Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Viewed as 'Clear-Cut' Favorite for AL MVP

Are we surprised at all?

Even though the Los Angeles Angels currently hold a 21-20 record and have lost three straight series, it is definitely not due to Shohei Ohtani. He has been electric as of late and whenever he steps up to the plate and the pitching mound, he remains one of the biggest threats in the league.

At this point, Ohtani is shattering records every couple of games. His production is leading to him being in company with some of the greatest players to ever lace up some cleats despite only being 28-years-old.

Take, for example, his latest feat in which he passed up Babe Ruth in total career strikeouts and also tied his own career-high strikeouts with 13.

Shohei Ohtani has surpassed Babe Ruth's career strikeout total

Ohtani now has the most pitching strikeouts among players to hit at least 100 career home runs

(h/t @LAAngelsPR) pic.twitter.com/VCG0cNd7Xj

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 10, 2023

Sho-ing off 🦄

Shohei Ohtani matched his single-game MLB career high in strikeouts (13) and now has 500 career pitching strikeouts, being one shy of matching Babe Ruth's career total (501). pic.twitter.com/bL0e5PjDS2

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 4, 2023

Ohtani currently leads in LA in total hits, is third in home runs, and is also slashing .287/.361/.513. He has come up huge in some of the Halos' biggest wins and also has kept them in play during some close losses against the Guardians and Astros.

The Unicorn's performances at the pitching mound have also kept him at the top of the race for the best pitcher in the AL as well. He has recorded a 2.74 ERA thus far and also has a 4-1 record.

Since the start of the 2021 season:
only 3 AL pitchers have more Ks than Shohei Ohtani
only 1 AL hitter has hit more HRs than Shohei Ohtani pic.twitter.com/7k9tghaiRE

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 11, 2023

Thanks to all of this, Ohtani is being slated as a heavy favorite to bring home his second career AL MVP.

"All eight of Ohtani's home runs have come on days when he wasn't pitching, but my favorite current Ohtani stat factoid is that he is batting 12-for-31 (.387) on days when he does take the mound.It all led us to wonder

a few weeks ago

:

Who would win if Ohtani faced Ohtani?He won AL MVP in 2021, and it's only because of Judge's historic campaign last year that this two-way superstar isn't on the fast track to a third consecutive AL MVP trophy.If he stays healthy for the next five months, Ohtani legitimately could be headed for a $60 million annual salary in free agency."

(Via Bleacher Report)

We are super excited to see how this race plays out.