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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Julio Aguilar // Getty
1 / 50- 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
Denis Poroy // Getty
2 / 50- 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
Elsa // Getty
3 / 50- 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
Elsa // Getty
4 / 50- 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
Kevork Djansezian // Getty
5 / 50- 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
Elsa // Getty
6 / 50- 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
Masterpress // Getty
7 / 50- 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
Ezra Shaw // Getty
8 / 50- 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
Jon Durr // Getty
9 / 50- 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
Dylan Buell // Getty
10 / 50- 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
Hannah Foslien // Getty
11 / 50- 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
Elsa // Getty
12 / 50- 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
Elsa // Getty
13 / 50- 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
KAZUHIRO NOGI // Getty
14 / 50- 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
Masterpress // Getty
15 / 50- 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
Jeff Gross // Getty
16 / 50- 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
Mike Stobe // Getty
17 / 50- 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
Bob Levey // Getty
18 / 50- 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
Bob Levey // Getty
19 / 50- 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
Elsa // Getty
20 / 50- 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
Tim Warner // Getty
21 / 50- 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
Elsa // Getty
22 / 50- 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
Tim Bradbury // Getty
23 / 50- 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
Harry How // Getty
24 / 50- 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
Ezra Shaw // Getty
25 / 50- 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
Rob Tringali // Getty
26 / 50- 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
Stacy Revere // Getty
27 / 50- 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
Mark Brown // Getty
28 / 50- 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
Dilip Vishwanat // Getty
29 / 50- 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
Dustin Bradford // Getty
30 / 50- 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
Michael Reaves // Getty
31 / 50- 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
Andy Lyons // Getty
32 / 50- 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
Kiyoshi Ota // Getty
33 / 50- 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
Sean M. Haffey // Getty
34 / 50- 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
Kevork Djansezian // Getty
35 / 50- 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
Thearon W. Henderson // Getty
36 / 50- 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
Jonathan Daniel // Getty
37 / 50- 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
Justin Edmonds // Getty
38 / 50- 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
Scott Taetsch // Getty
39 / 50- 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
Kiyoshi Ota // Getty
40 / 50- 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
Kiyoshi Ota // Getty
41 / 50- 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
Andrew Weber // Getty
42 / 50- 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
Michael Reaves // Getty
43 / 50- 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
Daniel Shirey // Getty
44 / 50- 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
Ralph Freso // Getty
45 / 50- 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
Stacy Revere // Getty
46 / 50- 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
Rob Carr // Getty
47 / 50- 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
Christian Petersen // Getty
48 / 50- 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
Jennifer Stewart // Getty
49 / 50- 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
Mike Ehrmann // Getty
50 / 50- 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
