2018 MLB MVP Odds Tracker

• Track each player’s odds to win the 2018 AL and NL MVP awards
• View past winners and examine each top contender individually or by division
• Receive a visualization of how the odds have changed throughout the season

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Major League Baseball has been honoring its best players since 1911 with its American League and National League Most Valuable Player awards. Back then, the award was given to the “top batsman” in each league and the prize was a “luxury automobile” pimped out with three oil lamps and a horn. These days, winners use the award as a contract negotiating tool to coax millions of dollars in salary and endorsements.

The most recent recipients were Houston Astros sparkplug Jose Altuve, who led the AL in hitting for the second straight season, and Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who blasted a career high 59 home runs in 2017.

Stanton is now in the American League with the Yankees and is expected to give Altuve a run for his money in AL MVP balloting. It’s a true David vs Goliath tale and we’ll be tracking the odds available at our most trusted betting sites all year, providing you with each player’s average odds to win. We’ll also be tracking the NL race, where all eyes will be on Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper in what could be his final season in the nation’s capital.

American League MVP Odds

All AL MVP Contenders

We’re tracking the top 44 contenders in the American League, including Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese sensation is off to a fast start after winning his first two games and hitting home runs in three consecutive games. His quest to become the next Babe Ruth is one of the most fascinating storylines of the 2018 season.

AL MVP Top 3 Contenders

Player	Bovada Odds (09/20/18)
Mookie Betts (Red Sox)	-240
Mike Trout (Angels)	+375
JD Martinez (Red Sox)	+450

Mike Trout is having a season for the ages. The Millville Meteor leads the American League in walks, intentional walks, onbase percentage, and WAR. Now, if only Rob Manfred could convince him to do the occasional commercial…

AL MVP Winners by Position

Position	Number of MVP Winners
Outfield	31
First Base	14
Pitcher	12
Shortstop	9
Catcher	8
Third Base	8
Second Base	5
Designated Hitter	1

It should come as no surprise, but outfielders have won the most American League MVP awards since 1931. Not only can three outfielders play at all times, but outfielders can also sneak in a little rest by DHing.

AL MVP Contenders by Division

Once again, the AL East boasts some of the best talent in all of baseball. Big-time mashers like Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Josh Donaldson all call the AL East home, and new import JD Martinez is sure to garner MVP consideration if he can come close to replicating his power numbers from a year ago.

AL MVP Winners by Team

Team	Number of MVP Winners
New York Yankees	20
Detroit Tigers	11
Oakland A’s	11
Boston Red Sox	10
Texas Rangers	6
Baltimore Orioles	5
Minnesota Twins	5
Los Angeles Angels	4
Chicago White Sox	4
Milwaukee Brewers	3
Cleveland Indians	2
Seattle Mariners	2
Toronto Blue Jays	2
Kansas City Royals	1
Houston Astros	1

New York has produced the most American League MVP winners since 1931. Yankees greats Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle both won it three times, and recently retired Yankee Alex Rodriguez won it twice during his time in Gotham.

AL MVP Preseason Odds

Altuve’s odds of repeating as AL MVP are nearly as short as he is. The current frontrunner is Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who won the award in 2014 and 2016 and has finished first in WAR in four of the last five seasons.

AL MVP Odds for Previous Winners

The four players featured in this graph have accounted for the last six AL MVP awards. Miguel Cabrera’s odds to win again are the longest given his advanced age and the sorry state of the Tigers’ roster. Detroit shipped out most of its established stars in 2017, leaving Miggy with little protection in the line-up.

National League MVP Odds

All NL MVP Contenders

We’re tracking the top 43 contenders in the National League, including Phillies outfielder Rhys Hoskins. The 6’4” slugger made headlines by hitting 18 home runs in his first 34 Big League games and is already off to a red-hot start in 2018.

NL MVP Top 3 Contenders

Player	Bovada Odds (09/20/18)
Javier Baez (Cubs)	+105
Christian Yelich (Brewers)	+135
Nolan Arenado (Rockies)	+400

Freddie Freeman is off to the best start of his nine-year career. The Braves first baseman leads the National League in hits and batting average and has already clubbed 17 home runs.

NL MVP Winners by Position

Position	Number of MVP Winners
Outfield	32
First Base	15
Pitcher	10
Third Base	10
Catcher	8
Shortstop	7
Second Base	6

Just like in the American League, second baseman have won the fewest MVP awards. The only players to buck the trend are Frankie Firsch (1931), Jackie Robinson (1949), Joe Morgan (1975, 1976), Ryne Sandberg (1984), and Jeff Kent (2000).

NL MVP Contenders by Division

The NL East is home to Bryce Harper, but the biggest concentration of talent is in the NL West, where Rockies teammates Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon will face plenty of competition from Dodgers teammates Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and Clayton Kershaw. And don’t forget about Paul Goldschmidt. The Diamondbacks first baseman hit .297 with 36 home runs and 120 RBI in 2017 and has finished in the top three in MVP voting three times.

NL MVP Winners by Team

Team	Number of MVP Winners
St. Louis Cardinals	17
San Francisco Giants	13
Cincinnati Reds	12
Los Angeles Dodgers	11
Chicago Cubs	9
Philadelphia Phillies	7
Pittsburgh Pirates	7
Atlanta Braves	6
Colorado Rockies	1
San Diego Padres	1
Houston Astros	1
Miami Marlins	1
Milwaukee Brewers	1
Washington Nationals	1

St. Louis had a stranglehold on the National League MVP award during the 1930’s and 40’s thanks to legendary players like Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick, Stan Musial, and Mort Cooper. The last Cardinal to win the award was Albert Pujols, who won the honor in 2008 and 2009.

NL MVP Preseason Odds

Get used to hearing Bryce Harper’s name a lot this summer. The 25-year-old outfielder is eligible for free agency following this season and is expected to become baseball’s first $500 million man. He earned MVP honors in 2015 and another similar campaign will almost certainly garner him the most lucrative contract in Major League history.

NL MVP Odds for Previous Winners

Kershaw is one of only four players to win the NL MVP and NL Cy Young awards in the same season. The others are Don Newcombe (1956), Sandy Koufax (1963), and Bob Gibson (1968).