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Acuna finished the season with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, 73 stolen bases, a .337 batting average, a .416 OBP, and 1.012.
Shohei Ohtani is not expected to be able to pitch until 2024.
Julio Rodriguez finished the season with 32 home runs, 103 RBIs, 37 stolen bases.
MLB Spring Training is officially here, which means it is time to start getting your MVP bets in.
This year’s race will look very different, thanks to Shohei Ohtani’s move from the AL to the NL. The dual-threat had won two of the last three AL MVP awards, losing only to a record-breaking season from Aaron Judge.
Now, he enters a crowded NL MVP race along with new teammates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Ohtani will also be up against last year’s winner, Ronald Acuna Jr.
Below, we will share the latest odds for both MVP races, insights into the favorites, and who we like to win.
Sign up for FanDuel using this link for a chance to earn $150 in Bonus Bets.
While the teams are warming up, the sportsbooks are already set to start this season. Let's take a look at the AL and NL future odds for 2024.
Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook. Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly.
Player | Odds |
---|---|
Aaron Judge | +550 BET HERE |
Juan Soto | +600 BET HERE |
Yordan Alvarez | +800 BET HERE |
Julio Rodriguez | +1000 BET HERE |
Corey Seager | +1000 BET HERE |
Acuna burst onto the scene last season to capture his first MVP award at just 25 years old. The award was never really in doubt, thanks to the right fielder's historic stats. He finished the season with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, 73 stolen bases, a .337 batting average, a .416 OBP, and 1.012.
We don’t know if Acuna can match that this season, but we believe he has the best chance to win the NL MVP. His ability to hit for both average and power while stealing over 70 bases is something very few players have ever been able to do. No other player with odds in the top five has that combination, including Ohtani.
No one is happier to see Ohtani move to the NL than Aaron Judge. The Yankee slugger won the AL MVP two seasons ago after hitting a whopping 62 home runs to go with 131 RBIs and a .311 batting average. Injuries cut his season short last season, leading to a drop in his numbers.
We know Judge has the talent to win multiple MVP awards, and now he will have some extra support. New York spared no expense in boosting their lineup during the offseason. They acquired a solid hitter in Alex Verdugo and one of the best bats in the league, Juan Soto. That will help give Judge more protection in the lineup, which could significantly boost his numbers and lead to his second AL MVP.
Betts started last season slowly, but a strong finish almost landed him another MVP award. He finished the season with a .307 batting average, 39 home runs, and 107 RBIs. While he fell short of winning the NL MVP, he posted his best season since 2018. He won the MVP that season.
The question surrounding the 31-year-old is whether he can improve on last season’s stats. His numbers were boosted by a monster August, but he did cool down again towards the end of the season. The Dodgers lineup will get a boost with Ohtani slotting in as the DH, giving Betts even more protection in the lineup. If he can keep his average or OBP up, he will be very tough to bear out for the 2024 MLB MVP.
For the first time in several years, Ohtani is not among the three favorites to win an MVP award. Part of the reason is that he is coming in with an injury expected to prevent him from pitching or even playing the outfield this season. His pitching is how he has been able to separate himself from the rest of the MVP field, and FanDuel believes it will hurt his chances of adding another award.
While pitching is a big part of what makes Ohtani unique, he is also one of the best power hitters in the league. He has hit over 40 home runs in two of the last three seasons, including 44 last season. While he is now somewhat of a longshot to win the award, we have yet to see Ohtani play with a good team. Now, he’ll be in the best lineup in baseball, meaning his stats could be getting a significant boost.
The only thing missing from Corey Seager’s impressive resume is a regular-season MVP award. Had injuries not limited him to just 119 games, that many have changed last season. The Texas shortstop finished the season with a .327 batting average, 33 home runs, 96 RBIs, a .623 slugging percentage, and a 1.013 OPS. He was a big reason the Rangers won the World Series, but we can only imagine where his stats would have landed had he played 20-25 more games.
Unfortunately, missing significant time with injuries has been a habit for Seager. He was able to play in 151 games in 2022 but only played more than 100 games in three of the four seasons before that. While we have concerns about his ability to stay healthy, his current price from FanDuel is worth the risk.
We absolutely LOVE this price for J-Rod. The 23-year-old entered last season as an MVP favorite but had a brutal first half. The budding superstar surged late in the season, finishing with 32 home runs, 103 RBIs, 37 stolen bases, a .275 batting average, and a war of 5.3. We believe J-Rod’s ability to overcome the cold start is a sign that he is growing into the generational player many think he could be.
With Ohtani gone, Julio Rodriguez becomes the unicorn of this AL MVP field. Like last year’s NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr, he can hit for average, power, and steal bases. The other top-five favorites to win the award are power hitters with decent averages, but none have the speed and stealing ability of J-Rod. The race is loaded with talent, but we see him running away with the race by the end of the season.
The modern MVP award dates all the way back to 1931, when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted to name Lefty Grove (AL) and Frankie Frisch (NL) as the winners. Before that, some version of an MVP award had existed since Ty Cobb won it in 1911.
Below is a list of some of the recent MVP winners from both leagues.
Year | Player | Team | Position |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angles | OF/SP |
2022 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | OF |
2021 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels | OF/SP |
2020 | Jose Abreu | Chicago White Sox | 1B |
2019 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | OF |
2018 | Mookie Betts | Boston Red Sox | OF |
2017 | Jose Altuve | Houston Astros | 2B |
2016 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | OF |
2015 | Josh Donaldson | Toronto Blue Jays | 3B |
2014 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | OF |
2013 | Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers | 3B |
Year | Player | Team | Position |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | Atlanta Braves | OG |
2022 | Paul Goldschmidt | St. Louis Cardinals | 1B |
2021 | Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies | OF |
2020 | Freddie Freeman | Atlanta Braves | 1B |
2019 | Cody Bellinger | Los Angeles Dodgers | OF |
2018 | Christian Yelich | Milwaukee Brewers | OF |
2017 | Giancarlo Stanton | Miami Marlins | OF |
2016 | Kris Bryant | Chicago Cubs | 3B |
2015 | Bryce Harper | Washington Nationals | OF |
2014 | Clayton Kershaw | Los Angeles Dodgers | SP |
2013 | Andrew McCutchen | Pittsburgh Pirates | OF |
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, which is 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.
Now that you have some insights into both MVP races, it is time to find a sportsbook to place your bet. You can check out our full sportsbook reviews on our sportsbooks page, but below are some quick comparisons to help you decide.
DraftKings | BetMGM | FanDuel | |
---|---|---|---|
MVP Odds for the Top Favorite in AL & NL | AL +550 NL +525 | AL +550 NL +525 | AL +550 NL +500 |
Welcome Bonus | Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly | Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets! | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets |
Payment Options | - PayPal - Debit Card - Venmo - Online Bank Transfer - Cage In-person - Play+ Prepaid Card - Check - Wire Transfer | - ACH Payments Bank Transfer - Visa - Mastercard - American Express - Discover credit card - PayPal - Neteller - Skrill | - ACH Payments Bank Transfer - Mastercard - Visa - FanDuel Prepaid Card - Online Transfer - Wire Transfer - PayPal |
Withdrawal Time | Instant | Instant | Instant |
Bet on the AL & NL MVP Races Here | BET HERE | BET HERE | BET HERE |
Michael is an avid sports fan and a veteran bettor from Milwaukee. He learned the trade from his grandfather in Las Vegas as a kid and has turned that into a successful career. He cheers for all Wisconsin pro teams along with his Alma Mater Arizona State. He specializes in baseball betting, but has experience in football, basketball, and hockey as well. When he isn’t pouring over stats, he’s spending time with his two young children.
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