Updated NL MVP Odds: Favorites, Longshots

While many will look at MLB betting lines when it comes to MLB betting, there are also plenty of futures bets to wager on over the course of the season.

One of those is the National League MVP.

Bryce Harper won the award in 2021 for a second time following another monster season.

Besides Harper, who are the favorites this year?

Here are how things currently stand.

Manny Machado: +225

Nolan Arenado: +600

Juan Soto: +1000

Bryce Harper: +1000

Freddie Freeman: +1100

Mookie Betts: +1100

Ronald Acuna Jr.: +1300

Pete Alonso: +1300

Manny Machado – Padres (+225)

Last Week: With the season approaching the quarter pole, Machado leads the pack in the race for NL MVP honors. The Padres third baseman continued his torrid hitting Sunday, going 4-for-4 with three doubles and a triple, raising his average to an MLB-leading .374 as San Diego belittled the Giants 10-1 at Oracle Park. For the week, Machado was 12-for-27 (.444) with a homer and four RBIs.

This Week: The Padres open a six-game homestand Monday with the Milwaukee Brewers in town for a three-game set, followed by a three-game stint with the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates. Machado has been on fire at home this season, hitting .433 with a stellar 1.248 OPS in 70 plate appearances.

Nolan Arenado – Cardinals (+600)

Last Week: Arenado snapped an 0-for-15 skid, getting a base hit in the Cardinals’ 18-4 rout of the Pirates at PNC Park Sunday. For the week, the third baseman hit just .125 (3-for-24) but did hit his ninth homer in the Redbirds’ 11-4 loss to the New York Mets on May 18. After a scorching start, Arenado is hitting just .195 in May, albeit with four home runs, bringing his slash line this season to .282/.544/.887.

This Week: The Cardinals open an eight-game homestand Monday, battling the Toronto Blue Jays in a two-game interleague series. The Cards then welcome the Brewers for four games in a battle of NL Central Division contenders. Arenado enjoyed a strong series on the road against Milwaukee in April, going 6-for-14 (.429) with a home run and three RBIs.

Juan Soto – Nationals (+1000)

Last Week: Soto struggled on the Nats’ six-game road trip, going just 3-for-21 (.143) with two RBIs facing solid pitching from the Brewers and Miami Marlins. For the year, the right fielder has seen his average drop to .243 with eight home runs and just 13 RBIs.

Encouragingly, the 23-year-old continues to display patience at the plate, leading the NL in walks. Opposing pitchers, where possible, appear content to pitch around Soto and take their chances with the decidedly less threatening remainder of the Nats lineup.   

This Week: The Nationals return home for six games, but the going doesn’t get any easier, facing the West Division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers before tangling with the Colorado Rockies. Of note, Soto torched Rockies’ pitching at Coors, going 4-12 with a pair of home runs.

Bryce Harper – Phillies (+1000)

Last Week: Harper returned to the Phillies lineup over the weekend after missing five consecutive games after receiving a PRP injection to treat the UCL sprain in his right elbow. Harper has spent the majority of the year serving as the DH and has been outstanding after a sluggish start, hitting .295 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs.

This Week: The Phillies embark on a six-game road trip facing East Division rivals Atlanta and New York, opening a four-game series against the Braves Monday. Phillies fans can only hope Harper can continue to play through his injury and not end up on the shelf for an extended period.

Freddie Freeman – Dodgers (+1000)

Last Week: The Dodgers first baseman went 10-for-31 (.322) despite going 0-for-10 over the weekend against the Phillies. While he has been hitting for average (.301) and driving in runs (21 RBIs), the 32-year-old hasn’t homered since April 24 and has just three long balls on the season with a relatively anemic .163 ISO.

This Week: The Dodgers are in the midst of a 10-game road trip and travel to Washington to face the lowly Nationals for three before heading to Chase Field to tackle the Diamondbacks. Freeman feasted on D’Backs pitching in their recent four-game set at Dodger Stadium, going 7-for-16 (.438) with four doubles and six RBIs.