Who Are MLB's Best Statistical Players Through First Third of the Season?

During the Major League Baseball season, the arrival of Memorial Day usually means that the season is about one-third of the way over. This year, with the season getting off to a slightly different start than normal thanks to MLB’s shortened season last year, most ballclubs have hit or will hit that third-of-the-way pole this week.

That being the case, we thought it’d be a good chance to take a break from talking about how and why good pitching is killing baseball and instead take a look at the players who have been pro baseball’s top producers throughout the first third of the season in 10 classic statistical categories. Analytics are well and good, but if you’re looking for WAR, look elsewhere.

Also, with a crackdown on pitchers doctoring the baseball coming within the next week or so, it will be very interesting to see whether MLB’s top performers and the one-third mark still at the top of the league at the season’s halfway point. Theoretically, the crackdown should lead to the numbers improving for hitters and declining for pitchers, but there’s really no way to know. Maybe we’ll check in at midseason and see. Regardless, here’s how things stand now.

(All statistics current as of the afternoon of 6/7/2021.)

Batting Average

American League: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.333, Blue Jays), Yuli Gurriel, (.325, Astros), Cedric Mullins (.322, Orioles), J.D. Martinez (.321, Red Sox), Xander Bogaerts (.318, Red Sox)

¡Piña Power! 🍍

Esa pelota se quedó en todo el medio y Yuli Gurriel no la perdonó. pic.twitter.com/UpHoTgGBWX
— MLB Cuba (@mlbcuba) June 4, 2021

National League: Nick Castellanos (.359, Reds), Jesse Winker (.350, Reds), Adam Frazier (.332, Pirates), Trea Turner (.311, Nationals), Kris Bryant (.309, Cubs)

Nick Castellanos' 20-game hit streak is the longest by @Reds player since Brandon Phillips (22) in 2007. pic.twitter.com/aVOZFyrM8m
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 5, 2021

Runs Batted In

American League: Austin Meadows (48, Rays), Rafael Devers (48, Red Sox), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (47, Blue Jays), Jose Abreu (46, White Sox), Trey Mancini (44, Orioles)

Austin Meadows doing Austin Meadows things pic.twitter.com/LI2ixirm0c
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 5, 2021

National League: Jesus Aguilar (Marlins, 44), Eduardo Escobar (41, Diamondbacks), Nolan Arenado (40, Cardinals), Javier Baez (39, Cubs), Fernando Tatis Jr. (39, Padres)

Jesús Aguilar brings home the pleased Starling Marte with his 44th RBI of the year! 🙌

📺: Bally Sports Florida
💻: https://t.co/9G9rXO2BIV
📱: Bally Sports app#JuntosMiami 3#LetsGoBucs 1 pic.twitter.com/UFC6PyjIGW
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) June 6, 2021

Home Runs

American League: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (18, Blue Jays), Adolis Garcia (16, Rangers), Shohei Ohtani (Angels, 16), Matt Olson (Athletics, 15), Rafael Devers (15, Red Sox)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. CAN’T and WON’T stop ⚾️🔥

That’s his 18th home run of the season, taking over the MLB lead 👀pic.twitter.com/mh035c8o9n
— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) June 5, 2021

National League: Jesse Winker (17, Reds), Fernando Tatis Jr. (17, Padres), Ronald Acuña Jr. (17, Braves), Eduardo Escobar (Diamondbacks, 14), Javier Baez (14, Cubs)

🚨 JESSE WINKER FOR THREE 🚨@Reds take the lead! pic.twitter.com/6qKY6HTzil
— MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2021

Steals

American League: Whit Merrifield (17, Royals), Niko Goodrum (10, Tigers) Isiah Kiner-Falefa (10, Rangers), Tim Anderson (9, White Sox) Cedric Mullins (9, Orioles)

Still don't think this Whit Merrifield throw from yesterday got enough play… pic.twitter.com/rNxMIx0vws
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) May 17, 2021

National League: Trea Turner (13, Nationals), Fernando Tatis Jr. (13, Padres), Tommy Edman (12, Cardinals), Ronald Acuña Jr. (11, Braves), Garrett Hampson (11, Rockies)

Trea Turner busted out a pirouette to secure the double play for the Nats‼️ 🕺 pic.twitter.com/bLWr0uwpfG
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 30, 2021

Hits

American League: Cedric Mullins (73, Orioles), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (69, Rangers), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (68, Blue Jays), J.D. Martinez (67, Red Sox), Xander Bogaerts (67, Red Sox)

Boyce Cedric Mullins II is batting .305 and can do this in the outfield. pic.twitter.com/PnNwtAyxky
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 5, 2021

National League: Adam Frazier (76, Pirates), Nick Castellanos (75, Reds), Trea Turner (71, Nationals), Jesse Winker (70, Reds), Tommy Edman (68, Cardinals)

Repeat after us: Adam Frazier can hit. pic.twitter.com/ExvyWFcCAr
— Pirates (@Pirates) May 21, 2021

Earned Run Average

American League: Kyle Gibson (2.06, Rangers), Gerrit Cole (2.26, Yankees), John Means (2.28, Orioles), Tyler Glasnow (2.69, Rays), Luis Garcia (2.75, Astros)

Kyle Gibson, Nasty 84mph Slider. 😨 pic.twitter.com/Iern53Qdrf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 16, 2021

National League: Jacob deGrom (0.62, Mets), Kevin Gausman (1.27, Giants), Brandon Woodruff (1.42, Brewers), Trevor Rogers (1.97, Marlins), Corbin Burnes (1.97, Brewers)

Jacob deGrom's ERA is down to 0.62.

He just keeps on rolling. pic.twitter.com/vtWqlp5Edy
— MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2021

Strikeouts

American League: Shane Bieber (117, Indians), Tyler Glasnow (106, Rays), Gerrit Cole (104, Yankees), Lucas Giolito (87, White Sox), Chris Bassitt (80, Athletics)

Shane Bieber's seven strikeouts, from tonight, in his win over the White Sox. #OurCLE pic.twitter.com/z5W9hMyxZW
— Justin Groc (@jgroc) June 2, 2021

National League: Max Scherzer (104, Nationals), Trevor Bauer (103, Dodgers), Zack Wheeler (100, Phillies), Corbin Burnes (94, Brewers), Kevin Gausman (93, Giants)

Max Scherzer, Disgusting 77mph Curveball. 🤮 pic.twitter.com/wJmnZQSEfy
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 30, 2021

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings

American League: Shane Bieber (13.3, Indians), Tyler Glasnow (12.4, Rays), Gerrit Cole (12.4, Yankees), Dylan Cease (11.4, White Sox), Lucas Giolito (11.2, White Sox)

Tyler Glasnow is your MLB leader with 52 K's on curveballs, even though his usage of it is way down this year pic.twitter.com/0oFhLY27la
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) June 2, 2021

National League: Jacob deGrom (14.4, Mets), Corbin Burnes (14.3, Brewers), Freddy Peralta (12.9, Brewers), Joe Musgrove (12.2, Padres), Max Scherzer (12.2, Nationals)

Corbin Burnes with a career high 13 strikeouts today. Since the start of the 2020 season, his 13.76 K/9 is tied with Shane Bieber (trailing only Jacob deGrom) for second best in MLB. He’s struck out 10+ in 7 of his last 16 starts dating back to last year. pic.twitter.com/hYn9k46SDP
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) June 6, 2021

Wins

American League: Aaron Civale (8, Indians), Yusmeiro Petit (7, Athletics), Lance Lynn (7, White Sox), Nathan Eovaldi (7, Red Sox), Zack Greinke (6, Astros)

Aaron Civale, 91mph Fastball (foul) and 77mph Curveball (swinging K), Overlay pic.twitter.com/R5wTYyswx2
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 22, 2021

National League: Julio Urias (8, Dodgers) Jack Flaherty (8, Cardinals), Clayton Kershaw (7, Dodgers), Kevin Gausman (7, Giants), Kyle Hendricks (7, Cubs)

¡Octava victoria de la temporada para Julio Urías! El pitcher sinaloense ponchó a 5 bateadores en 5 entradas, permitió 4 hits y 1 carrera. #MexicanPower #YoAmoElBeis pic.twitter.com/RlAAaReyew
— MLB México (@MLB_Mexico) June 5, 2021

Saves

American League: Liam Hendriks (15, White Sox), Matt Barnes (Red Sox, 14), Ian Kennedy (Rangers, 12), Aroldis Chapman (Yankees, 12), Raisel Iglesias (Angels, 10)

I love being able to hear Liam Hendriks pitch😂 pic.twitter.com/kIskFlRoly
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 19, 2021

National League: Mark Melancon (19, Padres), Alex Reyes (Cardinals, 16), Craig Kimbrel (14, Cubs), Josh Hader (14, Brewers), Jake McGee (12, Giants)