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Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

No. 20: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2010 NL MVP)

bWAR: 7.0, fWAR: 6.9, Cumulative: 6.95

In his age-26 season, Votto led the NL in on-base percentage (.424) and OPS (1.024) while adding 37 home runs and 113 RBI for a 91-win Cincinnati Reds team. That said, Albert Pujols led the NL in home runs (42), RBI (118) and runs (115), and he bested Votto in OPS+ (173 to 171), so a case can be made he should have been the winner.

No. 19: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2012 AL MVP)

bWAR: 7.1, fWAR: 7.3, Cumulative: 7.2

While 2012 featured a historic Triple Crown win for Cabrera when he hit .330 with 44 home runs and 139 RBI, it was actually a step back from his other peak seasons. For example, relative to his 2013 MVP win, he had a significantly lower on-base percentage (.393 to .442) and OPS+ (164 to 190), and his defense at third base left a lot to be desired.

No. 18: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers (2011 NL MVP)

bWAR: 7.7, fWAR: 7.1, Cumulative: 7.4

A standout performer over the first four seasons of his career, Braun took his game to another level in 2011 when he led the NL in slugging (.594) and OPS (.994) while posting his first 30-30 season with 33 home runs and 33 steals. His performance was clouded by steroid controversy, and the award probably should have gone to Matt Kemp and his 39-homer, 40-steal season that was worth 8.0 bWAR and 8.3 fWAR.

No. 17: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers (2011 AL MVP)

bWAR: 8.6, fWAR: 6.5, Cumulative: 7.55

The first pitcher since Dennis Eckersley in 1992 to win MVP honors, Verlander led the AL in wins (24), ERA (2.40), ERA+ (172), WHIP (0.92), strikeouts (250) and innings (251) while limiting opposing hitters to a .191 batting average for a Detroit Tigers team that won the AL Central title. The debate rages on about whether a pitcher should win MVP honors.

No. 16: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2018 NL MVP)

bWAR: 7.6, fWAR: 7.6, Cumulative: 7.6

In his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers, Yelich hit .367/.449/.770 after the All-Star break and .370/.508/.804 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI in 27 games over the final month of the season to edge out Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez for NL MVP honors and lead the Brew Crew to an NL Central title.