With only 45-50 games left, I start following the statistical leaders in both leagues to see what milestones are in play-who are the statistical leaders going to be and who might win the big awards. I’ll devote the post to AL position players.

If anyone has an AL MVP not named Shohei Ohtani, I’d appreciate a 500 word essay making your point. At this point, it’s a matter of him nailing the offensive Triple Crown or not. Editor’s note: Everything is predicated on players staying healthy.

Shohei leads the AL with 40 homers right now and his only real challenge is Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox with 31. There’s nothing to suggest that Robert Jr won’t be swinging from the fences every chance he gets. Pitching every fifth day is bound to catch up with Shohei eventually, right?

What makes the AL batting race interesting is the absence of a past winner in Ohtani, Yandy Diaz, Bo Bichette, Josh Naylor, and Masataka Yoshida. Diaz currently leads the pack with a .322 average and Yoshida is fifth at .304 so this is anyone’s race.

With most of August remaining and all of September to play, 10 AL batters sit at 70+ RBI. It will be interesting to see how many reaches and surpass the 100 benchmark. That stat of course requires teammates to reach base and cross the plate.

Oakland’s rookie, Esteury Ruiz leads the league with 44 stolen bases but is in no danger of being a 20-30 guy, unless he magically hist 19 home runs. His lead over Bobby Witt Jr (34) and Wander Franco(29) isn’t insurmountable. The chase for homer/stolen base combos are fun to watch though. Witt checks in at 20/34, Franco 15/29, Julio Rodriguez 18/27, Kyle Tucker 20/24, Ohtani 40/16, and Robert Jr. 31/14. We’re fascinated with the power/speed component of the game and the numbers guys and gals will be able to figure out the first who every accomplishes whatever.

For the moment, all but Witt, Ruiz, and Roberts have something else at stake, other than individual accomplishments. We’ll see who comes through when something is on the line.