MLB MVP Odds 2026: AL & NL Favorites, Predictions

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani lead as betting favorites in the updated MLB MVP odds at BetMGM.

Get the latest MLB odds and predictions for the 2026 MVP races:

AL MVP Odds 2026: Favorites

Who is Favored to Win AL MVP in 2026?

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is the favorite in the latest American League MVP odds at BetMGM, sitting at -165 for an implied probability of 62.26%.

Alvarez became the favorite in late May, passing New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the first time all year. Judge, who had won back-to-back MVP trophies, began as a +200 favorite. He was trading at minus-odds by May, but is now off the board after landing on the injured list with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side.

Judge will return at some point this season, but an extended absence spoiled his chances of winning a fourth MVP trophy. Only Barry Bonds (seven) and Shohei Ohtani (four) have ever claimed four or more MVP trophies in MLB history.

AL MVP Prediction 2026

Prediction: Yordan Alvarez

Alvarez is the deserving favorite at this point in the season. He’s the best offensive player in the AL, hitting .318 with 31 home runs and 70 RBIs. Alvarez is posting an OPS+ of 193.

Alvarez has never finished higher than third in any MVP race, as he typically can’t compete with players who play a defensive position. Ohtani is the only full-time designated hitter to win an MVP award, so Alvarez will have to maintain his offensive production to claim this trophy.

If Alvarez’s offensive profile dips at all, several players could challenge him in a wide-open race. Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero has been the biggest riser of late, as his AL MVP odds have gone from +4000 to +450 within the past two weeks.

Nick Kurtz and Ben Rice are both potential challengers as well. Kurtz has built off his Rookie of the Year campaign for the Athletics, while Rice is delivering in Judge’s absence in New York.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. would be my favorite target, but he’s also playing for one of the league’s worst teams.

Best challenger: Junior Caminero
Value to watch: Bobby Witt Jr.
Long shot to monitor: Ben Rice

AL MVP Betting: Most Popular Bets

As of this writing, here are the most popular bets in the 2026 AL MVP market at BetMGM:

Most tickets
Bobby Witt Jr. 15.6%
Roman Anthony 8.2%
Aaron Judge 8%

Highest handle
Bobby Witt Jr. 15.4%
Julio Rodríguez 14.6%
Aaron Judge 7.5%

NL MVP Odds 2026: Favorites

Who is Favored to Win NL MVP in 2026?

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani remains a solid favorite in the NL MVP odds race at BetMGM. Priced at -900, Ohtani has an implied probability of 90%. His odds have actually gotten worse of late, as he was -5000 earlier last week.

He’s held minus-odds status since the market opened in the preseason, when he was listed at -145, and has only strengthened his position since.

The reasoning is straightforward: Ohtani has been healthy and operating as a two-way player since the start of the season, meaning he’s generating elite value with both his bat and his arm. A player producing at that level on two fronts is simply difficult to compete with in WAR-based MVP discussions.

Ohtani didn’t take the mound until midsummer in 2025, yet still earned a unanimous MVP for his fourth trophy in five years and his second since joining Los Angeles. He’s now won three consecutive awards, and a fourth straight would make him the first player in MLB history to do so.

With Ohtani having his best pitching campaign to date, the case for him only gets stronger by the day.

NL MVP Prediction 2026

Prediction: Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani continues to lead the way in the NL MVP odds race. He’s now hitting .293 with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs.

On top of that, Ohtani is having the best pitching campaign of his career. He’s posted a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, recording 95 strikeouts and 26 walks across 85 2/3 innings. He’s generated a 2.9 bWAR as a pitcher compared to a 3.2 bWAR as a hitter.

Ohtani’s odds of winning this award have worsened recently, moving from -5000 to -900. That’s because Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been on a heater. I’d still side with Ohtani, but PCA’s play is worth keeping an eye on.

Best challenger: Pete Crow-Armstrong
Value to watch: Kyle Schwarber
Long shot to monitor: Juan Soto

NL MVP Betting: Most Popular Bets

As of this writing, here are the most popular bets in the 2026 NL MVP market at BetMGM:

Most tickets
Pete Crow-Armstrong 8.9%
Ely De La Cruz 8.4%
Juan Soto 8.1%

Highest handle
Shohei Ohtani 38.7%
Pete Crow-Armstrong 6.6%
Matt Olson 5.7%

List of AL & NL MVP Winners

MLB Players With Most MVP Awards

Barry Bonds has won the most MLB MVP Awards (seven):

• Barry Bonds: 7
• Shohei Ohtani: 4
• Aaron Judge: 3
• Mike Trout: 3
• Albert Pujols: 3
• Alex Rodriguez: 3
• Mike Schmidt: 3
• Mickey Mantle: 3
• Yogi Berra: 3
• Roy Campanella: 3

MLB Teams With Most MVP Awards

The New York Yankees have the most MLB MVP Awards (25):

• Yankees: 25
• Cardinals: 21
• Dodgers: 16
• Giants: 14
• Athletics: 13

Has an MLB Rookie Ever Won MVP?

Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki are the only rookies to win MVP.

Lynn did it first, winning AL MVP in 1975 after guiding the Boston Red Sox to 95 regular-season wins and an appearance in the World Series. Ichiro won AL MVP in 2001 as the Seattle Mariners tied the MLB record for most wins in a season (116).