Ryan Braun could repeat as National League MVP

Matt Kemp hit more home runs, drove in more runs and stole more bases than Ryan Braun did last year. Braun’s Brewers advanced to the playoffs; Kemp’s Dodgers did not. And Braun won the National League most-valuable-player award.

“I think the main reason I won the award last year was because we had a better team than the Dodgers had,” said Braun, who grew up a Dodgers fan in Granada Hills. “I honestly thought Matt had a better season than I did.”

Braun is in the MVP race again, but his Brewers will not repeat as NL Central champions. Yet, of the two teams with the best records in the league, the Washington Nationals do not have a dominant offensive player, and the Cincinnati Reds won with their best player, Joey Votto, on the disabled list for almost two months.

So Braun might have a chance to repeat. Here is a look at some of the top MVP candidates in each league, with statistics through Friday’s games, in order of on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS):

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Ryan Braun, of, Brewers: .310, 38 HR, 100 RBI, .978 OPS

Andrew McCutchen, of, Pirates: .341, 28 HR, 87 RBI, .977 OPS

Giancarlo Stanton, of, Marlins: .281, 34 HR, 79 RBI, .943 OPS

Buster Posey, c, Giants: .329, 21 HR, 90 RBI, .940 OPS

Aramis Ramirez, 3b, Brewers: .298, 23 HR, 91 RBI, .893 OPS

Matt Holliday, of, Cardinals: .298, 27 HR, 96 RBI, .891 OPS

Yadier Molina, c, Cardinals: .322, 19 HR, 66 RBI, .878 OPS

Jay Bruce, of, Reds: .258, 33 HR, 96 RBI, .873 OPS

Chase Headley, 3b, Padres: .283, 27 HR, 102 RBI, .850 OPS

Adam LaRoche, 1b, Nationals: .271, 30 HR, 94 RBI, .850 OPS

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Miguel Cabrera, 3b, Tigers: .328, 36 HR, 119 RBI, .981 OPS

Mike Trout, of, Angels: .331, 27 HR, 77 RBI, 45 SB, .962 OPS

Edwin Encarnacion, dh, Blue Jays: .279, 40 HR, 102 RBI, .947 OPS

Josh Hamilton, of, Rangers: .286, 42 HR, 123 RBI, .942 OPS

Prince Fielder, 1b, Tigers: .306, 26 HR, 98 RBI, .921 OPS

Adrian Beltre, 3b, Rangers: .319, 32 HR, 92 RBI, .915 OPS

Robinson Cano, 2b, Yankees: .300, 30 HR, 77 RBI, .908 OPS

Josh Willingham, of, Twins: .258, 34 HR, 105 RBI, .895 OPS

Adam Jones, of, Orioles: .285, 29 HR, 74 RBI, .839 OPS

Derek Jeter, ss, Yankees: .323, 15 HR, 53 RBI, .812 OPS

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