MLB award watch: Sizing up the 6 major races

The Major League Baseball schedule is heading into the final stretch, and as teams jockey for playoff positioning, the major award contenders have begun to separate themselves.

Our MLB editors made their predictions for who will claim the MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year in both the American and National Leagues:

AL MVP

The American League MVP race is wide open as Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson have plenty of company this season after going head-to-head in 2015. Trout, who's finished in the top two in each of the last four seasons, leads all players with 6.9 WAR, according to FanGraphs, followed closely by Jose Altuve (6.8), Donaldson (6.3), Mookie Betts (6.0), and Manny Machado (5.6).

NL MVP

After 22-year-old Bryce Harper won the award in 2015, youngsters once again headline the battle for the NL MVP one year later. Twenty-four-year-old Kris Bryant and 22-year-old rookie Corey Seager are the front-runners to claim the award, while 25-year-old NL home run leader Nolan Arenado is making a strong case. Seager is looking to become just the third player in major-league history to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

AL Cy Young

The Blue Jays sent Aaron Sanchez to the minors in order to limit his innings which could hinder his Cy Young candidacy, though teammate J.A. Happ is making a compelling case to win the award with his AL-leading 17 wins. Blue Jays pitchers have claimed the Cy Young on four occasions, though the performance of Indians starter Corey Kluber could prevent the award from heading north. The 2014 winner leads all AL starters in WAR and sits third in strikeouts.

NL Cy Young

Clayton Kershaw appeared well on his way to a fourth NL Cy Young before missing the last eight weeks with a back injury. Kershaw's absence could open the door for Madison Bumgarner, who surprisingly has never won the award despite owning 97-65 record and 2.93 ERA over his eight-year career. The Giants ace has thrown more innings than anyone this year, while his 2.25 ERA is second lowest in the majors.

AL Rookie of the Year

Despite the efforts of Nomar Mazara, Tyler Naquin, and Max Kepler, the performance by Tigers starter Michael Fulmer makes him the unanimous choice. Acquired from the New York Mets for Yoenis Cespedes, Fulmer leads all rookie starters in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts, while his ERA sits at 2.58 through 20 starts. He'd join Mark Fidrych as the only Tigers pitcher to win the award.

NL Rookie of the Year

Seager, a legitimate threat to win NL MVP, is a virtual lock to claim the NL Rookie of the Year after Rockies shortstop Trevor Story suffered a season-ending injury. He'd be the 12th Dodger to claim the award and first since Todd Hollandsworth in 1996.

*Picks compiled by theScore MLB editors Jonah Birenbaum, Lucas Casaletto, George Halim, Bryan Mcwilliam, Steph Rogers, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, Jonathan Soveta, Dan Toman, and Brandon Wile.