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Will Shohei Ohtani win the National League Cy Young? Will Aaron Judge be replaced as American League MVP? Will the New York Mets turn things around?
All of these questions are answered in the latest edition of MLB on FOX’s “Fact or Fiction” with MLB on FOX analyst Dontrelle Willis.
Shohei Ohtani Will Win Cy Young: Fact
“He’s already going — 18 innings pitched, 18 strikeouts. He’s going to continue to stay healthy. Dave Roberts and Co. continue to give him chances. He’s also sparing himself. He’s not running as much. You’re not going to see some of the triples that we know and love, especially on the days he has to start and get healthy for 1 and 4, but he’s healthy for Month 1 or they’re going to a 5-man rotation to get him enough reps to get him that Cy Young.”
Aaron Judge will win his 4th consecutive MVP: Fiction
(Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
“Yordan Alvarez is a monster. He’s going to stay healthy. Leads the American League in home runs and RBIs, third in batting average. I know the Astros are in last place right now, so he’s going to have to consistently do damage to get them out of that cellar, but I think he’s going to win MVP.”
The Mets finish last in the NL East: Fiction
“They better not come in last place, you hear me! All that talent. All that salary. All that expectation. I believe they’ll come out of the basement. Juan Soto will be back. (Bo) Bichette will be better. (Luis) Robert will be better. . . . I just have a hard time believing they’re going to finish last. It’s been disastrous, but I don’t believe in the whole season.”
Pirates make the playoffs: Facts
“They’re going to come in. First of all, I love the addition of (Ryan) O’Hearn. He’s been outstanding and has led the team in batting average. O’Neil Cruz is a healthy monster. Nineteen RBIs, nine stolen bases already on the season, and I love this rotation from top to bottom. Yeah, we know the ace, Paul Skenes has a 7-veteran, KERA, 2. (Braxton) Ashcraft has an ERA of 2,3 They have enough talent and swings and misses in that rotation to keep their offense in games all day long and the crowd is starting to feel it.
Mason Miller will allow a run before the end of April: Fiction
“He’s a machine right now. The fastball goes anywhere from 100 to 103 miles an hour. The slider is harder than my fastball. . . . He gets 70% whiff on the slider alone. You keep seeing the nasty changeup. Listen, he lives on those edges. He’s a tough cover. I don’t just believe this month goes by, not just the next month.”
