Goldschmidt, 35, took home his first MVP honor, receiving 22 of 30 first-place votes and eight seconds for 380 points from a Baseball Writers’ Association of America panel. Machado (seven first-place votes) was second with 291 points, and Arenado (one first-place vote) was third with 232 points.
It’s the sixth time in Goldschmidt’s 12-year career that he has finished in the top six in voting for the award. He is the fifth player to win his first career MVP at age 35 or older and the first since Dennis Eckersley in 1992.
“I think definitely as you age, you have to adapt, and that’s some of what I’ve tried to do. I’ve tried to get ahead of it,” Goldschmidt said in an interview on MLB Network. “You can’t just try to do the same thing you did the year before. But yeah, kind of the stigma that as you get older, you’re going to keep getting worse. I mean, nobody likes that. They don’t like being told you can’t do something, so it’s definitely motivation.”
Goldschmidt led the NL in slugging (.578) and OPS (.981) while compiling the highest OPS-plus (180) of his career. Along with Arenado, he helped lead the Cardinals to an NL Central Division title.
For the season, he hit .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs, ranking third in the NL in batting average, fifth in home runs and second in RBIs. Goldschmidt’s sabermetric stats also ranked high, as he ranked first in WOBA (weighted on-base average), first in WRC+ (weighted runs created plus) and third in ISO (isolated power). He also ranked second in WAR among position players, just behind Arenado.
Goldschmidt’s MVP was fueled by his first five months of the season, when he hit .332 with an OPS over 1.000. He slumped some in September, hitting just .245 with two home runs. He also went 0-for-7 in the Cardinals’ wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Balloting was conducted before the postseason.
“Whether I won this or not, it was going to be a great year,” Goldschmidt said. “This was my best year and the most fun I had, playing with Nolan and Albert [Pujols] and so many guys we had. So, it was just incredible.”
Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, was twice runner-up for NL MVP, in 2013 and 2015, and finished third in 2017. He was sixth last season.
“I never felt like I was missing something,” he said. “I’ve had some great years.”
Arenado, 31, finished in the top six in voting for the fifth time in his career after hitting .293 with 30 home runs. He also won his 10th consecutive Gold Glove award.
Machado, 30, carried the Padres to a wild-card berth after hitting 32 home runs while compiling a .898 OPS. With star shortstop Fernando Tatis missing the entire season due to an injury and then a suspension for PED use, and with newcomer Juan Soto struggling, Machado was the main source of offensive production for San Diego. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, he accounted for 20% of his team’s home runs, third among NL players, while recording the highest percentage of his team’s extra-base hits.
It’s Machado’s fourth time finishing in the top five in MVP voting, including twice with the Baltimore Orioles and now twice with the Padres.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
DENVER — With a five-goal third-period barrage that saw a different player score each goal Friday night, the Colorado Avalanche showed the version of the team they believe can make up for last year’s first-round exit a year after winning the Stanley Cup.
The Avs cruised to a 6-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
“Last year, we had no goals outside of our top three forwards and defensemen,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “This year, I don’t know, you’d have to total it up, but it’s huge contributions. We’re a deeper team. There’s no question about it.”
A lack of secondary and tertiary scoring last season contributed to the Avs scoring 19 goals in the first round before they were eliminated in seven games by the Seattle Kraken.
They already have 17 goals through three first-round games this year, with 10 of them coming from beyond their first line and their top defensive pairing.
Veteran winger Zach Parise, who signed with the Avs in February to win his first Stanley Cup, staked the team to a 1-0 lead before the Jets used the second period to take a 2-1 lead through Tyler Toffoli and Josh Morrissey.
Penalties, however, played a role in grounding the Jets in the third period.
“Since I’ve been here, I thought the third was the best period we’ve played,” said Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt, the team’s trade deadline acquisition who finished with three assists.
A power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon tied the score a little more than two minutes into the third. The Avs took the lead through another power-play goal from Valeri Nichushkin almost two minutes later.
Goals from Artturi Lehkonen and Ross Colton extended the lead to 5-2 before Devon Toews’ empty-net goal made it 6-2 with 3:35 remaining in the game.
“I think for us, being down one in the third there, we didn’t sit back on our heels,” Colton said. “I think we just kind of took it to them. When we play with that speed and that energy, we’re a good team. Obviously, we had some power plays, but we drew them with hard work and getting in on the forecheck and putting them under pressure. It all starts with that.”
At the end of the game, there was an on-ice scrum between the Avs and Jets that saw Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon emerge with a bloodied, lacerated left hand. Dillon immediately left the ice and entered the Jets’ dressing room.
Jets coach Rick Bowness said there was no immediate update available on Dillon’s condition.
“Obviously, a scary situation there,” Morrissey said. “I don’t really have anything to say, but we’re all really concerned for him and just hoping everything is OK.”
Brad Marchand immediately reclaims the lead for Boston
Brad Marchand gives the Bruins a 3-2 lead late in the third period after the Maple Leafs tied it up.
Game 1: BOS 5, TOR 1 | Recap Game 2: TOR 3, BOS 2 | Recap | Replay Game 3: BOS 4, TOR 2 | Recap | Replay Game 4: BOS @ TOR | April 27, 8 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: TOR @ BOS | April 30, 7 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview Game 6: BOS @ TOR | May 2* | Preview Game 7: TOR @ BOS | May 4* | Preview
Sebastian Aho scores to restore the Hurricanes’ two-goal lead vs. the Islanders.
Game 1: CAR 3, NYI 1 | Recap Game 2: CAR 5, NYI 3 | Recap | Replay Game 3: CAR 3, NYI 2 | Recap | Replay Game 4: CAR @ NYI | April 27, 2 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: NYI @ CAR | April 30, 7:30 p.m. (TBS)* | Preview Game 6: CAR @ NYI | May 2* | Preview Game 7: NYI @ CAR | May 4* | Preview
Central Division
Regular-season records:
Stars: 52-21-9, 113 points Golden Knights: 45-29-8, 98 points
Noah Hanifin puts Knights on top before third period
Noah Hanifin scoops the puck and makes a nice shot to give the Knights a 2-1 lead heading into the third period versus the Stars.
Game 1: VGK 4, DAL 3 | Recap | Replay Game 2: VGK 3, DAL 1 | Recap | Replay Game 3: DAL @ VGK | April 27, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 4: DAL @ VGK | April 29 (ESPN) | Preview Game 5: VGK @ DAL | May 1* | Preview Game 6: DAL @ VGK | May 3* | Preview Game 7: VGK @ DAL | May 5* | Preview
Game 1: WPG 7, COL 6 | Recap | Replay Game 2: COL 5, WPG 2 | Recap | Replay Game 3: WPG @ COL | April 26, 10 p.m. (TNT) | Preview Game 4: WPG @ COL | April 28, 2:30 p.m. (TNT) | Preview Game 5: COL @ WPG | April 30 | Preview Game 6: WPG @ COL | May 2* | Preview Game 7: COL @ WPG | May 4* | Preview
Colton Sissons finishes the rebound for Predators’ 3rd goal
Nashville extends their lead to 3-0 over the Canucks thanks to this Colton Sissons goal.
Game 1: VAN 4, NSH 2 | Recap | Replay Game 2: NSH 4, VAN 1 | Recap | Replay Game 3: VAN @ NSH | April 26, 7:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 4: VAN @ NSH | April 28, 5 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: NSH @ VAN | April 30, 10 p.m. | Preview Game 6: VAN @ NSH | May 3* | Preview Game 7: NSH @ VAN | May 5* | Preview
Anze Kopitar finds the back of the net early in overtime to lift the Kings to a Game 2 win over the Oilers.
Game 1: EDM 7, LA 4 | Recap | Replay Game 2: LA 5, EDM 4 (OT) | Recap Game 3: EDM @ LA | April 26, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 4: EDM @ LA | April 28, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: LA @ EDM | May 1 | Preview Game 6: EDM @ LA | May 3* | Preview Game 7: LA @ EDM | May 5* | Preview