Quick Quiz: Who was the last Phillie to be a league MVP?

Quick Answer: It was Bryce Harper in 2021. Harper hit .309 with 35 homers, 84 RBIs, had a league-high 42 doubles, a .615 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.044.

Next Question: Can Kyle Schwarber win the award this season?

Next Answer: His status is building momentum, and we’ll find out.

With the Phillies’ ascent to the top of the NL East, Schwarber’s case is becoming more prevalent. Heading into Friday’s game, Schwarber has 42 homers 98 RBIs, a .249 average, and an OPS of .948.

If Schwarber has a late-season surge and the Phils win the division, he will be a heavy favorite.

You Said It ... In a recent Times News Facebook poll, the question was posed whether Schwarber is a legitimate MVP candidate and should Schwarber receive a contract extension.

According to you, however, there is little doubt he is, and he should remain a Phillie.

In the poll, 93 percent of the voters believe he is an MVP, and 100 percent of the voters want Schwarber to stay in South Philly.

Who Else Is There? ... Besides Schwarber, there is defending MVP Shohei Ohtani — he won the AL MVP in 2021, 2022, and 2023 — who could claim a repeat depending how he and the Dodgers finish.

Others expected to be in the mix are San Diego’s Manny Machado, Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong, and the Mets’ Pete Alonso.

Ohtani’s line is 43 homers, 79 RBIs, a .284 average, 131 hits, and a 1.020 OPS.

If you compare Schwarber’s line (see above) with Ohtani, there isn’t much of a difference. The major difference is in the average.

Machado has 20 homers, 82 RBIs with a .296 average, .848 OPS, and a league-high 138 hits; Crow-Armstrong has 27 homers, 78 RBIs, 116 hits, .808 OPS, and a league-high 31 doubles; and Alonso has 28 homers, 98 RBIs, .272 average, and 122 hits.

Others possibly in the mix are the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (14, 66, 300, 122 hits), and the Cubs’ Kyle Tucker (18, 67, .267, 114).

As you can see, the numbers for all of them are relatively close. Since 1950, the NL positional player MVP with the lowest average was Johnny Bench (.270) in 1972. Ohtani hit .257 with the Angels in 2021.

Klein, Schmidt, and Howard ... When you think about Phillies’ MVPs, Mike Schmidt usually comes to mind. If you’re in your thirties or forties, Ryan Howard in 2006 might be your first response.

Schmitty won the award in 1980, 1981, and 1986. His highest homer and RBI total was 48 and 121 in 1980, and his highest average was .316 in 1981.

Howard hit a Phillies’ season best 58 homers with 149 RBIs, which also were MLB highs.

But don’t forget Chuck Klein, the fist Phillies MVP who had an unconscious year in 1932. Klein led the league in homers (38), stolen bases (20), hits (226), runs (152), OPS (1.050), slugging percentage (.646), and OBA (.457). He hit .348 (third) and drove in 137 runs (second).

Escape From New York ... At one point this season, there was plenty of chatter about another Subway Series, and ironically it would be 25 years since the Mets and Yankees met in 2000.

Well, those rising expectations have suddenly fizzled.

Since they had a 5.5 game lead over the Phillies on June 12, the Mets have recorded a 19-32 record and sit five games behind in second place.

The Yankees encountered a similar fate, having a seven-game advantage over Toronto and a 35-20 mark on May 28, only to post a 29-37 slate.

They both have shared many common issues, but one prominent stands out — starting pitching.

After a strong start in April and May, the Mets’ starters have logged the fewest innings (277). This has taxed the Mets’ bullpen, and relievers Ryne Stanek and Reid Garrett have lost their effectiveness.

Yet, GM David Stearns gambled this season by bringing aboard bargain basement pitcher Griffin Canning, who was mostly effective until he ruptured his Achilles, overpaid for Frankie Montas, and converted reliever Clay Holmes into a starter. Ryan Helsley has been scuffling in his setup role.

Sean Manaea hasn’t regained his touch since returning from the disabled list, and Kodei Senga has struggled.

As a result, the Mets have dipped into their farm system for some relief, and No. 3 prospect Nolan McLean will start Saturday, while No. 5 prospect Brandon Sproat apparently will be there soon, too.

Beginning Friday night, the Mets had 41 games to play and were clinging to the third Wild Card spot, a half game ahead of the Reds.

As far as the Yankees, remember they did lose lead pitcher Gerrit Cole before the season and Clark Schmidt soon followed.

Their recent biggest disappointment has been Max Fried’s slide. Since July 1, Fried has pitched to a 6.00 ERA with a 2-2 record. Prior to that, Fried had a 1.92 ERA and a 10-2 record.

But their major issue is manager Aaron Boone, who has pulled his starters prematurely only to see his bullpen fail to hold leads. For instance, rookie starter Cam Schlittler, who has been impressive, was pulled after 86 pitches and five innings, allowing two runs and one hit against Minnesota. The Yankees lost the game, 4-1.

Schlittler has lost his last three starts, but he hasn’t pitched more than five innings. In his six overall starts, Schlittler (2-4) has pitched 29.2 innings, allowing 31 hits, and having a 3.94 ERA.

Message to Boone: Let your starters pitch.

Like the Mets, the Yankees were clinging to the third Wild Card spot, a half game ahead of the Guardians.

Worth the Wait ... For the first time since 2010 and this late in the season, the Padres are in first place and will face the Dodgers in a first-place showdown in L.A. this weekend.

It marked the first time since Sept. 25, 2010 that the Padres were in the top spot this late in the season. The Padres were a half-game ahead in first place on April 25.

On July 2, the Padres were 8.5 games out of first place, and they’ve gone on to post an overall 25-15 mark, while the Dodgers struggled to a 15-21 mark.

Reliever Mason Miller, acquired at the trade deadline, has allowed two earned runs, fours hits, and struck out 12 and walked two in his first five appearances with San Diego. Miller was one of eight new players in a major overhaul.

San Diego will be gunning for its first division title since 2006, and they’ll host the Dodgers next weekend in the final three games between the two teams.

By the way, former Phil Nick Pivetta has a 14-4 mark with a 2.87 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 141.1 innings. In his four years with the Phillies, Pivetta was 19-30 with a 5.50 ERA.

Earlier, the Dodgers won two of three in San Diego and also three of four in Los Angeles. In their last meeting on June 19, San Diego won 5-3 and there was a benches-clearing brawl over hit batters.

The Dodgers have won the division 11 of the last 12 years, only offset by the Giants in 2021.

So, these final two series should be worth watching, and they should decide the NL West.

Scrapbook ... Each column, I’ll peel back the pages to recount the career of a former baseball/softball standout from our coverage area.

Lehighton’s Jean Buskirk was a three-time All Centennial League choice and was selected as the school’s Scholar Athlete in 1989. She arguably was one of the finest softball players from Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

Upon graduation, Buskirk’s career soared at Bloomsburg University, where she was a two-time, first-team All-American and a two-time ECAC Division II South Region Player of the Year.

Buskirk left Bloomsburg as their all-time career hits leaders (235 – now seventh) and helped the team to an overall 170-25 record while she was there. Overall, Buskirk hit .395 average with six home runs, 99 RBIs, 44 doubles, seven triples and 120 runs. She hit .481 her senior year

After Bloomsburg, Buskirk was selected to try out for the USA Olympic team and was among the final 60 players. She did participate in the 1994 Olympic Festival.

Buskirk also was named an ASA All-American four times, and she had coaching stints at West Chester and Wilkes, and currently at Mulhenberg. She is in Bloomsburg’s Hall of Fame.

Get Them While They’re Hot ... Wisconsin-based franchise George Webb promised free hamburgers if the Brewers won 12 straight games, which they hit Wednesday night. The Brewers — baseball’s best record at 76-44 — earlier had an 11-game streak, and they have been 45-16 since June 1.

Former Phil Rhys Hoskins has been doing on-field work rehabbing his thumb injury.

If you’re in Wisconsin Aug. 20, check out a George Webb restaurant.

Your thoughts are always welcomed and will be published; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com