The dog days of summer are upon us in the MLB as teams continue to jockey for playoff position, but another race that has continued to heat up is the National League MVP Award competition.
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There are plenty of stars having big years in 2015, but in the end only one person will be crowned as league MVP when the dust settles over this year's campaign.
While most teams are still focused on shoring up their playoff spot in the hunt toward October, it is never too early to look at who the MVP of the season is thus far.
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Here are our top-5 rankings for NL MVP:
Honorable Mentions: Adrian Gonzalez (LAD), Dee Gordon (MIA), Anthony Rizzo (CHC), Joey Votto (CIN) and Max Scherzer (WAS)
5) Zack Greinke, Dodgers RHP
Clayton Kershaw became the first NL pitcher since 1968 to take home the MVP honors last season and now an argument could be made that his teammate should be considered to win the prestigious crown this year.
Greinke leads the MLB with a 1.71 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP and a .190 average allowed and he's been lights out in 2015.
The right-hander also had a dominant 45 2/3 innings scoreless streak earlier this year, which was snapped by the Mets in June.
4) Andrew McCutchen, Pirates OF
After getting off to a slow start at the beginning of the season, McCutchen now finds himself as an MVP candidate in the Senior Circuit.
The centerfielder is leading the Pirates with a .301 batting average and ranks third in the NL in RBIs (74) and fifth in on-base percentage (.398) and OPS (.911).
As the Pirates chase the Cardinals for the NL Central crown, the team has been one of baseball's hottest clubs in the second half and McCutchen has been a huge reason for that. McCutchen has no errors and six assists this season.
3) Buster Posey, Giants C
The three-time World Series champion has had a stellar season in 2015, ranking third in the majors with a .332 batting average and second in the NL with 75 RBIs.
Posey has thrown out 17-of-37 (46 percent) of attempted base stealers and has just one error in 76 games. The backstop also leads all NL catchers with seven defensive runs saved this season, according to Fangraphs.
With the Giants entrenched in a battle for NL West supremacy with the Dodgers this season, Posey paces the team with a .896 OPS.
2) Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks 1B
While Arizona has had its fair share of troubles in 2015, Goldschmidt hasn't wavered.
The first baseman leads the MLB with a .338 batting average and is in the top-5 in the NL in several categories, including first in RBIs (81, tied), second in hits (133) and third in runs (71).
Goldschmidt leads all major league first baseman with 11 defensive runs saved and has committed just two errors in 108 games this season.
If Goldschmidt is crowned MVP when the smoke clears over the 2015 season, you'll get no argument from us.
1) Bryce Harper, Nationals RF
At the tender age 22, Harper is having a year to remember in Washington, leading the majors in on-base percentage (.460), slugging percentage (.650) and OPS (1.110).
Harper also leads the NL with 29 homers, 77 runs and 234 total bases while his .333 batting average trails only Goldschmidt.
The outfielder cemented himself as first-half MVP in the NL, and it doesn't look like things are going to change in the second half of the season. Harper owns a .313/.447/.470 slashline 24 games in the second half.
Defensively, Harper has committed four errors in 103 games and is third among MLB right fielders with 10 defensive runs saved.
The young phenom will be a huge factor as the Nationals try to overtake the Mets in the NL East race.
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