Cleveland Indians: Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez should both be MVP candidates

Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez should both be considered among the top five for AL MVP when the season comes to a close in October.

There are five names that keep popping up around baseball as to who is considered an MVP favorite. The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout is always a name to worry about, he’s joined by Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe and the Minnesota Twins’ Nelson Cruz. Yet, the two names that are going under the radar are the (near) lock for the 2020 AL Cy Young in Shane Bieber and his Cleveland Indians teammate Jose Ramirez

For you Chicago White Sox fans, yes, Jose Abreu is in the running too. Calm down.

For Ramirez and Bieber though, they make the best case away from a total stats driven conversation. This is about value, not best player. Trout’s the best player, everyone go home. As far as value to a team? If the Indians didn’t have Bieber or Ramirez, the Indians are in last place in the AL Central. Ramirez has been the team’s most consistent hitter for the majority of the season, save for one or two dry spells, and Bieber has pitched so well that one and two-run games felt like the Indians were playing with a massive lead.

Rameriz is third in the AL for home runs and RBI’s and has gotten his batting average up to .289. For Bieber, his stats are even more impressive. If the season ended today, Bieber would be the Major’s leader in wins, ERA, strikeouts, first in K/9, and third in WHIP.

As for their challengers, there’s good reason to not vote for them. Trout isn’t going to the playoffs, again (trade him), and Cruz, Lowe, and Abreu are on loaded teams. While the Indians pitching is stacked, none of them have pitched half as well as Bieber. He’s been on another level all year. Ramirez has also been the only driving force offensively for most of the season. Especially when Francisco Lindor struggled, not to mention the team’s big power hitter Carlos Santana has actively hurt the team’s chances of scoring runs.

With those issues stacked up against the Indians, and a lineup that’s been undergoing facelifts and makeovers even into the final week of play, it’s no wonder that Ramirez is being petitioned by many as an AL MVP favorite.

As to which Indians player should get the votes? MLB.com, Sports Illustrated, and the betting odds website Sports Betting Dime have all picked Bieber as the number two or one guy in the race for the AL MVP.