The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner, so it’s time to take a look at NL MVP odds to see if we can find some value.
The biggest question in the National League is, can anyone win MVP over Shohei Ohtani? This is especially the case this year, as it’ll be a full season where Ohtani pitches.
Below, we give our preseason 2026 NL MVP breakdown, so let’s dive into MLB futures bets with this award.
NL MVP Betting Odds
NL MVP Betting Odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of February 20th at 10 a.m. ET.
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers | -110 |
| Juan Soto | New York Mets | +800 |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves | +1000 |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | San Diego Padres | +1600 |
| Francisco Lindor | New York Mets | +1600 |
| Elly De La Cruz | Cincinnati Reds | +1600 |
| Corbin Carroll | Arizona Diamondbacks | +1800 |
| Manny Machado | San Diego Padres | +2000 |
| Kyle Schwarber | Philadelphia Phillies | +2000 |
| Ketel Marte | Arizona Diamondbacks | +2200 |
It’s no surprise to see Shohei Ohtani as the heavy favorite to win NL MVP at (-110) odds. However, there are some nice values that we can target, specifically one who plays in the NL East. Below, we’ll dive into our three best bets for NL MVP.
National League MVP Best Bets
Shohei Ohtani (-110)
Shohei Ohtani has won either NL or AL MVP in each of the last three seasons. It’s hard for a generational talent who is among the best hitters and pitchers in the game not to win this award. After all, this is a hitter who can slug 50+ home runs and a pitcher who can post a sub-2.50 ERA.
Usually, I don’t like to lay such heavy juice on a futures bet, but this is a rare exception. Essentially, the only way that Ohtani doesn’t win this award is if he misses time due to injury. Therefore, even at (-110) odds, there’s still value here.
If you don’t want to pay a heavy price, perhaps you can wait until the games start, hope for a slow start from Ohtani, and then make your bet at that point. But don’t count on the odds moving too much unless he spends some time on the injured list.
If you want to dabble in multiple NL MVP bets, I suggest putting a full unit on Ohtani and then fractional units on the next two picks. Simply put, Ohtani is a unicorn.Â
Ronald Acuña Jr. (+1000)
Ronald Acuña Jr. is coming off consecutive injury-plagued seasons. The first year, he suffered a torn ACL. Last year, he was still getting back to form, taking a more tentative approach, particularly on the basepaths. We didn’t see the usual prolific base-runner last year, as Acuña Jr. only swiped nine bags in 95 games.
But now, Acuña Jr. is back to full health. We saw him running wild in the Venezuelan winter league, which signals an intention to get back to his old ways. It’s also worth noting that the Braves have brought in former Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson to hold the same position in Atlanta. This is notable because Richardson helped Juan Soto steal 38 bases (previous career-high: 12).
Why does that matter for NL MVP? Because Acuña Jr. showed no issues with power last year, homering 21 times in 412 plate appearances. Remember, this is a hitter who put up 41 homers and 73 steals back in 2023. If Acuña Jr. can go 35-60 while leading the Braves to an NL East title, there’s a chance that he can win NL MVP. Don’t sleep on this power-speed threat.
Elly De La Cruz (+1600)
Elly De La Cruz is a dynamic talent who hits the ball as hard as anyone and can lead the league in stolen bases. Like Acuña Jr., there’s upside for Elly to join the 30-50 club. After all, Elly put up 25 homers and 67 steals back in 2024.
The benefit of taking Elly is that he needs to carry the Reds for them to make noise this year. Imagine if Cincinnati exceeds expectations and wins the NL Central, with Elly putting up a career year. In that scenario, there’s a chance that he could win NL MVP.
At (+1600) odds, Elly looks like a solid value pick for this award. Don’t count out this talented shortstop.
What We’ve Covered and Next Steps
Shohei Ohtani is the big favorite for a fourth consecutive MVP award, but we can’t count out two dynamic talents like Acuña Jr. and De La Cruz.Â
As the season approaches, stay up to date regarding any unexpected injuries or late scratches.Â
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
