Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts Becomes First This Season To 200 Hits
Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts has had a spectacular season so far, landing him in the AL MVP conversation. For the first time in his career, Betts has put together a 200 hit season.
He beat Astros second baseman Jose Altuve to the mark by just one hit. Betts becomes the first AL right fielder to reach the 200 hit mark since Ichiro did so in 2010.
Betts has been one of the best hitters in the American League to this point in the season. He is currently hitting .317/.358/.542 with 31 home runs and 108 RBI. Even more impressive are his 115 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. Betts joins Miguel Cabrera in 2012 and Jacoby Ellsbury in 2011, as the only players with at least 200 hits, 30 homers, 100 RBI, and 100 runs scored in a season. Betts is only the 16th player to do so in MLB history.
Betts is currently right in the heat for the AL Most Valuable Player award. He is second behind Mike Trout in WAR at 8.7, and leads all candidates in RBI with 108. The aspect that Betts has going for him in this race is the fact that his team is in the playoff hunt. This usually means a lot to a good number of the voters that decide the award.
The Red Sox have benefitted from his hot bat and currently sit at 87-64, which has them four games up on the Blue Jays. As of right now, the Red Sox would face the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series.
The matchup is intriguing and includes two teams that have pitched well all year. The Red Sox have benefited from Rick Porcello‘s breakout season, as he is currently 21-4 with a 3.08 ERA. The Indians recently lost Carlos Carrasco for the season with a broken bone in his hand. The injury occurred after the right-hander was struck on a line drive right back at him. The Red Sox, Indians matchup would be the primetime matchup, come playoff time.
The Red Sox are in a good position win their second World Series in 4 years. In order to do so, the team will need Mookie Betts to show up. Betts has yet to play in a playoff game in his brief career. It is yet to be seen if he is a clutch playoff performer.
From the show that the whole league has watched him put on this year, one would think he will be just as good in the playoffs. The Red Sox have 11 games left before they have to worry about that.
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