I'm sure most of you know that to win the triple crown, you have to lead the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. Here's the current leaders for those three categories.
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Matt Kemp - 37 Prince Fielder - 35 |
Ryan Howard - 115 Prince Fielder - 114 |
Jose Reyes - .331 Matt Kemp - .324 |
Kemp is a very good bet to win RBI and has a 50/50 shot at home runs, but batting average is probably going to be the one he falls short on. It was closer a few days ago, but Braun has gone 4/6 in his last two games while Kemp is 3/13 in his last three games. Reyes has also been hitting the ball well, going 3/7 his last two games.
The Brewers, Dodgers, and Mets all have 3 games remaining. It is interesting to note that the Dodgers have played 158 games thus far, so they should have four games left to play. However, a game with the Nationals earlier this month was postponed and no make-up was scheduled. If it comes down to Kemp being just a 2/4 day or a home run away from the triple crown, it will be interesting to see if baseball reschedules that game to give him a chance. It wouldn't really be fair for Kemp to play one less game than the other competitors, right? Intriguing stuff.
By the way, I am rooting hard for Kemp to get it. I will be locked in on every Braun at-bat this series and hoping he comes up hitless. That is unlikely to happen, and Kemp is going to have rack up some hits in his final three to have a chance, but nothing seems beyond reach to this guy, he is having one of the best seasons we have seen in a long time and is just three home runs shy of having a very rare 40 homer - 40 steal season. Heck of a player.