Bellinger’s NL MVP Odds Continue Improving Entering September; Yelich Holds at +300
- Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich have been battling for NL MVP all season.
- Yelich is the reigning NL MVP and poised to repeat
- It would take an historic month of play for anyone in the NL to overtake either Bellinger or Yelich in the NL MVP race.
With Labor Day weekend now in the rearview mirror, baseball rosters have officially expanded and pennant races are kicking into high gear.
Over the course of the 2019 season, the NL MVP race has been a two-headed monster between Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich.
Since April 8th, the NL MVP Odds have been purely the Belli and Yeli show. Yelich, the reigning NL MVP, has been putting up similar numbers as last year, and Cody Bellinger is showcasing why the 24-year old already has a handful of accolades under his belt.
Odds to Win the 2019 NL MVP
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cody Bellinger | -325 |
| Christian Yelich | +300 |
| Anthony Rendon | +1100 |
| Freddie Freeman | +1200 |
*Odds taken 09/2/2019
Yelich’s Case
Last year, Yelich put up a .326/.402/.598 slash line, hitting 36 homers and driving in 110 runs. The 27-year old has been up to the same thing this year, as he’s already hit 42 homers, is batting .328, and has on on base percentage of .423.
Bellinger’s Case
On Bellinger’s 24th birthday in July, he was greeted with “MVP” chants at Fenway Park. He currently has hit 43 homers, and has already crossed the 100 RBI threshold.
Clutch Belli. ?? pic.twitter.com/vWiDxhG0ow
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 1, 2019
After a disappointing season last year, Bellinger has taken the next step many expected after his record setting Rookie of the Year campaign in 2017.
Belli vs. Yeli
| 8.2 | WAR | 6.2 |
| .310 | Batting Average | .328 |
| 1.063 | OPS | 1.093 |
| 105 | RBI | 92 |
The one stat that speaks volume though is the WAR between the two, as that is the biggest difference the two have, and one of the biggest reasons why Bellinger has -325 odds to win the NL MVP trophy over Yelich.
The Longshots
Is anyone else worth betting at this point? Probably not.
Anthony Rendon sits in a distant third with odds at +1100, which really isn’t that close. Thinking back to last year, it was Yelich’s crazy hot second half of the season that secured his MVP trophy for him, but we’re in September now, and if someone else was going to make a splash, we would’ve seen it by now.
Right now, it seems that the NL MVP is Bellinger’s to lose. Playing for the NL-leading Dodgers in a marquee market and putting up the ridiculous numbers he has prove him to be the favorite, and Yelich would need a ridiculous September and a cold snap by Bellinger to catch him.
A graduate of Sport Media at Ryerson University, Hayley is the ultimate student of sports. Whether she is playing it, watching it, debating it, or writing it, it's safe to assume sport consumes the majority of her life. She has worked both internationally and with the NBA.
