Preseason favorites to win AL and NL MVP
Preseason favorites for AL and NL MVP
Major League Baseball sits alone as the only Big 4 professional American sport to crown two most valuable players: one in the National League, and one in the American League. Last season, a .346 average, 1.078 OPS, and 10.9 WAR were more than enough for Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox, who received all but two first-place votes to take home the AL hardware. Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers received all but one first-place vote with a .326 average and an MLB-leading 187 hits.
The 2018 voters clearly voiced which players they felt provided the most value in their respective leagues. In baseball, though, value can be a fickle and difficult thing to patently define. A starting pitcher takes the mound only once every five days (on average), but his contributions in those appearances can be absolutely crucial to a game’s outcome. There is a separate award for pitching (the Cy Young Award) and sometimes—like Clayton Kershaw in 2014 and Justin Verlander in 2011—a starting pitcher can win both the MVP and the Cy Young.
And then enters the concept of the designated hitter, which is only featured in an AL lineup. How valuable is someone who doesn’t contribute on defense? A “primary” DH has never won MVP in either league, despite a compelling case for J.D. Martinez of the Red Sox last season.
Largely ambiguous criteria leave MVP voters with inherent biases making decisions that are largely subjective. What will 2019 have in store? Might we have a repeat winner for the first time since Miguel Cabrera in 2012–13, or will someone new emerge like a Betts or Yelich who were both first-time winners? Are Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Bryce Harper of the Phillies, both recipients of unprecedented offseason contracts, the favorites in their respective leagues?
To determine which players in each league have the best odds of earning the highly coveted MVP award, Stacker looked at odds by Bovada and stats from Baseball Reference, with data last updated March 14, 2019. Players are ranked in order from lowest to highest by betting odds, with ties broken by 2018 batting averages. Read on to see how your pick fares.
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AL #25: Randal Grichuk
- MVP odds: +6600
- Team: Toronto Blue Jays
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 424
--- Batting average: 0.245
--- On base percentage: 0.301
--- Runs: 60
--- Home runs: 25
--- RBIs: 61
--- Stolen bases: 3
AL #24: Joey Gallo
- MVP odds: +6000
- Team: Texas Rangers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 500
--- Batting average: 0.206
--- On base percentage: 0.312
--- Runs: 82
--- Home runs: 40
--- RBIs: 92
--- Stolen bases: 3
AL #23: Nelson Cruz
- MVP odds: +6000
- Team: Minnesota Twins
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 519
--- Batting average: 0.256
--- On base percentage: 0.342
--- Runs: 70
--- RBIs: 97
--- Stolen bases: 1
AL #22: Gleyber Torres
- MVP odds: +6000
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 431
--- Batting average: 0.271
--- On base percentage: 0.340
--- Runs: 54
--- Home runs: 24
--- RBIs: 77
--- Stolen bases: 6
AL #21: Xander Bogaerts
- MVP odds: +5500
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 513
--- Batting average: 0.288
--- On base percentage: 0.360
--- Runs: 72
--- Home runs: 23
--- RBIs: 103
--- Stolen bases: 8
AL #20: Gary Sanchez
- MVP odds: +5000
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 323
--- Batting average: 0.186
--- On base percentage: 0.291
--- Runs: 51
--- Home runs: 18
--- RBIs: 53
--- Stolen bases: 1
AL #19: Matt Olson
- MVP odds: +5000
- Team: Oakland Athletics
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 580
--- Batting average: 0.247
--- On base percentage: 0.335
--- Runs: 85
--- Home runs: 29
--- RBIs: 84
--- Stolen bases: 2
AL #18: Nomar Mazara
- MVP odds: +5000
- Team: Texas Rangers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 489
--- Batting average: 0.258
--- On base percentage: 0.317
--- Runs: 61
--- Home runs: 20
--- RBIs: 77
--- Stolen bases: 1
AL #17: Jose Abreu
- MVP odds: +5000
- Team: Chicago White Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 499
--- Batting average: 0.265
--- On base percentage: 0.325
--- Runs: 68
--- Home runs: 22
--- RBIs: 78
--- Stolen bases: 2
AL #16: Eddie Rosario
- MVP odds: +5000
- Team: Minnesota Twins
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 559
--- Batting average: 0.288
--- On base percentage: 0.323
--- Runs: 87
--- Home runs: 24
--- RBIs: 77
--- Stolen bases: 8
AL #15: Nick Castellanos
- MVP odds: +5000
- Team: Detroit Tigers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 620
--- Batting average: 0.298
--- On base percentage: 0.354
--- Runs: 88
--- Home runs: 23
--- RBIs: 89
--- Stolen bases: 2
AL #14: George Springer
- MVP odds: +4500
- Team: Houston Astros
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 544
--- Batting average: 0.265
--- On base percentage: 0.346
--- Runs: 102
--- Home runs: 22
--- RBIs: 71
--- Stolen bases: 6
AL #13: Andrew Benintendi
- MVP odds: +4500
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 579
--- Batting average: 0.290
--- On base percentage: 0.366
--- Runs: 103
--- Home runs: 16
--- RBIs: 87
--- Stolen bases: 21
AL #12: Khris Davis
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: Oakland Athletics
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 576
--- Batting average: 0.247
--- On base percentage: 0.326
--- Runs: 98
--- Home runs: 48
--- RBIs: 123
--- Stolen bases: 0
AL #11: Matt Chapman
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: Oakland Athletics
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 547
--- Batting average: 0.278
--- On base percentage: 0.356
--- Runs: 100
--- Home runs: 24
--- RBIs: 68
--- Stolen bases: 1
AL #10: J.D. Martinez
- MVP odds: +3000
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 569
--- Batting average: 0.330
--- On base percentage: 0.402
--- Runs: 111
--- Home runs: 43
--- RBIs: 130
--- Stolen bases: 6
AL #9: Giancarlo Stanton
- MVP odds: +2500
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 617
--- Batting average: 0.266
--- On base percentage: 0.343
--- Runs: 102
--- Home runs: 38
--- RBIs: 100
--- Stolen bases: 5
AL #8: Jose Altuve
- MVP odds: +2500
- Team: Houston Astros
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 534
--- Batting average: 0.316
--- On base percentage: 0.386
--- Runs: 84
--- Home runs: 13
--- RBIs: 61
--- Stolen bases: 17
AL #7: Francisco Lindor
- MVP odds: +2000
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 661
--- Batting average: 0.277
--- On base percentage: 0.352
--- Runs: 129
--- Home runs: 38
--- RBIs: 92
--- Stolen bases: 25
AL #6: Carlos Correa
- MVP odds: +1800
- Team: Houston Astros
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 402
--- Batting average: 0.239
--- On base percentage: 0.323
--- Runs: 60
--- Home runs: 15
--- RBIs: 65
--- Stolen bases: 3
AL #5: Jose Ramirez
- MVP odds: +1500
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 578
--- Batting average: 0.270
--- On base percentage: 0.387
--- Runs: 110
--- Home runs: 39
--- RBIs: 105
--- Stolen bases: 34
AL #4: Alex Bregman
- MVP odds: +1400
- Team: Houston Astros
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 594
--- Batting average: 0.286
--- On base percentage: 0.394
--- Runs: 105
--- Home runs: 31
--- RBIs: 103
--- Stolen bases: 10
AL #3: Aaron Judge
- MVP odds: +700
- Team: New York Yankees
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 413
--- Batting average: 0.278
--- On base percentage: 0.392
--- Runs: 77
--- Home runs: 27
--- RBIs: 67
--- Stolen bases: 6
AL #2: Mookie Betts
- MVP odds: +550
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 520
--- Batting average: 0.346
--- On base percentage: 0.438
--- Runs: 129
--- Home runs: 32
--- RBIs: 80
--- Stolen bases: 30
AL #1: Mike Trout
- MVP odds: +150
- Team: Los Angeles Angels
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 471
--- Batting average: 0.312
--- On base percentage: 0.460
--- Runs: 101
--- Home runs: 39
--- RBIs: 79
--- Stolen bases: 24
NL #25: Yasiel Puig
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: Cincinnati Reds
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 405
--- Batting average: 0.267
--- On base percentage: 0.327
--- Runs: 60
--- Home runs: 23
--- RBIs: 63
--- Stolen bases: 15
NL #24: Jesus Aguilar
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: Milwaukee Brewers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 492
--- Batting average: 0.274
--- On base percentage: 0.352
--- Runs: 80
--- Home runs: 35
--- RBIs: 108
--- Stolen bases: 0
NL #23: J.T. Realmuto
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: Philadelphia Phillies
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 477
--- Batting average: 0.277
--- On base percentage: 0.340
--- Runs: 74
--- Home runs: 21
--- RBIs: 74
--- Stolen bases: 3
NL #22: Marcell Ozuna
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 582
--- Batting average: 0.280
--- On base percentage: 0.325
--- Runs: 69
--- Home runs: 23
--- RBIs: 88
--- Stolen bases: 3
NL #21: Charlie Blackmon
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: Colorado Rockies
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 626
--- Batting average: 0.291
--- On base percentage: 0.358
--- Runs: 119
--- Home runs: 29
--- RBIs: 70
--- Stolen bases: 12
NL #20: Robinson Cano
- MVP odds: +4000
- Team: New York Mets
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 310
--- Batting average: 0.303
--- On base percentage: 0.374
--- Runs: 44
--- Home runs: 10
--- RBIs: 50
--- Stolen bases: 0
NL #19: Joey Votto
- MVP odds: +3000
- Team: Cincinnati Reds
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 503
--- Batting average: 0.284
--- On base percentage: 0.417
--- Runs: 67
--- Home runs: 12
--- RBIs: 67
--- Stolen bases: 2
NL #18: Juan Soto
- MVP odds: +3000
- Team: Washington Nationals
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 414
--- Batting average: 0.292
--- On base percentage: 0.406
--- Runs: 77
--- Home runs: 22
--- RBIs: 70
--- Stolen bases: 5
NL #17: Justin Turner
- MVP odds: +3000
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 365
--- Batting average: 0.312
--- On base percentage: 0.406
--- Runs: 62
--- Home runs: 14
--- RBIs: 52
--- Stolen bases: 2
NL #16: Cody Bellinger
- MVP odds: +2500
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 557
--- Batting average: 0.260
--- On base percentage: 0.343
--- Runs: 84
--- Home runs: 25
--- RBIs: 76
--- Stolen bases: 14
NL #15: Corey Seager
- MVP odds: +2500
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 101
--- Batting average: 0.267
--- On base percentage: 0.348
--- Runs: 13
--- Home runs: 2
--- RBIs: 13
--- Stolen bases: 0
NL #14: Anthony Rizzo
- MVP odds: +2500
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 566
--- Batting average: 0.283
--- On base percentage: 0.376
--- Runs: 74
--- Home runs: 25
--- RBIs: 101
--- Stolen bases: 6
NL #13: Trevor Story
- MVP odds: +2500
- Team: Colorado Rockies
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 598
--- Batting average: 0.291
--- On base percentage: 0.348
--- Runs: 88
--- Home runs: 37
--- RBIs: 108
--- Stolen bases: 27
NL #12: Anthony Rendon
- MVP odds: +2500
- Team: Washington Nationals
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 529
--- Batting average: 0.308
--- On base percentage: 0.374
--- Runs: 88
--- Home runs: 24
--- RBIs: 92
--- Stolen bases: 2
NL #11: Rhys Hoskins
- MVP odds: +2000
- Team: Philadelphia Phillies
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 558
--- Batting average: 0.246
--- On base percentage: 0.354
--- Runs: 89
--- Home runs: 34
--- RBIs: 96
--- Stolen bases: 5
NL #10: Eugenio Suarez
- MVP odds: +2000
- Team: Cincinnati Reds
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 527
--- Batting average: 0.283
--- On base percentage: 0.366
--- Runs: 79
--- Home runs: 34
--- RBIs: 104
--- Stolen bases: 1
NL #9: Javier Baez
- MVP odds: +2000
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 606
--- Batting average: 0.290
--- On base percentage: 0.326
--- Runs: 101
--- Home runs: 34
--- RBIs: 111
--- Stolen bases: 21
NL #8: Ronald Acuna Jr.
- MVP odds: +2000
- Team: Atlanta Braves
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 433
--- Batting average: 0.293
--- On base percentage: 0.366
--- Runs: 78
--- Home runs: 26
--- RBIs: 64
--- Stolen bases: 16
NL #7: Freddie Freeman
- MVP odds: +2000
- Team: Atlanta Braves
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 618
--- Batting average: 0.309
--- On base percentage: 0.388
--- Runs: 94
--- Home runs: 23
--- RBIs: 98
--- Stolen bases: 10
NL #6: Manny Machado
- MVP odds: +1600
- Team: San Diego Padres
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 632
--- Batting average: 0.297
--- On base percentage: 0.367
--- Runs: 84
--- Home runs: 37
--- RBIs: 107
--- Stolen bases: 14
NL #5: Christian Yelich
- MVP odds: +1600
- Team: Milwaukee Brewers
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 574
--- Batting average: 0.326
--- On base percentage: 0.402
--- Runs: 118
--- Home runs: 36
--- RBIs: 110
--- Stolen bases: 22
NL #4: Paul Goldschmidt
- MVP odds: +1200
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 593
--- Batting average: 0.290
--- On base percentage: 0.389
--- Runs: 95
--- Home runs: 33
--- RBIs: 83
--- Stolen bases: 7
NL #3: Kris Bryant
- MVP odds: +1000
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 389
--- Batting average: 0.272
--- On base percentage: 0.374
--- Runs: 59
--- Home runs: 13
--- RBIs: 52
--- Stolen bases: 2
NL #2: Nolan Arenado
- MVP odds: +800
- Team: Colorado Rockies
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 590
--- Batting average: 0.297
--- On base percentage: 0.374
--- Runs: 104
--- Home runs: 38
--- RBIs: 110
--- Stolen bases: 2
NL #1: Bryce Harper
- MVP odds: +600
- Team: Philadelphia Phillies
- 2018 season stats:
--- At bats: 550
--- Batting average: 0.249
--- On base percentage: 0.393
--- Runs: 103
--- Home runs: 34
--- RBIs: 100
--- Stolen bases: 13
