The 2023 MLB season is officially underway, and the next several months will be dominated by what happens on the baseball diamond.
While not everyone is in favor of the new rules, it is safe to say that things like the pitch clock have added a different element to MLB games thus far. Games are moving along at a quicker pace, and the best players are making the most of it.
It is still early in the season, but a few different players have already emerged as MVP candidates. We are going to focus on the American League MVP race, which features a bit more star power at this point in the season.
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AL MVP Betting Odds
Shohei Ohtani +200
Aaron Judge +600
Mike Trout +800
Julio Rodriguez +1000
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. +1200
Yordan Alvarez +1200
Jose Ramirez +1500
Rafael Devers +1500
Bo Bichette +2000
Wander Franco +2000
Kyle Tucker +2500
Byron Buxton +3000
Corey Seager +3000
Luis Robert +4000
All other selections listed 50/1 or longer
Best Bets to Win the AL MVP
Shohei Ohtani (+200)
For the foreseeable future, every MVP conversation has to at least start with Shohei Ohtani. The Angels superstar has taken the league by storm with his ability to play as a hitter and pitcher at this level.
Ohtani won the MVP trophy in 2021, when he hit .257 with a league-leading eight triples to go along with 46 home runs and 100 RBIs. For good measure, Ohtani went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts, striking out 156 batters over 130 1/3 innings of work.
After finishing runner-up in the MVP race last year, Ohtani is off to a strong start in 2023. He is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA on the mound. Oh, and he’s produced a .306 batting average with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Ohtani is a deserving favorite to reclaim the MVP award.
Aaron Judge (+600)
Thanks to his ability to crush baseballs over the fence, Aaron Judge bested Ohtani in the MVP race last year after finishing fourth in 2021. Judge clobbered a league-best 62 home runs last summer, finishing with a .311 batting average and 131 RBIs.
But what’s scary is that Judge might be on his way to a better showing this season.
The New York Yankees slugger is pacing all of baseball with four home runs through the first 10 games. His slash line of .333/.419/.694 is impressive, and it doesn’t hurt that he has already driven in seven RBIs.
Judge is going to give Ohtani a run for his money once again this season.
Wander Franco (+2000)
The Tampa Bay Rays started the year 10-0 for one of the best starts to a season in MLB history. Only three teams in the history of this game have produced more consecutive wins to open the season.
If the Rays continue to be one of the best teams in baseball, Wander Franco is going to get some serious MVP consideration. Franco is hitting .317 through 10 games, recording four homers and nine RBIs to lead the way for Tampa Bay.
