Murphy, Scherzer, Turner, Baker finalists for BBWAA awards

The Baseball Writers' Association of America revealed finalists for each of the sport's major awards this evening, and the Nationals find themselves smack dab in the middle of it all.

The Nationals have a finalist for each of the four big National League awards: Daniel Murphy (MVP), Max Scherzer (Cy Young), Trea Turner (Rookie of the Year) and Dusty Baker (Manager of the Year).

Three finalists were revealed for each award, corresponding to the three players who received the most votes. Two BBWAA members from each NL city submitted ballots at the end of the regular season.

Of the Nationals in the mix, Scherzer has the best chance to win. The right-hander, who is going up against the Cubs' Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks, led the NL in wins (20), innings (228 1/3), strikeouts (284), WHIP (0.97) and WAR (6.2) while ranking eighth in ERA (2.96). Hendricks posted the league's best ERA (2.13) but ranked just 13th in innings (190). Lester finished second to Scherzer in wins (19), second to Hendricks in ERA (2.44), sixth in innings and seventh in strikeouts.

Scherzer won the 2013 American League Cy Young Award while with the Tigers and finished in fifth place in both 2014 and 2015. He becomes only the second Nationals pitcher ever to finish in the top-three in Cy Young voting, joining Gio Gonzalez (who finished third in 2012).

Murphy posted MVP-caliber numbers - he hit .347 with 25 homers, 104 RBIs and a league-leading .985 OPS - but the second baseman is likely to come up short behind the Cubs' Kris Bryant, who had 32 homers, 102 RBIs and a .939 OPS to go along with a .292 batting average while also excelling in the field and leading the NL in WAR (7.7).

Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager (.308 average, 26 homers, 72 RBIs, 105 runs, .877 OPS) joins Bryant and Murphy as MVP finalists in the NL.

Had Turner been in the big leagues more than three months, he might well have an airtight case for Rookie of the Year honors. As it was, in only 73 games he still hit .342 with 13 homers, 40 RBIs, 53 runs, 33 stolen bases and a .937 OPS.

But Seager, who was in the majors all season, is expected to win the award by a considerable voting margin. Los Angeles right-hander Kenta Maeda is the third finalist for NL Rookie of the Year.

Baker joins the Cubs' Joe Maddon and the Dodgers' Dave Roberts as finalists in a compelling NL Manager of the Year race. The 67-year-old skipper won the award three times with the Giants (1993, 1997, 2000) and was runner-up in 2003 with the Cubs and both 2010 and 2012 with the Reds.

In his first season in Washington, Baker guided the Nationals to a 95-67 record and the NL East title.

Award winner and full voting results will be announced next week in the following order: Rookie of the Year (Monday), Manager of the Year (Tuesday), Cy Young (Wednesday) and MVP (Thursday).