2013 MLB National League Batting Title Odds and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: For more than decade the National League batting title basically belonged to either Tony Gwynn or Larry Walker. However, there has been anything but a dynasty in recent years as the last 10 NL batting crowns have gone to 10 different players. During the stretch the winning average has been as high as .362 and as low as .336, and players from six different positions have taken home the crown. Whether the trend of different winners continues remains to be seen, but there are certainly some contenders that would keep the streak alive. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the top contenders for the National League batting title for the 2013 MLB season.
2013 MLB NL Batting Title Odds and Predictions
The Favorites
Had an injury not cost him a chunk of the season, Joey Votto might have won the NL batting crown last year. After all, his .337 average was actually higher than Buster Posey’s official league-leading average. In his five full seasons in the majors, the Cincinnati first baseman has compiled a .313 average and has hit .322 or better three times. Votto also finished in the top five in the league batting average in 2009, 2010 and 2011. We are talking about a guy that played just 111 games last year but led the NL in walks. There isn’t a player in the gamer that take a better approach at the plate, and it is only a matter of time before he snags a batting title.
It’s hard to believe that Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun hasn’t won a batting title yet. He has a .313 career average, and he has hit .319 or better in four of his six seasons in the majors. Braun finished third in the NL batting race, and in 2011, he finished second with a career-high .332 average. He already has an MVP Award under his belt, and losing fellow slugger Prince Fielder as protection in the Brewers’ lineup didn’t hurt his numbers in the slightest. Braun is on the short list of best players in the game today, and aside from a potential suspension for alleged PED use, a batting title or two seems inevitable in the next few years.
The Dark Horses
The 2012 season was really Buster Posey’s first full season in the majors, and the San Francisco catcher did was win the MVP Award and the NL batting title with a .336 average. Given how young he is and the fact that the Giants will give him an occasional start at first base, wear and tear on his body isn’t a big concern yet. The only real question for Posey is whether his numbers from last year are going to be the form or are going to be his peak. Time will tell, but in the meantime, Posey has to be considered a contender to repeat as NL batting champ.
His first full-time season in the majors was 2010, and Carlos Gonzalez promptly won the NL batting crown with a .336 average. In the two years since, the Colorado outfielder has hit .295 and .303. Gonzalez was less than 100 percent healthy in both those seasons so it is reasonable to assume that he can push his average back into the special range if he can just avoid the nagging injuries. Playing half his games in Coors Field certainly helps his cause, but he possesses one of the best combinations of power, average and speed in the game today. His health is the biggest obstacle standing between him and another batting title.
After flashing signs of his 30-30 potential for three seasons, Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen finally had the monster season everyone expected in 2012. In addition to posting career highs in runs scored, home runs and RBIs, he also hit a career-best .327. The average was good enough to make him the runner-up for the NL batting crown, and entering just his fifth season, there is a good chance that McCutchen’s best is yet to come given his steady improvement throughout his career. The fact that he is pretty much the lone weapon in the Pirates’ lineup is a bit concerning, but as long as he is patient at the plate, being pitched around could actually help him in the average department.
Sleeper Special
He probably doesn’t get enough credit for just how great of a hitter he is, St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday has hit at least .290 in all nine years of his career. Not to mention the fact that his .313 career mark ranks ninth among active players. Holliday’s lone batting title to date came in 2007 when he hit .340, but he would had added a second when he hit .353 with the Cardinals in 2009 had he not spent the first half of the season in the American League. He has been the model of consistency at the plate, and he might just have one more big year left in his bat.
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