Major League Baseball emerged from the winter without too much damage inflicted from its brief lockout. DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook have 2022 MLB MVP odds for both the National and American League available for wagering.
Bettors eyeing promising plus-money opportunities should start by considering the league’s expected contenders. Making the playoffs isn’t an unwritten requirement to land an MVP, but there are both tangible and intangible advantages that come from team success.
We’re taking a look at some favorites and sleepers for 2022 MVP honors, and we’ll continue to monitor MLB futures odds and season-long player props leading into and throughout the regular season.
Shohei Ohtani is the betting favorite to repeat as AL MVP after paying off big for bettors by riding a prodigious season at the dish and on the mound to the 2021 MVP award.
Over on the Senior Circuit, Bryce Harper collected his second NL MVP trophy on the strength of one of his best all-around seasons.
Both will receive stiff competition from their respective league mates this season.
Partial lists of DraftKings’ and FanDuel’s MLB MVP odds are below. Futures prices in the MVP market can fluctuate significantly across different sportsbooks. Bettors are always encouraged to shop around the sports betting market for the best prices for their picks.
American League MVP Odds
As long as he’s performing at a high level on both sides of the ball, Ohtani (+350, DraftKings) has a leg up on his peers. Ohtani’s teammate, Mike Trout (+550, FanDuel), is a three-time AL MVP, but his injury struggles extend back to 2017. Players generally don’t get more durable as they enter their 30s. Bettors may also want to consider the degree that the two could cannibalize each other in the voting.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+550, FD) could ultimately emerge as the best bet among the favorites. Not only is Vlad Jr. a triple-crown threat, but the Toronto Blue Jays are expected to contend for the postseason.
| Player | Team | DraftKings AL MVP odds | FanDuel AL MVP odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels | +350 | +340 |
| Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | +450 | +550 |
| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Toronto Blue Jays | +500 | +550 |
| Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | +1800 | +2200 |
| Rafael Devers | Boston Red Sox | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jose Ramirez | Cleveland Guardians | +2500 | +2500 |
| Corey Seager | Texas Rangers | +2800 | +4000 |
| Yordan Alvarez | Houston Astros | +3000 | +3000 |
Corey Seager stands out among the next tier of AL MVP candidates for the added risk he carries. Bettors shouldn’t underestimate the challenge changing teams — and especially leagues — presents to a player.
On the contrary, there’s a lot to like about Rafael Devers and Yordan Alvarez. Both are burgeoning all-around hitters with 40-plus-homer power, parked in the middle of playoff-caliber lineups. The same can be said for Aaron Judge and Jose Ramirez, but Judge feels overpriced among this group. And Ramirez needs to overcome what oddsmakers expect to be a mediocre Cleveland Guardians team.
Wander Franco (+2200, FD), Eloy Jimenez (+6500, FD), and Yoan Moncada (+10000, FD) catch our eye among those with longer odds. Franco will be only 21 this season, but he’s expected to be one of baseball’s next superstars. Meanwhile, Moncada and Jimenez are both ascending players more than capable of crafting a well-rounded MVP campaign.
National League MVP Odds
It’s no surprise to see young studs heading the pack on the NL MVP odds board. Juan Soto (+380, FD) and Ronald Acuna Jr. (+900, FD) are the preseason front-runners. Acuna Jr. is coming off of an ACL tear, but at 100 percent, he’s among the best MLB has to offer. Fernando Tatis Jr. (+3000, FD) was among that class, but a fractured wrist will keep him sidelined for most of the first half.
| Player | Team | DraftKings NL MVP odds | FanDuel NL MVP odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Soto | Washington Nationals | +280 | +380 |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves | +700 | +900 |
| Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies | +900 | +950 |
| Mookie Betts | Los Angeles Dodgers | +900 | +1200 |
| Trea Turner | Los Angeles Dodgers | +1400 | +1800 |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | San Diego Padres | +1800 | +3000 |
| Austin Riley | Atlanta Braves | +2500 | +3500 |
| Nolan Arenado | St. Louis Cardinals | +2500 | +2700 |
| Francisco Lindor | New York Mets | +2800 | +1800 |
| Christian Yelich | Milwaukee Brewers | +2800 | +3000 |
| Pete Alonso | New York Mets | +2800 | +3500 |
| Ozzie Albies | Atlanta Braves | +3500 | +5500 |
There are a number of contenders with significant profit potential at both sportsbooks. In addition to Francisco Lindor (+2800, DK) and Nolan Arenado (+2700, FD), both Pete Alonso (+3500, FD) and Christian Yelich (+3000, FD) own appealing prices. Yelich owns one MVP award, and Arenado has three top-five finishes. Meanwhile, if the New York Mets are as good as oddsmakers are suggesting (they’re +550 at DraftKings to win the NL pennant), Alonso and Lindor will play starring roles that will garner MVP consideration. The risk of two teammates stealing votes from one another applies here as well.
The going has been tough for Cody Bellinger, but his +6500 odds at FanDuel are too long to ignore. Bellinger was utterly dominant in his 2019 MVP campaign. His struggles across 2020-21 can largely be attributed to injuries — especially a shoulder injury that required surgery. Bellinger is still only 26, and for the bettors who believe he’ll return to 100 percent in 2022, his price is too friendly to pass up.
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