Chris Davis belts 50th home run

     Chris Davis hit his 50th home run of the season, tying Brady Anderson for the most in Orioles history. Davis is now tied for 37th on the all time single season home run list. I guess pitchers still haven't learned: don't give anything good to Chris Davis.

In other news:

• The Washington Nationals beat the Phillies for their seventh straight win as they try to make one last push for the playoffs.
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia belted a go-ahead grand slam in the Red Sox' 8-4 victory over the Yankees.

Alfonso Soriano makes a nice play, robbing Manny Machado of a solo shot

     Alfonso Soriano has been knocking balls out of the park for a long time. When he returned to the Yankees this season he hit quite a few. This time Soriano felt like taking away a home run. He robbed the Orioles' phenom Manny Machado of a solo home run in the eighth inning. The New York Yankees ended up winning 6-5. That means Soriano's nice play could have been a game saver.

Davis ties AL record for most home runs before All Star break

MLB.com

     Chris Davis has enough home runs so far this season to put him in 6th place for the AL last season. His 37th home run ties him with Reggie Jackson for the most before the All Star break in American League history. Davis will participate in the Home Run Derby today as well.

Chris Davis slams number 31

MLB.com

     Chris Davis is having a monster season so far. If Miguel Cabrera didn't exist, everyone could agree he is the best hitter in baseball right now. He is on pace to hit almost 60 home runs this season. If he did, it would be more than Ryan Howard's 58 in 2006, and the most since Barry Bonds' record breaking (steroid-aided) season.

Chris Davis having Monster Season so far

     Chris Davis (1B for the Orioles) now has 26 home runs, which leads the major leagues by far. If he keeps this up, not only will be eclipse 50 home runs and any chance for Miguel Cabrera to win another Triple Crown, but he will be an easy MVP pick.

     The last time the O's had an MVP was way back in 1991, when Cal Ripken, Jr. won his second MVP award after hitting .323 with 34 homers.

Cardboard Player Spotlight: Chris Davis

Chris Davis

1B - Baltimore Orioles

Notable Stats - 2013

• OPS: 1.214     1st in AL
• SLG: .766    2nd in AL
• HR: 19     1st in AL
• RBI: 50     2nd in AL     
• BB: 29     7th in AL
• AVG: .359     2nd in AL

Age: 27

Debut: 2008

     With all the hype about guys like Miguel Cabrera, guys like Chris Davis are a little overshadowed. Davis is putting together a monster season so far, with a massive .766 slugging percentage to lead the big leagues by far. His 19 homers puts him on pace to hit well over 50 this year as well.

     Overall, is Davis keeps up the numbers, he has a legitimate shot at an All Star appearance, Silver Slugger, and an AL MVP award for 2013.