Jeff Kent reveals how he handled MVP praise during his MLB career
Ahead of his Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Jeff Kent explains his mindset during his MVP season.
Perhaps some time in October, the Milwaukee Brewers will regret not trading for Tarik Skubal. For the moment, they’re the best team in the major leagues, and have one would-be Skubal pawn to partially thank for it.
The Brewers ascended to No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings thanks to two one-run victories over the Minnesota Twins in a taut battle of Upper Midwest playoff contenders. Their series-clinching victory came in 10 innings on a Jake Bauers walk-off single, but it was a catch by right fielder Luis Lara in the top of the inning – his second fantastic grab of the day – that prevented a huge inning and put Milwaukee in position to win.
Lara, 21, was among the players the Brewers roped off from Skubal talks, having signed him to a team-friendly extension and identifying him as a key part of their future. Ranked by Baseball America as the game’s No. 35 prospect, he boosted Milwaukee on a day Jacob Misiorowski made history but couldn’t close the deal.
No matter. Milwaukee’s 74-44 record gives it a three-game edge over Atlanta for best in the NL as the Brewers maintain a 5 ½-game lead over the relentless Chicago Cubs.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)
- Four games at Dodger Stadium may evoke bad memories of last October – or a boost toward the next one.
- 9-15 over last 24 games. Still no reason for concern?
3. Tampa Bay Rays (+1)
- Now 25 games over .500, but Griffin Jax’s elbow discomfort a pop-up concern.
4. Atlanta Braves (-1)
- Nearly swept in Yankee Stadium.
5. Chicago Cubs (+1)
- Craig Counsell slots PCA in at DH for two games, the better to save his legs for the stretch.
6. New York Yankees (-1)
- Cody Bellinger performing baseball activities, Aaron Judge receives semi-positive news. Sky, not yet falling.
- Lose consecutive games for the first time since June 30-July 1 – against the Athletics, no less.
- Starters held Dodgers to three earned runs in 19 2/3 innings of series victory.
9. Chicago White Sox (-1)
- Hagen Smith, fifth overall pick in 2024, pitches two scoreless relief innings in major league debut.
- Jesus Luzardo with a 2.25 ERA over his last 100 innings pitched.
- An odd setback for Nick Pivetta on rehab start road.
- No one wants to play them at loanDepot Park. Really – they’re an NL-best 36-24 at home.
- Yordan Alvarez leads all Triple Crown categories and only Junior Caminero (33 homers to Alvarez’s 35) can likely prevent it.
14. Cleveland Guardians (-2)
- Lost five of six after nifty trade deadline additions.
- Jordan Montgomery, their 2023 World Series hero, appears in major league game for first time since 2024.
16. Minnesota Twins (-1)
- Kaelan Culpepper arrives, homers in second career at-bat.
17. St. Louis Cardinals (+2)
- Jettison Dustin May, JoJo Romero and Lars Nootbaar at deadline, then win series against Yankees, Rockies.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (-2)
- Have not won a series since July 19.
19. Washington Nationals (-1)
- Andrés Chaparro starting to excel in pinch-hitting/platoon role.
- Begin a Rangers-Twins-Rays-Yankees-Rays gauntlet by losing two in Texas.
- Jackson Jobe completes Tommy John surgery comeback with five scoreless innings.
- This incredibly disappointing year should probably produce consequences.
- Daulton Varsho trade gives Brett Bateman a shot to turn heads in centre field.
- Their season long since ruined, they’re now spoiling it for others (Guardians, Pirates).
- Matt Chapman out for rest of year after sports hernia surgery.
- Luinder Avila and Stephen Kolek both succumb to Tommy John surgery.
- GM David Forst learns a lesson as old as time: Few get out of Yolo County alive.
- Zac Veen with a three-homer, 5-for-5 eruption at Class AAA.
- Trade deadline prize shortstop Arjun Nimmala starts with Class AA Trash Pandas.