What happened: Pete Alonso went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs Tuesday. His 435-foot, three-run shot opened the scoring in a 13-1 win.
Why it matters: His power and run production give voters a strong counting-stat case. MVP ballots are submitted before the postseason, leaving September to shape his final standing.
By the numbers: Alonso is batting .276 with a .364 on-base percentage and .512 slugging percentage through 571 plate appearances. He has 24 doubles, 81 runs and five steals, with eight homers in his past 15 games.
What to watch: Watch whether Alonso sustains his power surge and moves into the leading group of AL candidates.