2026 World Baseball Classic MVP Odds, Picks, and Predictions

Parker's predictions: Don't sleep on Juan Soto down the MVP board.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
Feb 19, 2026 • 17:19 ET • 4 min read
Dominican Republic outfielder Juan Soto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Dominican Republic outfielder Juan Soto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

With the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) on tap for March 4 to March 17, 2026, it’s the perfect time to take a look at the MVP betting favorites for the international showdown.

While Team USA captain Aaron Judge is the betting favorite to win the award in the World Baseball Classic odds, is he the best bet leading into the tournament?

2026 World Baseball Classic MVP odds

Player Name bet365 Outlook
USA Aaron Judge +700 Captain America is 3-time AL MVP
Japan Shohei Ohtani +1200 Will only hit in 2026 WBC
USA Tarik Skubal +1200 Potential "dream team" ace
USA Bryce Harper +1600 Vet making international debut
USA Kyle Schwarber +1600 Proven bomber when it matters most
USA Paul Skenes +1600 Another potential "dream team" ace
USA Gunnar Henderson +1800 Cornerstone in loaded American lineup
USA Bobby Witt Jr. +2500 5-tool star will set table for US
Team USA Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  +2500 Debuting in stacked D.R. lineup
USA Cal Raleigh +2800 Catcher could win another HR race
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2026 World Baseball Classic MVP predictions

USA captain Aaron Judge sat out in 2023, so his return to action will reshape the landscape of the American lineup. With the Red, White and Blue also the betting favorites to win the tournament, it isn’t surprising to see the reigning AL MVP also carrying the shortest odds in this betting market.

You should definitely expect the reigning World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani to also have his say, though. Just note, Ohtani won’t be taking his talents to the pitching mound for a Japan team looking to make it three WBC championships in a row. 

Returning to the Americans, Team USA sends out the 2025 Cy Young winners from both the American and National Leagues, with both Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes capable of being the ace of any rotation in the tournament.

Rounding out the betting favorites is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He’ll be making his international debut with the Dominican Republic and will be in the heart of a potent lineup following a monster postseason this fall.

World Baseball Classic MVP pick: Juan Soto (+2800 at bet365)

The perennial MVP candidate in the majors is an on-base machine and paced the National League in offensive WAR in 2025. Soto also finished third in OPS during the 2023 WBC.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Neil Parker - Covers
Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs at some of the top websites in the industry.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

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