Baseball's Offensive Leaders
Counted the right way. PLUS: MVP Chase updates.
Photo credit: Tage Olsin
IN THIS ISSUE:
Baseball’s scoring leaders
Baseball’s runs leaders
MVP Chase standings for both leagues
For almost two years, I’ve been redefining what offensive production means in baseball. I use two measures, one of which is teammate-reliant, the other based on what the batter does by himself.
ALL RUNS (ARu)
This is the total number of runs a player scores and drives in. That is, runs scored (R) plus runs batted in (RBI) minus home runs (HR). Home runs are dedeucted because they would otherwise be counted twice; if you hit a home run, you both score a run and bat in a run.
Both Runs and RBI are teammate-reliant: when you’re on base, a teammate must be batting in order to send you home; when you’re batting, a teammate must have gotten on base for you to drive him home.
All Bases (ABa)
Previously named Based Gained. This is Total Bases - four for each home run, three for each triple, two for each double, one for each single - plus all walks plus all stolen bases. This measures how good an offensive player you are independent of what your teammates do: it’s all your own swing, your own feet, your own judgement.
I liken All Runs to the scoring stat in hockey, which counts both goals scored and assists (passes that lead to a goal). I think of All Bases as the baseball equivalent of football’s yards from scrimmage. Just as gaining yards wears down the opposing defense even if no touchdown is scores, reaching base or advancing a base wears down or puts added stress on the opposing pitcher – even when no runs are scored.
The following are the leaders for All Runs and All Bases through July 21, 2026. I’ve listed both leagues together, including the top five in both leagues. Data comes from Stathead.
ALL RUNS LEADERS
ALL BASES LEADERS
MVP Chase
Because each league has their own MVP, I have an MVP Chase for each.
The MVP Chase is determined by the number of games in which:
The player’s team won the game;
The player’s ABa (All Bases) for the game was 3 or more.
The following is based on games played through July 22, 2026.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
34 Matt Olson, Braves
32 Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
32 James Wood, Nationals
32 Peter Crow Armstrong, Cubs
31 Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
29 Bryce Harper, Phillies
28 Brice Turang, Brewers
28 Andy Pages, Dodgers
AMERICAN LEAGUE
29 Ben Rice, Yankees
29 Junior Caminero, Rays
28 Yordan Alvarez, Astros
25 Miguel Vargas, White Sox
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Contact James Leroy Wilson for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com. Visit JL Cells for my non-sports writing.