D.J. LeMahieu inches ahead of Daniel Murphy for NL batting crown

Neither Rockies second baseman D.J. LeMahieu nor Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy started in their respective team’s regular season finale which boded well for LeMahieu winning the National League batting title. LeMahieu entered with a .348 batting average to Murphy’s .347. Murphy pinch-hit for Jose Lobaton in the fifth inning, but flied out. That sealed the deal for LeMahieu.

A Rockie winning the batting title is nothing new. Justin Morneau was the last to win it back in 2014 and Michael Cuddyer won it the year prior. In fact, since 1998, a Rockie has won the batting title in nine of the last 19 seasons. Thank you, Coors Field.

Jose Altuve won the American League batting title with a .338 batting average. It’s Altuve’s second batting title, with the other coming in 2014.

 

Other league leaders:

 

Home runs

• AL: Mark Trumbo (Orioles) – 47
• NL: Nolan Arenado (Rockies) – 41

RBI

• AL: Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays) – 127
• NL: Arenado – 133

Runs

• AL: Mike Trout (Angels) – 123
• NL: Kris Bryant (Cubs) – 121

WAR (FanGraphs)

• AL: Trout – 9.4
• NL: Bryant – 8.4

Wins

• AL: Rick Porcello (Red Sox) – 22
• NL: Max Scherzer (Nationals) – 20

Strikeouts

• AL: Justin Verlander (Tigers) – 254
• NL: Scherzer – 284

Saves

• AL: Zach Britton (Orioles) – 47
• NL: Jeurys Familia (Mets) – 51