Much of the success of the Chicago Cubs has hinged on the play of Javier Baez. It’s early, but if he keeps up at this pace, could he be the NL MVP?

The Chicago Cubs have not been what we expected early on this season. They have been, well, average. The majority of games they have won are games in which they score four or less runs. There have been some big performances, but for the most part, the offense simply isn’t up to snuff.

While the pitching has been some of the best in the NL, it isn’t enough at this point. The Cubs are not doing their pitching any favors with run support. Fortunately for the club, they have Javier Baez. Without Baez, this season would be a whole lot different. If not for Baez, I’d guarantee the Cubs would be well under .500 on the year.

With guys like Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras struggling offensively so far, Baez has picked up the slack. Not only has he picked up the slack, but he’s burst onto the national scene as one of the best ball players in the game right now. We’ve seen flashes of greatness leading up to 2018, but what he’s doing thus far is nothing short of incredible.

Let’s take a quick look at why Baez is not only the Cubs’ MVP so far, but if the season ended today, he’d be the National League MVP.