MLB MVP Odds: Acuna’s September Push Locks Him in as Overwhelming MVP Favorite

Major US sportsbooks have taken the 2023 AL MVP Race off the board. With Shohei Ohtani continuing his stellar season, no other player is even close to contending for the coveted award. Ohtani has been a heavy favorite since the Opening Day, but his odds were drained of their value over the last month as he continued to separate himself from the field. 

The lack of AL MVP odds means that we have now turned our full attention to the race in the NL, which is now down to just four players. We have used our experience as life-long baseball fans and veteran sports bettors to study each race closely. We know the players in contention in-depth and what factors can raise or lower their chances of capturing the MLB's most prestigious award.

We’ll continue to track the NL MVP race and odds from the best MLB betting sites for the remainder of the season to ensure we always provide the most updated information.

NL MVP Odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

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NL MVP Odds Analysis & Predictions

Another month, another fantastic stat line for Acuna (.337 BA, 37 HR, 98 RBI). The Braves star is having one of his best months of the season so far, with a .333 batting average, seven home runs, 15 RBIs, and four stolen bases in September. He has further raised his MVP odds, and it is hard to imagine him losing the award with just a couple of weeks left in the season. While his odds may not offer much value, there is no other bet to make in this race.

One reason this race is all but decided is the play of Mookie Betts (.310 BA, 39 HR, 103 RBI) in September. The former MVP was red-hot in the second half of the season, but he has gone cold this month. Betts has managed just one home run and five RBIs while posting a .220 batting average in September. Betts’ production over the last two months was good enough to compete with Acuna’s, but a poor September has cost him a chance to add another MVP to his collection.

If you are looking to bet on the NL MVP but don’t want to take Acuna’s odds, Matt Olson (.281 BA, 52 HR, 129 RBI) is your best choice. We said last week the Braves’ slugger would need to historic September to win the award, and he has done just that. Olson had a .393 batting average and a .911 slugging percentage in September. He also has nine home runs and a whopping 17 RBIs, further solidifying him as the league leader in both categories. If the first baseman can keep this pace going, he could top Aaron Judge’s home run mark from last season, which won the Yankees star the 2022 MVP.

Like his Dodgers teammate, Freddie Freeman (.335 BA, 26 HR, 93 RBI, 19 SB) has seen a drop off in September. While his average isn’t bad (.302), he has just one home run and four RBIs this month. That puts him far behind Acuna’s production this month, and there likely isn’t enough time to close that gap. While Freeman is technically still in this race, it would take a miracle for him to win the 2023 NL MVP. 

Our Prediction: Ronald Acuna Jr (-800 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Acuna has essentially locked himself in to win the 2023 NL MVP. He is producing across too many categories for anyone to match, and he has been consistent all season. He has seen very few slumps and is playing better than almost everyone in September. While Olson could have an outside shot to catch him, it would take a miraculous final two weeks to overcome the Braves leadoff man.

How to Read MLB MVP Odds

MVP futures odds work the same as any other bet. Each bet includes a number next to the team or player preceded by a plus or minus sign. 

A plus sign in front of the number usually indicates an underdog, but they are also common with futures bets. If the odds next to a team or player have a plus sign, that is the amount that you will win for every $100 you bet.

A minus sign usually indicates the favorite to win, though they are rarely seen for future bets. A minus sign in front of the odds means that is how much you need to bet to win $100.

For example, let's say you bet $100 on Pete Alonso +1500 to win the NL MVP. If he wins the award, you will win $1500. 

If you aren't looking to bet $100 at a time, don't worry! Check out our odds calculator to help you determine potential winnings based on different wager amounts.

Previous AL MVP Winners

Previous NL MVP Winners

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