By Salem Chicago News Staff
The top three RBI leaders in Major League Baseball all play in the NL Central, and if they hold those spots through the end of the regular season, it would be a first in the division era.
The Cardinals’ Alec Burleson leads with 111 RBIs, followed by the Reds’ Sal Stewart at 109 and the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong at 105. No division has ever produced the top three RBI finishers since divisional play began in 1969, per OptaSTATS.
The trio faces competition in the final nine games. Orioles slugger Pete Alonso has 102 RBIs after hitting his 300th career home run this week. Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker sits at 100, and Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has 99.
“PCA may need a hot finish to his historic season to hold the No. 3 spot,” an MLB.com analysis noted.
Crow-Armstrong has been the engine of the Cubs’ offense all year. He has 43 home runs and 81 extra-base hits, breaking Billy Williams’ single-season franchise record for a left-handed hitter. Entering Friday, he ranked first in the majors in second-half WAR, according to FanGraphs.
The Cubs have series remaining against the Reds, Marlins and Red Sox. Alonso and the Orioles face a tougher stretch against the Brewers, Blue Jays and Yankees, while Alvarez and the Astros close with four games against the Athletics.
The regular season ends Sept. 28.
