MLB MVP Odds 2026: Breaking Down the Top Award Contenders

The MLB MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award is the most prestigious individual honor in professional baseball, given annually to one standout player in the American League (AL) and one in the National League (NL).

Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) has secured his third career MVP award in 2025 after a historic season where he hit 53 home runs and led the league in nearly every major hitting category.

On the other side, Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) has won his fourth MVP award (unanimously) after becoming the first player to win multiple MVPs in both leagues. His "value" is unique, as he continues to dominate as both a power hitter and an elite pitcher.

Let's check the odds and best candidates for the MLB MVP Winners in 2026.

MLB MVP Odds

Below, we’ll share the odds for the NL and AL MVP races from some of the best US sportsbooks available today.

AL MVP Odds

NL MVP Odds

MLB MVP Winner Picks

Here are my picks for the standout players poised to separate themselves from the pack and take home baseball's most prestigious individual award.

AL MVP Winner - Yordan Alvarez (-1200) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has emerged as the overwhelming betting favorite heading into the final stretch of the season. After back-to-back reigning MVP Aaron Judge fell out of the race due to an extended stint on the injured list with a rib fracture, Alvarez seized complete control of the odds boards.

By early August, the powerful left-handed designated hitter had posted spectacular, league-leading numbers, boasting a .329 batting average with 35 home runs, 85 RBIs, and a staggering 1.087 OPS.

While young stars like Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero and Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. remain on the fringes of the conversation, Alvarez's unmatched offensive production and elite 202 OPS+ have firmly entrenched him as the undisputed frontrunner to capture his first career AL MVP trophy.

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NL MVP Winner - Shohei Ohtani (-115) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Shohei Ohtani remains an exceptionally strong candidate to capture his third consecutive MVP award in 2026 thanks to the resumption of his unprecedented dual-threat dominance.

Returning to the mound for the Dodgers this season, Ohtani has been spectacular as a starting pitcher, posting an 8-2 record with a sparkling 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85.2 innings of work. Even with the Dodgers strategically managing his pitching workload in the second half following a minor knee injury in July, he has continued to be a destructive force at the plate. Hitting .289 with 27 home runs, 75 RBIs, and an elite .928 OPS through mid-August, Ohtani is once again proving to be one of the best pure hitters in the league.

Boasting a massive 6.6 WAR, his combined production as an ace-level pitcher and a top-tier slugger provides him with a unique baseline of historical value that keeps him firmly in the hunt for the National League crown.

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MLB AL & NL MVP Winner History

Over the past four seasons, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge have combined to win five MVP awards. The superstars are the favorites to add more hardware to their collection this season, but we have a lot of baseball to go.

Before the rise of Judge and Ohtani, the MVP races have been up for grabs in most seasons. Below are the last ten MVP winners from the AL & NL.

How to Bet on the MLB MVP

Doing your research before betting on this year’s winners of the MLB MVP awards is incredibly important. While Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge have been the top two players in the league for a few years now, it hardly makes them a lock to win the award in 2025.

Before placing any wager on the MVP, we always recommend shopping for value. The favorites often see their odds lose value, meaning bettors have to wager more money to see a solid payout. Be sure to check the price on the other favorites before comparing stats and the other intangibles that MVP voters use when deciding on the winner.

If you are planning to bet on this year’s MVP races, be sure to get your bets in early to lock in the best value. These odds will be the best you’ll see as the field is whittled down by injury, slumbs, and other factors throughout the season.

How to Read MLB MVP Odds

Reading the odds for an MVP bet is reasonably straightforward. When checking odds from a sportsbook, you’ll see numbers with a (+) or (-) in front of them. The plus sign means that you will win the number after it when betting $100. If the number has a minus sign, you’ll need to bet that amount to win $100. 

Most sportsbooks organize the betting favorites according to their odds, making it easy to see. The biggest favorites will have a minus sign in front of their odds. The bigger the number, the more favored that player is. 

Be sure to remember that betting on heavy favorites means smaller payouts. For example, if you bet on Aaron Judge at -165, you’ll need to bet $165 just to win $100. If you instead wagered on Bobby Witt Jr., you’d need to spend $100 for a chance to win $450. Given that the betting favorite isn’t a lock to win the award, we prefer to look for players with more favorable odds. 

Where to Bet on the MLB MVP

There is no shortage of sportsbooks to wager on the MLB MVP.

If you are looking for an overall solid sportsbook experience, you can’t go wrong with FanDuel Sportsbook. The former DFS giant has become the most popular online sportsbook in the country. People flock to the platform for the valuable bonuses and easy-to-use layout. All new users at FanDuel can claim the following welcome bonus: Bet $5, Get up to $1,000 in Bet Resets. Be sure to read more on this offer in our FanDuel promo code overview.

DraftKings Sportsbook consistently rolls out some of the most competitive and aggressively updated futures odds in the industry, ensuring you get maximum value whether you are riding a heavy favorite or sprinkling on a high-upside sleeper. Sign up today and claim the following welcome offer: Spend $5 Get $150 In Bonus Bets (Paid in 14 days).

Thanks to their fantastic platform and competitive odds, BetMGM Sportsbook is always a great choice. BetMGM brings us the most Las Vegas-feeling betting experience, so it is our go-to option. Sign up for an account today using our BetMGM bonus code WSNSPORTS and claim the welcome offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

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