The MVPs from each AL Central team (statistics through Friday):

Detroit: Victor Martinez rewrote the expectations for an aging slugger by having his best season at age 35. He led the league with a .978 OPS and was second in batting at .336.

Kansas City: Alex Gordon's numbers — .265, 19 homers, 74 RBI — aren't spectacular, but his play in the outfield gave him added value. Kansas City earned its first playoff spot in 29 years largely on pitching, but Gordon was the cornerstone of baseball's best defense.

Cleveland: The toughest call, considering Corey Kluber might become the Indians' third Cy Young Award winner in eight years, but Michael Brantley has blossomed into one of the best all-around players in the AL.

Chicago: Some evaluations judge lefthander Chris Sale higher, but 27-year-old Cuban Jose Abreu was a rookie sensation, bashing 35 homers while hitting .314.