2022 MLB MVP betting odds and options

The MLB season is almost upon us, with Opening Day set for this Thursday, April 7.

We'll be looking at odds for a variety of future bets you can place before the season gets going all week here on Yardbarker.

On Monday, the focus is on the MVP odds and some choices that may be worth a wager before the season gets going.

As a reminder, an MVP is awarded for both the American and National league.

MVP Betting Favorites: American League

Shohei Ohtani is the betting favorite to win the MVP in the AL after bringing home the award in 2021 as a two-way sensation.

Ohtani is followed by teammate Mike Trout, who took home MVP honors in 2019.

The Top 15

• Shohei Ohtani (+400 DK)
• Mike Trout (+550 FD)
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+550 FD)
• Rafael Devers (+2000 FD)
• Aaron Judge (+2200 FD)
• Wander Franco (+2200 FD)
• Luis Robert (+2200 FD)
• Jose Ramirez (+2500 FD)
• Kyle Tucker (+2500 FD)
• Byron Buxton (+2500 FD)
• Yordan Alvarez (+3000 FD)
• Bo Bichette (+3000 FD)
• Alex Bregman (+4000 FD)
• Corey Seager (+4000 FD)
• Carlos Correa (+4500 FD)

One way I approach these types of awards is to follow how the market is valuing their teams. While not always directly correlated in a league like MLB, I'd like to follow a player on a team expected to compete for a World Series.

With that established, there are two names that stick out to me from the above: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kyle Tucker.

Guerrero is on the Toronto Blue Jays, a team with the second-best odds to win the World Series on DraftKings.

In his third season last year, Guerrero knocked 48 homers and hit .311 on the season. As a marketable name on one of the AL's best teams, I'm intrigued by the Blue Jay here.

Then there's Kyle Tucker on a Houston Astros team that just made the World Series. Tucker was an integral member of that team in his first full season as a starter, hitting 30 HRs and bringing both baserunning and fielding ability from center.

If you're looking for value, Tucker at +2500 catches my eye.

MVP Betting Favorites: National League

Juan Soto is the heavy favorite to win the MVP in the National League, a member of the Washington Nationals. Soto is a wizard at getting on base whether with his bat or patience at the plate, and is clearly one of the most talented players in all of baseball.

Bryce Harper took home his second MVP last season and has the second-best odds to win this season.

The Top 15

• Juan Soto (+380 FD)
• Ronald Acuna Jr. (+900 FD)
• Bryce Harper (+900 FD)
• Mookie Betts (+1200 FD)
• Freddie Freeman (+1200 FD)
• Francisco Lindor (+1800 FD)
• Trea Turner (+1800 FD)
• Matt Olson (+2400 FD)
• Nolan Arenado (+2700 FD)
• Christian Yelich (+3000 FD)
• Fernando Tatis Jr. (+3000 FD)
• Pete Alonso (+3500 FD)
• Tyler O'Neill (+3500 FD)
• Manny Machado (+3500 FD)
• Austin Riley (+3500 FD)

Juan Soto is here for good reason, and may just be so dominant on Washington that his production warrants the award no matter how the team performs ( the Nationals currently have the fourth-worst odds to win the World Series).

If you are looking to follow a good story for a player on a strong team, then I think the search is best settled on Ronald Acuna.

Acuna got hurt towards the end of last season, a year that Atlanta went on to win the World Series without him.

Acuna is expected to return in early May from injury, which would give him enough time to pile up statistics to remain competitive in this race.

There's a "comeback story" element at play here that could go a long way for voters, and Atlanta is expected to compete for another championship.