielder this year and he is on track to win a second straight Gold Glove. Along with his stellar defensive metrics, he also leads all center fielders with seven assists.
New York Yankees: Cam Schlittler (Cy Young)
Stats: 25 GS, 10-6, 2.21 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 31 BB, 182 K, 146.2 IP
Schlittler leads the AL in ERA (2.21) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.87), and he ranks second in WHIP (0.93), second in opponents' batting average (.196) and third in strikeouts (182). He tossed seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball with 11 strikeouts against the Braves last time out.
Tampa Bay Rays: Junior Caminero (MVP)
Stats: 120 G, 156 OPS+, 54 XBH (35 HR), 77 RBI, 4.8 WAR
Yordan Alvarez is the clear AL MVP front-runner as he leads the league in all three Triple Crown categories, but Caminero has a solid case to be the No. 2 guy on ballots. He is the clear offensive leader for a first-place Tampa Bay team, and is on track for a second straight 40-homer season at the age of 23.
Toronto Blue Jays: Dylan Cease (Cy Young)
Stats: 22 GS, 7-5, 2.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 56 BB, 191 K, 131.1 IP
Not a lot has gone right for the Blue Jays this season, but the seven-year, $210 million deal they gave Cease in free agency has been a slam dunk. The 30-year-old has allowed just 85 hits in 131.1 innings while piling up an AL-leading 191 strikeouts, and his 2.41 FIP is also tops in the league.
AL Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: Munetaka Murakami (Rookie of the Year)
Stats: 84 G, 150 OPS+, 38 XBH (26 HR), 2.3 WAR
Even with a 35-game absence during the first half while nursing a hamstring strain, Murakami is still the biggest challenger to Kevin McGonigle for AL Rookie of the Year honors. His 26 home runs are tops among all rookies, and he has been a big part of the White Sox return to relevance.
Cleveland Guardians: Gavin Williams (Cy Young)
Stats: 24 GS, 11-6, 3.55 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 41 BB, 185 K, 144.2 IP
At first glance, those might not seem like Cy Young-caliber numbers from Williams, but he has been on a roll of late. Over his last four starts, he has a 1.42 ERA and 40-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 25.1 innings, and if Cam Schlittler and Dylan Cease falter, he has the momentum to emerge as a dark horse.
Detroit Tigers: Kevin McGonigle (Rookie of the Year)
Stats: 116 G, 128 OPS+, 36 XBH (12 HR), 11 SB, 1.4 dWAR, 5.6 WAR
Not only does McGonigle lead all rookies with 5.6 WAR, but that total is tops among American League players, and trails only Pete Crow-Armstrong (7.5), Cristopher Sรกnchez (6.6) and Shohei Ohtani (6.4) across all of baseball. He has more walks (75) than strikeouts (71), and has been a plus defender at shortstop and third base.
Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr. (Platinum Glove)
Stats: 863.0 INN, 7 DRS, 20 OAA, 1.4 dWAR
It's almost impossible to believe now that Witt was a negative-value defender when he first arrived in the big leagues, as he is now vying for his third straight Gold Glove. He also took home Platinum Glove honors in 2025, and has a case to do so again as one of baseball's elite defensive stars.
Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton (Silver Slugger)
Stats: 138 OPS+, .263/.320/.544, 42 XBH (25 HR), 45 RBI
Buxton has been sidelined since July 28 with a hip injury, but he is close to returning and his numbers this year still put him among the top tier of AL outfielders. With Aaron Judge injured and Julio Rodrรญguez having a down year, it will likely be some combination of Mike Trout, Randy Arozarena, Riley Greene and Buxton who take home AL Silver Slugger honors in the outfield.
AL West
3 of 6
Athletics: No viable candidate
Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz were both candidates to take home AL Silver Slugger honors at their respective positions, but the former underwent season-ending meniscus surgery at the end of July and the latter could also be done for the year with a thumb injury. There's no sense pretending there's another viable award candidate on one of baseball's worst teams.
Houston Astros: Yordan Alvarez (MVP)
Stats: 120 G, 196 OPS+, .322/.436/.621, 60 XBH (35 HR), 87 RBI, 5.5 WAR
The current AL leader in all three Triple Crown categories, Alvarez is also tops in hits (140), runs scored (80) and total bases (270). His .322 average gives him a commanding lead over Chandler Simpson (.307) and Yandy Dรญaz (.302) in the AL batting race, and if the season ended today, he would likely be the unanimous choice for AL MVP.
Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout (Silver Slugger)
Stats: 139 OPS+, .240/.386/.447, 36 XBH (20 HR), 44 RBI
It's been four years since Trout won his last Silver Slugger, and a terrific .386 on-base percentage helps balance out some of the explosiveness he has lost on the other side of his 35th birthday. If he stays healthy the rest of the way, there's a good chance he'll join Barry Bonds (12) and Mike Piazza (10) as the only players with 10 Silver Sluggers since the award's inception in 1980.
Seattle Mariners: Randy Arozarena (Silver Slugger)
Stats: 136 OPS+, .276/.369/.453, 41 XBH (16 HR), 52 RBI, 20 SB
Despite turning in five straight 20/20 seasons, Arozarena has never won a Silver Slugger. This could be the year, as his 136 OPS+ represents a career-high mark, and he is just four home runs away from yet another 20/20 campaign. Shoutout to Cole Young, who could also take home hardware as the AL Gold Glove winner at second base.
Texas Rangers: Jacob Latz (Reliever of the Year)
Stats: 43 G, 23/26 SV, 1.83 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 9.3 K/9
After serving as a swingman in 2025 and competing for a rotation spot during spring training, Latz has enjoyed a surprise breakout as one of the most dominant late-inning relievers in baseball. Bryan Baker (TB) and Cade Smith (CLE) have gaudier save totals, but Latz provides added value with his multi-inning ability, and 11 of his 23 saves have spanned more than three outs.
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NL East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: Chris Sale (Cy Young)
Stats: 21 GS, 12-7, 2.20 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 28 BB, 151 K, 123.0 IP
The NL Cy Young Award looks like Jacob Misiorowski's to lose, but given that his 133 innings pitched already represent a single-season high at any level of pro ball by more than 30 innings, it's not out of the question to think he could tire a bit down the stretch. If he does, Sale is having another brilliant season in Atlanta and would be the No. 2 guy on most ballots right now.
Miami Marlins: Otto Lopez (Gold Glove)
Stats: 1,002.2 INN, 7 DRS, 8 OAA, 1.3 dWAR
With 5.3 WAR and an NL-leading .318 batting average, Lopez has been one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2026 season. However, it's his glove that first earned him a regular role in Miami, and it remains among the best at the position. Can he win Gold Glove over Dansby Swanson (CHC) and Masyn Winn (STL) among NL shortstops?
New York Mets: Nolan McLean (Rookie of the Year)
Stats: 24 GS, 3.24 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 159 K, 136.2 IP, 2.0 WAR
Since the start of June, McLean has a 2.69 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 70.1 innings, and he has recorded a quality start in nine of his 12 outings. That recent performance has closed the gap to co-favorites JJ Wetherholt (STL) and Sal Stewart (CIN), and more of the same over the final six weeks could swing the race.
Philadelphia Phillies: Cristopher Sรกnchez (Cy Young)
Stats: 25 GS, 15-4, 2.54 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 35 BB, 181 K, 155.2 IP
Sรกnchez was the early favorite for NL Cy Young during a 50.2-innings scoreless streak, and he started the All-Star Game in front of his home fans in Philadelphia. One ugly start at the beginning of July against the Royals (3.1 IP, 12 H, 9 ER) skewed his numbers, but he quickly returned to elite form.
Washington Nationals: CJ Abrams and James Wood (Silver Slugger)
Abrams: 145 OPS+, .284/.358/.544, 55 XBH (29 HR), 91 RBI, 23 SB
Wood: 154 OPS+, .265/.393/.535, 57 XBH (30 HR), 73 RBI, 17 SB
The Nationals have not had a Silver Slugger winner since Juan Soto in 2021, and two of the guys they acquired in the deal that sent him to San Diego are poised to change that in 2026. Abrams has a bigger lead over the rest of the shortstop field, but Wood is also a virtual lock for one of the three outfield nods.
NL Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong (MVP)
Stats: 121 G, 156 OPS+, 58 XBH (27 HR), 30 SB, 1.8 dWAR, 7.5 WAR
After a 5.9-WAR season and top-10 finish in NL MVP voting last year, PCA has become a more complete offensive player this season in support of his elite defense in center field. His on-base percentage has climbed almost 100 points from the .287 mark he posted a year ago, and his 7.5 WAR sits atop the MLB leaderboard, ahead of the combined 6.4 WAR that Shohei Ohtani has hitting and pitching.
Cincinnati Reds: Sal Stewart (Rookie of the Year)
Stats: 119 G, 118 OPS+, 48 XBH (25 HR), 87 RBI, 1.7 WAR
A top prospect who produced at every level in the minors, Stewart debuted with a 124 OPS+ and five home runs in 18 games as a September call-up last season. The 22-year-old broke camp this year as the team's primary first baseman, and he leads the Reds in hits (116), doubles (23), home runs (25) and RBI (87), putting him right alongside JJ Wetherholt in the NL rookie race.
Milwaukee Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (Cy Young)
Stats: 22 GS, 11-5, 1.76 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 30 BB, 204 K, 133.0 IP
"The Miz" leads the majors in ERA (1.76), WHIP (0.74) and strikeouts (204), but his most impressive stat is a .147 opponents' batting average. If that mark holds up, it would be the lowest in MLB history by a qualified starter over a full season, comfortably ahead of Pedro Martรญnez (.167 in 2000).
Pittsburgh Pirates: Brandon Lowe (Silver Slugger)
Stats: 114 OPS+, .251/.318/.480, 51 XBH (25 HR), 74 RBI
The Pirates spent the offseason overhauling what was baseball's worst offense in 2025, and Lowe has been their most impactful addition. Despite his reputation as one of the best offensive second basemen in the league, he has never won a Silver Slugger. Brice Turang and Luis Arraez look like his biggest competition.
St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt (Rookie of the Year)
Stats: 115 G, 108 OPS+, 28 XBH (16 HR), 13 SB, 1.7 dWAR, 4.3 WAR
Similar to his AL counterpart Kevin McGonigle, Wetherholt has provided value in a wide variety of ways en route to being the NL Rookie of the Year front-runner. The 23-year-old has been the Cardinals primary leadoff hitter, and he also looks like the favorite for the NL Gold Glove (13 DRS, 21 OAA).
NL West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll (Silver Slugger)
Stats: 124 OPS+, .243/.338/.482, 56 XBH (18 HR), 57 RBI, 16 SB
Will Juan Soto end up playing enough games to get serious consideration for Silver Slugger honors? If not, the door swings open for Carroll to potentially join virtual locks Pete Crow-Armstrong and James Wood among the NL outfield selections. With 24 doubles, 14 triples, 18 home runs and 16 steals, he is filling up the box score once again.
Colorado Rockies: Hunter Goodman (Silver Slugger)
Stats: 121 OPS+, .251/.320/.541, 51 XBH (34 HR), 69 RBI
After a breakout 2025 season where he became the first Rockies player since Trevor Story in 2019 to win a Silver Slugger, Goodman looks poised to repeat with a second straight 30-homer campaign already secured. His .900 OPS and 19 long balls on the road also show his production has not simply been a product of Coors Field.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (MVP)
Stats: 111 G, 157 OPS+, .292/.393/.544, 52 XBH (27 HR), 3.4 WAR
Pitching Stats: 14 GS, 8-2, 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 26 BB, 95 K, 85.2 IP, 3.0 WAR
If voters are looking for a reason to give NL MVP to someone else after back-to-back unanimous wins by Ohtani, Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong is making a compelling case. Then again, it doesn't get much more compelling than a 157 OPS+ and 27 home runs in the batter's box, along with a 1.79 ERA across 85.2 innings on the mound.
San Diego Padres: Mason Miller (Reliever of the Year)
Stats: 49 G, 30/31 SV, 0.88 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 16.3 K/9
With a 47.4 percent strikeout rate and a .138/.230/.149 batting line from opposing hitters, there is a strong case to be made that Miller is the most overpowering pitcher in baseball. With all due respect to Jhoan Durรกn, Riley O'Brien and others, they can hand him the Trevor Hoffman Award now.
San Francisco Giants: Matt Chapman (Gold Glove)
Stats: 718.2 INN, 16 DRS, 4 OAA, 1.9 dWAR
A five-time Gold Glove winner and one of the best defensive players of his era, Chapman looked like he might be losing a step when he logged good-not-great defensive metrics in 2025. The 33-year-old had returned to elite-level glove work before undergoing season-ending bilateral core-muscle surgery on Aug. 11. Will his 718.2 innings of work be enough for him to get serious consideration?
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