NL MVP Odds Tracker: Juan Soto Favored Over Ronald Acuna Jr., Mookie Betts

NL MVP Odds

Odds as of April 6 and via PointsBet

The MVP market is one of the best MLB futures to bet. Who doesn't want to latch onto someone like Mike Trout or Ronald Acuna for an entire season and watch them destroy everything in their respective paths? Or pluck an under-the-radar player the public's snoozing on at a nice payout?

Let's dive into each key contender in the NL race below.

1. Juan Soto (+275)

Soto, somehow, is only 23 years old, despite having already completed four superlative seasons in the majors. The wunderkind finished second in voting a year ago after leading the majors in both walks (145) and OBP (.465).

He's arguably the best pure hitter in baseball, but will playing on a moribund Nationals team hurt his chances?

2. Ronald Acuna Jr. (+800)

Acuna was among the top contenders for the award last season before an injury zapped the rest of his season halfway through. He sat on the sidelines as his teammates plowed their way to the World Series, but if he's healthy he remains the team's top player and a legitimate MVP contender.

3. Mookie Betts (+800)

Betts is an old man compared to the other contenders, as he'll turn 30 in October, but the Dodgers outfielder remains one of the most dangerous all-around players in the game.

AN MVP winner with Boston in 2018, Betts has two other runner-up finishes, including in 2020 when he helped Los Angeles win the World Series.

Betts had a down year in 2021 by his standards, and was dinged by injuries along the way, but his status among the favorites remains reasonable.

4. Bryce Harper (+900)

The reigning MVP topped the field a year ago while leading the league in doubles, slugging percentage and OPS.

The Phillies have the second-longest postseason drought in all of baseball, so if Harper can lift his team back to October he'll be a strong contender once again.

5. Trea Turner (+1200)

Turner is the consensus No. 1 pick in fantasy baseball drafts this season, and the counting stats he's likely to put up will do wonders for his chances while playing on the most talented team in baseball.

Turner has never finished higher than fifth in MVP voting, but has the combination of speed, average and even a little bit of power to propel his team and himself up the odds board.

6. Freddie Freeman (+1200)

Freeman joins a loaded Dodgers roster. The veteran first baseman has four straight top-10 finishes in the MVP race, including a first-place bid in 2020.

7. Matt Olson (+2200)

Taking Freeman's spot in Atlanta's Olson, who signed a long-term deal with the Braves after getting shipped from the Athletics.

8. Fernando Tatis Jr. (+2500)

The Padres star is one of the most exciting players in the game when he's on the field, but he'll miss time to open the season. He was second behind Soto in the initial odds.

9. Francisco Lindor (+2500)

Lindor disappointed in his first season with the Mets, but there's renewed optimism after the acquisitions of Max Scherzer and Starling Marte. If Lindor can return to his pre-2021 form and the Mets are contenders, his stock will rise.

10. Manny Machado (+2500)

Machado's fine 2021 season was overshadowed both by the ascent of his teammate, Tatis, and the general disappointment of the Padres as a whole. Machado has been a candidate before — he finished third in 2020 and fifth in 2016 — and has the talent to ascend.

11. Nolan Arenado (+2500)

12. Tyler O'Neill (+2800)

A pair of Cardinals round out our top 12. Arenado proved last year that the thin air of Denver wasn't the reason for his offensive success, and remained one of the top gloves in the world at third base.

O'Neill, meanwhile, broke out in a big way, earning a Gold Glove and finishing eighth in MVP voting. He combined his big power with an elite glove and played a career-high in games.

St. Louis is expected to contend in the NL Central once again, making these two position players reasonable candidates.

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Previous NL MVP Winners