While there are roughly around 30 games left for the Cincinnati Reds to wrap up their first division title in what seems like forever (they’re up by 7 over the St. Louis Cardinals), there is one bit of unfinished business that involves these two clubs.

It is a subject that is rarely discussed in baseball circles, both within and outside Major League Baseball. You’re wondering what that subject is? It is the Holy Grail that batters have tried – and failed – to obtain: the Triple Crown.

And coincidentally or not, there are two players (one with the Reds and one with the Cardinals) who are fighting tooth and nail to obtain that crown jewel: Albert Pujols and our very own Joey Votto.

As of September 1, Votto’s bating average is .327, while Pujols’ is standing at .316. In addition, Pujols has clubbed 35 home runs while Votto has 32. Meanwhile, Votto has two more RBI than Pujols (97-95). So as you can see, this two-man race is rather tight.

Andrew Kahn of The Sports Journalists presents the pros and cons for both Votto and Pujols, including the Reds’ and Cardinals’ remaining schedules being a factor, and thinks that both players will be fighting for the Triple Crown until the end of the season.

It goes without saying that Pujols is if anything, he is consistent. He typically is good for a .330 average, 40+ HR and around 125 RBI or so annually. Votto, only 26 years old, has yet to really put together a track record like Pujols has. Yet it cannot be questioned that Votto is having a breakout season.

If Votto expects to achieve the Triple Crown, it would benefit him to do well in upcoming series against the Cardinals and San Diego Padres (both with very good pitching staffs).

With the recent expansion of team rosters, it will make the job of winning the Crown that much more difficult as pitchers brought up have an advantage. A good example is what Aroldis Chapman did during the Brewers-Reds game on Tuesday: One inning with a strikeout.

Pujols will benefit the rest of the way, to a degree, as in September, the Cardinals face Pittsburgh, Houston and the Chicago Cubs. But they also face Cincinnati this Friday for a 3-game series and the Padres between the 16th and 19th of this month.

As it were, this race is too tough to call with all the many variables that come into play. Because of that, while Pujols and Votto will have outstanding seasons when all has been said and done, I do not see a Triple Crown winner being announced this year.

Close, but no cigar. It just wasn’t meant to be.