"Single-handedly putting your team in a playoff race" - Dodgers dominance might hand Ketel Marte the NL MVP over Shohei Ohtani, says 8x All-Star

Ketel Marte is making a strong case for the 2024 National League MVP award. According to John Smoltz, Marte’s outstanding performance might give him the edge over Shohei Ohtani in the National League MVP race.

Smoltz is an 8-time All-Star known for his remarkable career as a pitcher with the Atlanta Braves and is now a prominent baseball analyst. During an appearance on Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander, Smoltz discussed the current NL MVP race.

“If you are single-handedly putting your team in a playoff race or helping your team get to a playoff race versus the expected player who’s already on a really good team, that will hurt Shohei Ohtani a little bit," said John Smoltz. (Time Stamp: 06: 01)

"The Dodgers are already great, and for Shohei right now, he’s come back a little bit — every hitter will. If you’re a position player and you have the ability to impact the game on both sides, you should have an advantage,” he added.

Smoltz's perspective highlights how each player's unique contributions play a role in the team's success. Although Ohtanis's remarkable talents are unquestionable, Martes' impact on his team’s performance could give him an advantage.

The MVP accolade usually considers not only excellence but also the capacity to positively influence the team's achievements, which strengthens Ketel Marte’s candidacy.

Ketel Marte’s strong MVP case: The Diamondbacks Star takes on Shohei Ohtani

Ketel Marte emerges as a serious contender for the 2024 National League MVP award. With 47 games left in the season, Marte helped the Arizona Diamondbacks close the gap on the Dodgers in the NL West, cutting their lead to just three games. This push tightened the MVP race, making it a close contest between Marte and Shohei Ohtani.

Marte's outstanding performance stats play a role in his consideration for the MVP title. Based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Marte leads with a 6.0 bWAR surpassing Ohtanis's 5.9 bWAR.

Additionally, Marte excels in defensive measures, ranking prominently among second basemen in the National League with +11 defensive runs saved and +7 outs, which is above average.

Marte is standing out this season offensively, hitting 34 home runs and stealing 32 bases. He's aiming for his place in MLB history with a 40/40 season a rare achievement that has only been attained a few times before.

While he may not be leading in all hitting categories, he's always there among the best in batting average, home runs and slugging percentage.

In order to clinch the MVP title, Ketel Marte must keep up his performance and help the Diamondbacks finish strong. If he succeeds, he might make history by becoming the Diamondback player to win the MVP award, marking a significant achievement for the team.