The MLB season is 162 games, so awards aren't won in a week or month. But, it's possible to dig a hole so deep while rivals hit the ground running that the MLB odds to win an MVP award can dry up pretty quickly.
So while a hot or cold start doesn't tell the whole story, every game still matters. Let's take a look at the early returns and where baseball's top stars stand in the AL and NL MVP races through the season's first couple of weeks.
Odds to win AL MVP 2024
| Player |  |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Juan Soto |
+350 | +300 | +300 | +350 |
 Bobby Witt Jr. |
+550 | +700 | +700 | +600 |
| Aaron Judge |
+900 | +850 | +700 | +800 |
 Yordan Alvarez |
+1,000 | +1,400 | +1,400 | +900 |
 Mike Trout |
+1,100 | +1,000 | +1,000 | +900 |
 Gunnar Henderson |
+1,300 | +1,800 | +1,600 | +1,600 |
 Corey Seager |
+1,500 | +1,800 | +1,600 | +1,600 |
 Julio Rodriguez |
+1,600 | +1,800 | +1,800 | +1,000 |
| Adley Rutschman |
+2,000 | +2,200 | +2,500 | +2,200 |
 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. |
+2,000 | +3,500 | +3,500 | +2,400 |
| Kyle Tucker |
+2,500 | +2,500 | +2,500 | +1,800 |
 Jose Ramirez |
+2,500 | +3,000 | +3,000 | +2,000 |
 Rafael Devers |
+3,000 | +4,000 | +4,000 | +3,000 |
| Jose Altuve |
+3,000 | +2,500 | +1,800 | +2,500 |
| Marcus Semien |
+4,000 | +3,000 | +3,500 | +5,000 |
| Bo Bichette |
+4,000 | +3,500 | +3,500 | +3,500 |
Odds as of April 15, 2024.
AL MVP odds analysis
4/15/2024: For the second straight week, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been the biggest riser. He was still available to win AL MVP at 13/1. That ship has sailed as his scorching start continues. He hit two more home runs and is slashing .333/.389/.697 through 16 games.
On the opposite end, Julio Rodriguez has fallen in estimation from as short as +550 last week to as long as +1,800 today. Obviously, a .186/.238/.203 slash line with zero home runs through 16 games is suboptimal, but it might also represent opportunity. In 2023, when J-Rod finished fourth in AL MVP voting, he hit just .239 in the first month. It was worse in his MLB debut, batting .205 with no long balls and 30 strikeouts through the first 20 games of his career. He rebounded well enough to capture the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year.
Rodriguez has started slowly in each of his first two MLB seasons and is making it 3-for-3. When he starts to turn things around, his long odds will likely disappear rather quickly.
Previous AL MVP odds analysis
4/8/2024: Bobby Witt Jr. has taken the leap. Through 10 games, he's slashing .350/.409/.675 with a pair of homers and two more steals. It's curious, though, that Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve hasn't ticked up the odds board. A lot of early results can be chalked up to small sample-size Olympics (see Oneil Cruz in the NL section), but Altuve has a long history of success, has won AL MVP before, and is thoroughly beating the crap out of opposing pitchers (three homers, .375/.432/.700). He can be found as high as +5,000 at DraftKings. If you really want to jump the gun on early-season results, may I present Tyler O'Neill? The slugging outfielder is healthy and mashing in his first season with the Boston Red Sox. He's tied for the MLB lead with five home runs while slashing .357/.514/.893. OK, that is likely a mirage, but he hit 34 home runs and hit .286 in 2021, which was the last time he was remotely healthy. He finished eighth in NL MVP voting that season. He's available at +8,000 at both DraftKings and FanDuel.
4/3/2024: New York Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were 1-2 in the AL MVP odds for most of the winter and spring, but after one week of play, the latter has managed to pull ahead. It's taken Soto just six games to capture the hearts and minds of voters, bettors, and fans, as he's batting .417 with a homer and four RBI. Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels also fell several points while climbing up the odds board after jumping out to an early lead in the AL home run race. Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker has curiously moved up a few points at most sportsbooks despite batting .318 over his first six games with a pair of homers and five RBI.
3/27/2024: Not all books have shown movement on Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez to win AL MVP, but some have shortened his line considerably. The exciting young star was trading at 10/1 across the board when we last updated the board. Now, DraftKings and Caesars have him at +600 and +550, respectively. Both numbers have him just behind the betting leader. It's easy to see why. He's hit 60 home runs and 62 stolen bases across his first two MLB seasons and started slowly both times. This spring, he's improved his walk rate and is hitting .414. Another slow start doesn't seem likely, so if you like J-Rod and his five-tool talent this year, grab him at one of the books that haven't adjusted his odds just yet. 3/18/2024: All winter and spring, New York Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been 1-2 in the AL MVP odds. With Judge battling a lingering abdominal injury preventing him from playing in spring training games, Soto has surpassed Judge at FanDuel and matched him at Caesars. Judge is still hopeful to be ready for Opening Day, and while a stint on the IL won't prevent him from winning the award, it would put him behind the 8-ball if Soto were to start hot. Kansas City Royals infielder Bobby Witt Jr. has seen steady movement over the last few months. Even just two weeks ago, Witt was available at +2,000 at most books. While bet365 is still offering that line, everywhere else has shortened. If you like Witt's shot at a big power-speed breakout on top of what he already accomplished in 2023, get that best line before it goes.
2/29/2024: Spring games are underway and it's mostly par for the course for MVP odds in the Junior Circuit. There have been some adjustments, though, notably Caesars lengthening Corey Seager's odds to 12/1 (he's no longer than +1,000 elsewhere) and FanDuel offering Yordan Alvarez at +1,100. What could stand in Alvarez's way, and why other books could follow FD's lead, is his status in the Houston Astros outfield. With lingering knee injuries, the Astros might be inclined to shift him to be an even more permanent fixture at designated hitter, and no true DH has ever won an MVP award. This is the issue with betting on Shohei Ohtani in the NL this season. And if Hall of Famers David Ortiz and Edgar Martinez can't win MVP as a DH, it's doubtful that anyone will
2/19/2024: No line movement of any significance, which has become the norm as we wait for more players to sign. However, Baltimore Orioles infielder — and reigning AL Rookie of the Year — Gunnar Henderson is dealing with a strained oblique. Whether this affects his availability or effectiveness to open the season remains to be seen.
2/12/2024: As spring training gets closer and the same several free-agent names remain unsigned, the odds for both AL and NL MVP have remained mostly in lockstep with where it was, with some minor exceptions. As rosters start to be finalized and those FAs eventually sign, we could see more substantial movement. For now, we wait.
2/1/2024: Pitchers and catchers are due to report in a couple of weeks and some big fish are still unsigned. As a former winner, Cody Bellinger could challenge for an MVP but he has to sign first. For now, the New York Yankees duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto continues to lead the way. Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez has seen some money come in on him, though, as he's gone from +1,500 at longest to +1,300. Not massive movement, but something.
1/15/2024: We remain in relative stasis in the American League. No big moves have come in the last couple of weeks other than Mitch Haniger rejoining the Seattle Mariners in the trade that sent Robbie Ray to the San Francisco Giants, and that may not classify as a "big" move, anyway.
1/2/2024: Now we play the waiting game. Not much has changed in the last few weeks of December as we keep checking our watches to see when the remaining big-name free agents ultimately land. For now, the duo in the Bronx — Aaron Judge and Juan Soto — is drawing the shortest betting odds to win AL honors.
12/14/2023: The New York Yankees boast a formidable duo now that they've acquired outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres, and bookmakers took notice. They're 1-2 across the board with Judge narrowly edging out his new teammate for the shortest odds available. Assuming health, Judge is understandably the best bet as a former MVP and Rookie of the Year. Hitting behind an on-base machine like Soto should only bolster his RBI opportunities while also resulting in better pitches being thrown his way — harder to pitch around him with Soto already on base. Soto is an All-Star talent with MVP upside. He's only 25 and is in his final season before free agency if you put any stock in "walk-year performance." The most interesting discrepancies on the early board belong to Adley Rutschman and Carlos Correa. Rutschman may suffer in the eyes of voters because he doesn't boast the same eye-popping offensive numbers that some of his peers do, but he's a complete player, especially behind the plate. In Year 3, if he adds a little more pop, he could easily make a run and the +2,500 available at FanDuel may be long gone by May. Correa is among the favorites at DraftKings, maybe a tier or two below the top shelf, and is further down at Caesars (50/1) and way down the board at FanDuel (100/1). His talent is undeniable but he's constantly injured and he's probably worth a wait-and-see.
11/20/2023: Corey Seager and Mookie Betts made admirable pushes, but neither would ultimately knock the eventual winner off his throne. Shohei Ohtani is now a free agent after winning his second AL MVP in three years thanks to hitting .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases to go along with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched. Next season's version will not include the pitching side of things, but he showed that he was likely worthy of the award with his bat alone, the pitching only sweetened the deal.
Best MLB bonuses
All Users
Instant payout for MLB moneylines
If your team goes up by 5+! Claim Now
New Users
Get a no-sweat first bet
Up to $1,500! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Odds to win NL MVP 2024
| Player | |
|
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mookie Betts |
+330 | +300 | +325 | +340 |
 Ronald Acuna Jr. |
+700 | +700 | +600 | +600 |
 Bryce Harper |
+900 | +1,400 | +1,400 | +1,400 |
 Fernando Tatis Jr. |
+900 | +950 | +900 | +750 |
| Shohei Ohtani |
+1,000 | +1,400 | +1,400 | +1,500 |
| Freddie Freeman |
+1,100 | +1,100 | +1,100 | +1,100 |
| Matt Olson |
+1,600 | +1,400 | +1,200 | +1,200 |
 Pete Alonso |
+2,000 | +2,100 | +3,000 | +3,000 |
 Oneil Cruz |
+2,200 | +5,500 | +5,000 | +1,800 |
 Corbin Carroll |
+2,500 | +3,000 | +3,000 | +2,700 |
| Trea Turner |
+2,500 | +5,500 | +5,000 | +2,400 |
| Austin Riley |
+2,500 | +2,500 | +2,200 | +3,500 |
| Manny Machado |
+2,800 | +4,200 | +4,000 | +2,800 |
 Elly De La Cruz |
+3,000 | +5,500 | +5,000 | +2,500 |
 Seiya Suzuki |
+3,000 | +4,200 | +3,000 | +2,500 |
Odds as of April 15, 2024.
NL MVP odds analysis
4/15/2024: We don't need to go long on how Mookie Betts is the odds leader for NL MVP. He's incredible, plays for the team with the best World Series odds, and has a long enough track record to expect his high level of play at the plate AND in the field to continue.
While some books shortened Fernando Tatis Jr.'s odds to win MVP already, there were still some books offering longer than 10/1 even a week ago. Those are gone, with the best odds being around +950. He's slashing .290/.364/.536 with five home runs in 18 games. If the San Diego Padres are going to survive in a post-Juan Soto world, Tatis will have to be a key contributor.
Previous NL MVP odds analysis
4/8/2024: Mookie Betts might be the betting favorite for NL MVP for quite a while based on how he's started the season. He's as steady a performer as they come and he looks like he's been playing shortstop for far longer than he has (he never played the position in MLB before 2023). Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. has gotten off to a fairly slow start, batting just .242 with no home runs and only one stolen base on his lone attempt. After going 41/73 in those categories a year ago, it makes sense why his odds haven't fallen off after only eight games. His 13 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances (35.1%) is concerning. The best value play looks like Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz, at least until FanDuel (+5,500) catches up with other books. But, it's worth asking why might there be doubt. Cruz is still a long shot, especially if/when the Pirates fall off from their encouraging start. Specifically alarming are his strikeout rate (34.1%) and BABIP (.480). He has holes in his approach and he's potentially getting lucky when he can make contact. The talent is there, though, and if the Pirates are legitimate, he'll be a big reason why, but a .333 batting average and .364 on-base percentage with a 4.5% walk rate look unsustainable.
4/3/2024: Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is on a heater for the ages, coming out 15-for-30 over his first eight games with five homers and 11 RBI. He leads the senior circuit in OPS at 1.772. He's leapfrogged Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves in this race as a result. Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies threw his hat in the ring with a three-homer, six-RBI game on Tuesday, which helped snap an 0-for-15 skid to start the campaign.
3/27/2024: The biggest mover, at least at some books, is Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz, who was not even on our odds board at the last update. The slugging 25-year-old has five-tool talent but is also coming off a fractured fibula that cut his 2023 season short after playing in just nine games. Spring training results don't always hold a lot of water, but Cruz has seven home runs in 49 plate appearances. A very low BABIP in Grapefruit League action could also suggest he should be hitting better than .273. If this translates over to the regular season, Cruz will be in the hunt. 3/18/2024: And just like that, Ronald Acuna Jr. appears poised for Opening Day. He's been playing since his knee flared up and it doesn't look like it will cost him any time or effectiveness. It could mean a couple of DH days are in his future, but not enough to generate concern just yet. Beyond that, there has just been no real odds movement as we await the start of the regular season.
3/4/2024: Some spring injuries are relatively meaningless, with general aches and pains following a lengthy offseason. Others, however, portend more serious ends. Ronald Acuna Jr., who won NL MVP in 2023 and is the early favorite to win it again, is undergoing tests on his right knee. The Atlanta Braves have stated that it's not expected to keep him out for Opening Day, but this is the same leg he injured in 2021 when he tore his ACL. Monitor the situation because if he misses time, or is otherwise hampered, it would affect his chances in this market.
2/29/2024: Cody Bellinger re-signed with the Chicago Cubs on a three-year, $80-million contract that includes opt-out clauses after each of the first two years. Bellinger — winner of the 2019 award — finished 10th in MVP voting last year, his first season with the Cubs. It was also his best season since his MVP campaign with the Dodgers, as he hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 homers in 130 games for the Cubbies. He's trading as long as 100/1 and isn't listed at every book yet. DraftKings is a bit of an outlier with a couple of players who are deemed as long shots by other sportsbooks. DK has Elly De La Cruz, Michael Harris, and William Contreras at +4,000 while FD and bet365 have them all between +10,000 and +12,000. So if you plan to throw your hat into that ring, going with the higher odds is the best choice.
2/1/2024: There has been no significant movement in the NL MVP market since our last update. San Diego Padres infielder Manny Machado has seen his odds lengthen at some books, but it's mostly negligible.
1/15/2024: The biggest curiosity remains how books are treating Shohei Ohtani. He could very easily win multiple MVP awards during his Dodgers tenure, but he will be limited to being a designated hitter in 2024 and no traditional DH has ever won the honor. Obviously, there's a first time for nearly everything and Ohtani is a prodigious talent with the bat, but his offensive stats in previous years likely wouldn't have won him the hardware on their own.
1/2/2024: Like in the AL, there has been minimal odds movement on the Senior Circuit board. One minor bit of movement had Corbin Carroll go from 25/1 to 22/1 at FanDuel after other books had him listed at 18/1. Shohei Ohtani was drawing the shortest odds at Caesars but has since drawn even with Ronald Acuna Jr., who is the betting favorite at most books after completing a ridiculous 40/70 campaign in 2023.
12/14/2023: The talk of the town is obviously Shohei Ohtani. The newest addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup is one of the most feared hitters in the game. The problem with picking him to win MVP this year, despite having won two of the last three AL trophies, is that he will not pitch. That added layer has been a key reason for his success and why he felt inevitable to win in 2023. No traditional DH has ever won an MVP. Granted, Ohtani's whole MLB experience has been unprecedented, but his odds are skewed either way. Ronald Acuna Jr. is getting the shortest odds at most books to repeat as NL MVP. Were he to pull it off, he'd be the first back-to-back NL MVP winner since Albert Pujols won in 2008 and 2009. Corbin Carroll is worth keeping an eye on. Carroll was unanimously named NL Rookie of the Year in 2023 and was getting some consideration for MVP before Acuna stormed to a 40/70 season and cemented his status. Barring a sophomore slump, Carroll possesses a similar power-speed combo to Acuna that should continue to blossom.
11/20/2023: Ronald Acuna Jr. became the fifth player in MLB history to hit at least 40 home runs while stealing at least 40 bases. The swiped bags were never in question, as he finished the season with an MLB-leading 73 — making him just the fourth player since 2000 to steal 70+ bases in a season (2009 Jacoby Ellsbury, 2007 Jose Reyes, and 2004 Scott Podsednik being the others). He needed 10 home runs in September to reach 40 on the season. He hit 11. Acuna finished second in the NL batting title race behind Luis Arraez in a truly electric season.
Covers MLB betting tools
Previous MVP winners
Here are the last 10 winners of the AL and NL MVP Award, with Mike Trout leading the way as a three-time winner. Bryce Harper has won twice with two different teams and Miguel Cabrera was the last player to win back-to-back MVP awards (2012-13). Barry Bonds holds the record for most MVP awards (seven)
The New York Yankees have won the most MVPs in MLB history with 23 while the St. Louis Cardinals are second, leading all NL teams, with 21. No player for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, or Tampa Bay Rays has ever won MVP.
Previous AL MVP winners
| Year | American League Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Shohei Ohtani |
| 2022 | Aaron Judge |
| 2021 | Shohei Ohtani |
| 2020 |  Jose Abreu |
| 2019 | Mike Trout |
| 2018 | Mookie Betts |
| 2017 | Jose Altuve |
| 2016 | Mike Trout |
| 2015 | Josh Donaldson |
| 2014 | Mike Trout |
Previous NL MVP winners
| Year | National League Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Ronald Acuna Jr. |
| 2022 |  Paul Goldschmidt |
| 2021 | Bryce Harper |
| 2020 | Freddie Freeman |
| 2019 | Cody Bellinger |
| 2018 |  Christian Yelich |
| 2017 |  Giancarlo Stanton |
| 2016 | Kris Bryant |
| 2015 |  Bryce Harper |
| 2014 | Clayton Kershaw |
Popular MLB futures markets
- MLB World Series odds
- MLB Cy Young odds
- MLB Rookie of the Year odds
- MLB playoff odds
- MLB HR title odds
MLB MVP odds explained
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When Goldschmidt ran away with the MVP award in 2022 his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number for a large part of the season.
- Paul Goldschmidt -6,000
That means that a bettor in August had to wager $6,000 to win $100 by betting on Goldy to win MVP. Before the season starts, almost every player will have a plus (+) sign ahead of their odds.
- Shohei Ohtani +200
That means a bettor would have profited $200 for a $100 wager on Ohtani before the season started.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
MLB MVP FAQ
New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is favored to win AL MVP in 2024.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is the betting favorite to win NL MVP.
Los Angeles Angels DH/SP Shohei Ohtani won his second AL MVP award in unanimous fashion. Corey Seager finished second in voting.
Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. won the 2023 NL MVP, receiving all 30 first-place votes.
Of the 33 players to have multiple MVP trophies, Barry Bonds is far and away the leader with seven. Ten other players have won three and no one besides Bonds has won more.
AL and NL MVP awards are typically announced in mid-November after the World Series has been played. The 2023 awards were announced on November 16.
Since 1931, members of the Baseball Writer's Association of America (BBWAA) have submitted ranked ballots. Two writers from each MLB city vote for the awards in their respective league.
