Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been one of the best players in baseball, to no one's surprise, and came into the season as the National League MVP favorite, though an insider has him as the runner-up.

Judge would know about living large. With a .391 average, he’s got a shot to be the first player in 84 years to finish at .400. There’s nothing in Judge’s history that suggests he’ll run the table – his career average is 100 points lower – but with a third of the season already in the books, his odds are improving.

Never thought I’d be here again. So much time has passed. So much self-importance has floated across my gaze. So much strutting, chest thumping, braying like a mule. So many games felt like an ego audition.