After claiming MVP honors in 2023, it is little surprise that Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr. are once again listed among the favorites in 2024. Both now play in the National League, of course, which adds another storyline to the season.
The MLB season is a long old stretch, 162 games to be exact. This means a month of good form isn’t going to cut it. You need to be consistent across the whole season. They do say an MVP can’t be won in one month but it can be lost. If a player gets stuck in a rut and rivals hit the ground running, the odds on that player winning an MVP will disappear very quickly.
So, although we are still in the very early part of this season, every game still matters. With that said, let’s take a look at where the odds currently stand in the AL and NL MVP races for the sports top stars.
AL MVP Odds 2024
Juan Soto +300
Bobby Witt Jr +700
Aaron Judge +850
Mike Trout +1,000
Yordan Alvarez +1,400
Corey Seager +1,800
Gunnar Henderson +1,800
Julio Rodriguez +1,800
Adley Rutschman +2,200
Kyle Tucker +2,500
*Odds Correct at time of writing
AL MVP Odds Deep Dive
One of the biggest in the odds over recent weeks has been Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. He has been on fire since the beginning of the season, and is really making a case for himself to be a major contender for the MVP when all is said and done.
If Whitt Jr has risen in the odds, Julio Rodriguez has seen his odds slip. He has zero home runs with a .186/.238/.203 slash line which isn’t ideal through 16 games. However, he can’t be ruled out, as there is history to suggest players with similar stats though the first month can rebound and finish off strongly. Rodriguez seems to have a penchant for starting slowly and then turning things around as the season progresses.
NL MVP Odds 2024
Mookie Betts +300
Ronald Acuna Jr. +700
Fernando Tatis Jr. +950
Freddie Freeman +1,100
Shohei Ohtani +1,400
Matt Olson +1,400
Pete Alonso +2,100
Austin Riley +2,500
Corbin Carroll +3,000
Manny Machado +4,200
NL MVP Odds Deep Dive
Mookie Betts is the odds leader to win NL MVP and that is no surprise at all. He is a fantastic player playing on the team that are currently favorites to win the World Series, so it is pretty self-explanatory. He has proven already that he can keep up his high level of play at the plate and in the field.
Fernando Tatis Jr is one to watch, as his odds have shortened recently. He is currently slashing .290/.364/.536 with five home runs in 18 games. Tatis Jr will be absolutely crucial if the Padres are to do anything this season. With Juan Soto no longer there, they will be looking to him as a key contributor for this season.
