Top five American League MVP candidates

The 2023 Major League Baseball season is heading into the home stretch. Who will take home the hardware as the American League's Most Valuable Player? Here are the top five contenders in reverse order (Yardbarker's top five National League MVP candidates are here. YB's top five NL and AL Cy Young Award candidates are here and here.)

All stats are through Thursday.

5. Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays | 1B

KEY STAT: .327 batting average, highest among qualifying AL hitters

During Tampa Bay's remarkable 13-0 start to the season, Diaz tallied 11 hits, four home runs and nine RBI in 11 games. Over his last 14 games, Diaz is batting .377 with 23 hits as he looks to become the first player in Rays history to win American League MVP and/or the AL batting title.

4. Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers | 2B

KEY STAT: 152 hits, tied for second most in AL

The durable Semien leads the major leagues in plate appearances (622). If he finishes first again, it will be his fourth time in the past five seasons, and he had top-three MVP finishes during his stints in Oakland and Toronto. 

The 32-year-old Semien is the veteran leader in the clubhouse and has played a key role in the turnaround for the Rangers, who are battling Houston and Seattle for first in the American League West.

3. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros | RF

KEY STAT: 97 RBI, tied for most in AL

Tucker has broken through this season as the newest star of the defending World Series champions. He leads the Astros in hits (140), home runs (26), RBI (97) and stolen bases (26). 

Given the injuries to Jose Altuve and the struggles of free-agent acquisition Jose Abreu, Tucker has established himself as the most dependable hitter in Houston's lineup as the Astros make the push for a World Series repeat.