MLB

6 Darkhorse MVP Candidates After the First Half

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Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals

Current Odds: 300-1

Quick, without looking it up, which player leads the National League in fWAR? The title of this slide doesn't help in building up any suspense, but the answer is Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon at 4.1. On a team with so much talent, though, it's pretty easy to see why he flies under the radar a bit.

After all, Rendon's best shot at getting into the All-Star Game was via the final vote, which Justin Turner ended up winning. So, instead of being in Miami for the midsummer classic, he watched it on television and saw three of his fellow position players starting the contest (Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and Daniel Murphy).

These three also each have legitimate shots at contending for the NL MVP award, but Rendon's first half has been just as good as theirs. It's been even better when considering he spent virtually all of April in a miserable slump before turning his season around.