AL and NL MVP Best Bets, Predictions, Odds for 2025 Season

We're a little over one-third of the way through the baseball season. But even with about 100 games remaining on the schedule, a trend has emerged that seems to have taken solid hold: both 2024 Most Valuable Player Award winners are heavily favored to win again.

That would be historic. Not just because Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are superstars on two of the most popular teams in sports.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

But because it's never happened. That's right: never in baseball history have both MVPs repeated.

Not when Mickey Mantle was winning the award, not when Johnny Bench and Frank Thomas were winning the award, and certainly not when Miguel Cabrera was copping the honor.

MLB has never had repeat MVP winners in both leagues

MVP award futures odds are just part of the baseball bets I have my eyes on. Yes, I like Ohtani to win his third consecutive MVP and fourth overall.

But in the American League, there are a few players who could leapfrog Judge to win the trophy. Which is actually more of a plaque. But, you get the idea.

Odds for this article are from FanDuel Sportsbook. That betting app and betting website has thousands of odds for MLB: game odds daily; player props; parlay options, and futures bets.

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World Series Odds

Here are the current best odds for World Series winner:

• Dodgers ... +240
• Yankees ... +550
• Tigers ... +950
• Phillies ... +950
• Mets ... +1000
• Cubs ... +1300
• Braves ... +1700
• Mariners ... +2000
• Astros ... +2200
• Padres ... +2500

I love the Phillies at +950, fueled by the relentless lineup and pair of aces they have at the top of their rotation (Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler).

Among teams at +5000 or higher, here are two longshot picks to win the 2025 Fall Classic:

Kansas City Royals +5000

Only one team has the talent to challenge the Tigers in the AL Central: the Royals and their well-balanced pitching staff.

KC has the second-lowest bullpen ERA, the sixth-best FIP, and they've tossed seven shutouts

With Bobby Witt Jr., they have the type of superstar who can carry a lineup in the postseason. Google "George Brett 1985 ALCS" to see an example of how that works.

Arizona Diamondbacks +6000

Limping along at sub-.500, the Snakes may seem toothless right now. But Arizona has several key players who can get hot and drive this team up the standings.

The Diamondbacks are second to the Dodgers in runs scored, and they have the type of sluggers who can actually hang pretty close to LA's star-studded lineup.

If Arizona gets better pitching, they can do what they did in 2023: upset the Dodgers in the playoffs and capture the pennant.

Pennant Winner Odds

Let's get to the best bet picks for longshots to win a pennant:

• Royals ... +1800
• Giants ... +2500
• Diamondbacks ... +2700
• Cardinals ... +2700

I discussed the Royals and DBacks above. For these other two teams, the Giants and Cardinals, the road will likely have to travel through the Dodgers and/or Mets to get into the World Series.

But it could happen.

The Cardinals have the third-best bullpen ERA in MLB, and they also rank fifth in runs scored in the NL. The Redbirds seem to be back, and in the postseason just about anything can happen in a five-game series.

The Giants are arguably the best pitching staff in the game: second in ERA and first in FIP

The G-Men have enough offense to eke out one-run wins, which you'll see a lot of in October.

MLB MVP Odds Updates: Favorites & Longshots

American League Most Valuable Player Award Best Bets

Here are the favorites for the AL MVP award for the 2025 season, with a few of the best longshots.

• Aaron Judge, Yankees ... -20000
• Bobby Witt Jr., Royals ... +3000
• José Ramírez, Guardians ... +9000
• Gunnar Henderson, Orioles ... +12000
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays ... +12000
• Rafael Devers, Red Sox ... +12000
• Cal Raleigh, Mariners ... +12000

It will take a big collapse by Judge for the Yankee to fail to win the AL MVP

But, it could also happen if one of these other players has an amazing summer and fall. Witt Jr. has had a 22-game hitting streak, and he doesn't even seem to have played very well yet.

Witt could steal 60 bases, have 60 doubles, and win a Gold Glove at shortstop

If he inches his batting average anywhere near to .330 and gets to 200 hits (like he did in 2024), it may be hard to not vote for him, seeing as he plays a more demanding position and is arguably much more valuable to his team than Judge is to the Yankees.

Special note on Cal Raleigh, who has a chance to set the AL record for home runs by a catcher. When a catcher has a great offensive season, and he's a Gold Glover, he will get loads of MVP support.

National League Most Valuable Player Award Best Bets

The NL MVP award frontrunners, according to FanDuel Sportsbook:

• Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers ... -260
• Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres ... +1100
• Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs ... +1100
• Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks ... +1600
• Kyle Tucker, Cubs ... +1600
• Freddie Freeman, Dodgers ... +2500
• Pete Alonso, Mets ... +4000
• Francisco Lindor, Mets ... +4000

The best longshot MVP candidate in the National League is not on the above list: Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies is listed at +5000 by FanDuel as of June 1.

Schwarber is on pace for 57 home runs and more than 130 RBI.

If Schwarber gets hotter as the weather heats up, he could have a 60+ home run season AND put up an OPS over 1000 (with a SLG over 600 and a career-best OBP of 400+).

If so, and if the Phils maintain their position atop the NL East, voters will reward Schwarber

A $100 bet now on Schwarber would pay $5,000 if the Phillies DH wins his first MVP honor.

Next week look for my Futures Odds article on the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year Award.