MLB MVP Odds 2026: Can Anyone Dethrone Ohtani and Judge?

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 FanDuel Sportsbook. Sign up for a FanDuel account to claim the welcome offer: Up to $3,000 in Bonus Bets.

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AL MVP Odds

NL MVP Odds

MLB MVP Winner Picks

AL MVP Winner - Aaron Judge (+180) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Aaron Judge is operating at a historic statistical peak that has seen him claim three of the last four awards, including the 2025 AL MVP. Coming off a season where he won his first MLB batting title with a .331 average and led the majors in OPS (1.145) and home runs (53), Judge has transitioned from being just a "power hitter" into arguably the most complete offensive force in the sport.

Entering the 2026 season as the betting favorite at +185 odds, his candidacy is bolstered by the protection in the Yankees' lineup from stars like Juan Soto and the newly re-signed Cody Bellinger, ensuring he continues to see hittable pitches. Furthermore, with his 10.1 fWAR in 2025 proving his massive overall value, Judge remains the gold standard for "value" in the American League, as few other players can match his combination of elite on-base skills and 50-homer potential.

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NL MVP Winner - Juan Soto (+650) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Juan Soto is widely considered the top challenger to unseat Shohei Ohtani for the 2026 NL MVP. After signing a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, Soto responded in 2025 with a career-high 43 home runs and a league-leading 127 walks, while surprisingly adding a career-best 38 stolen bases.

His ability to maintain a near-.400 on-base percentage while potentially threatening a 40/40 season makes him a unique "skill-based" alternative to Ohtani’s two-way dominance. Analysts believe that if Soto can improve his batting average and lead a revamped Mets roster back to the postseason, his narrative as the game’s most disciplined hitter - combined with possible "voter fatigue" for the reigning champion - could finally secure him the first MVP trophy of his career.

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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. Thanks to their fantastic platform and competitive odds, Caesars Sportsbook is always a great choice. Caesars brings us the most Las Vegas-feeling betting experience, so it is our go-to option. Sign up for an account today using our promo code WSNDYW and claim the welcome offer: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings 10x.

If you aren’t looking for a Las Vegas-style sportsbook, 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: Up to $3,000 in Bonus Bets.

Wherever you decide to wager on the AL & NL MVP, check out our selection of the best online sportsbooks before signing up.

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.