2026 NL MVP Odds: Shohei Ohtani Odds-On Favorite to Win Third-Consecutive MVP Award
Shohei Ohtani has been the most valuable and versatile player in baseball over the last two seasons, and continues to crush for the Dodgers. Can he earn his third-consecutive MVP award in 2026? Peter Alexis breaks down the NL MVP Odds as both Ohtani and Judge go for the three peat.
Peter Alexis - March 25, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT
5 Minute Read2026 NL MVP Odds: Shohei Ohtani Overwhelming Favorite to Win Third-Straight MVP
Shohei Ohtani enters the season as an odds-on favorite at -110, which translates to an implied probability of just over 52% before Opening Day. That is an absurd position for any player to hold in a major individual award market, but Ohtani has earned it. He is coming off his third straight MVP award overall and second straight in the National League, and now he is trying to lead the Dodgers toward a potential World Series three-peat while adding another MVP trophy to an already historic résumé.
The rest of the board tells the story. Juan Soto sits second at +800, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr. at +1200, Fernando Tatis Jr. at +1800, Elly De La Cruz at +2200, and Pete Crow-Armstrong at +2500. Those are strong names, but none are particularly close to Ohtani in the market right now. The question entering the season is simple: can anyone put together a big enough year to actually threaten him?
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2026 NL MVP Odds
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World Series Odds Breakdown
Shohei Ohtani (-110) Click here to get the best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
Ohtani is the clear favorite because his 2025 season was overwhelming by any standard. He hit .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBI, 146 runs scored, and a 1.014 OPS, then won the NL MVP unanimously. Those are exactly the kinds of numbers that make a player odds-on before the next season even starts, especially when that player is the centerpiece of the defending champions.
What makes him even scarier is context. The Dodgers are again expected to be one of the best teams in baseball, and Ohtani is still in the middle of his prime as the engine of that lineup. If Los Angeles wins big again and Ohtani stays anywhere near last season’s level, the rest of the field may end up chasing second place.
Juan Soto (+800) Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Soto is the most credible challenger near the top of the board after a huge first season with the Mets. He hit .263 with 43 home runs, 105 RBI, 120 runs scored, 127 walks, and a .921 OPS, finishing third in NL MVP voting. The power jumped, the on-base skill remained elite, and the all-around offensive production looked like classic Soto.
The case for Soto is easy to see. If the Mets contend and he pushes past 40 home runs again while maintaining elite plate discipline, he could absolutely make this race uncomfortable for Ohtani. At +800, he is still a clear second choice in the market, but he has the kind of offensive ceiling that makes him a real threat.
Ronald Acuna Jr. (+1200) Click here to get the best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Acuña remains one of the most dynamic players in the sport, and even a somewhat uneven 2025 still showed why. He hit .290 with 21 home runs, 42 RBI, and a .935 OPS, continuing to produce impact contact and star-level offensive value whenever he was on the field.
The market is betting on upside here. Acuña’s mix of power, speed, and star reputation means he can climb this board quickly if he puts together a fully healthy season. At +1200, he feels like a plausible contender, but he probably needs one of those signature Acuña years where everything clicks at once.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (+1800) Click here to get the best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
Tatis checks in at +1800 after a 2025 season where he hit .268 with 25 home runs, 71 RBI, and an .814 OPS. Those are strong numbers, but not quite the kind that push a player into the top tier of an MVP race unless the rest of the profile is dominant.
Still, Tatis has the explosiveness to outperform this price if San Diego becomes a top National League team and his power jumps back toward his peak levels. He is one of the few players on the board with the athleticism and star power to create a real narrative push if he catches fire early.
Elly De La Cruz (+1400) Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Elly is one of the most fascinating longshots because the talent is obvious, even if the 2025 stat line was a little uneven. He finished last season at .264 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, and a .777 OPS, showing plenty of production but not yet the fully polished MVP-level offensive profile.
But this is still a bet on upside. Few players in baseball can impact a game like Elly can with his speed, power, and defensive presence. If he tightens up the consistency at the plate and Cincinnati stays in the race, +2200 could end up looking very live by midsummer.
Pete Crow Armstrong (+1500) Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Crow-Armstrong is the most intriguing name in the longshot tier, especially after his new deal with the Cubs. Chicago just locked him up on a six-year, $115 million extension, a sign of how much the organization believes in his long-term star potential. He backed that up in 2025 by hitting .247 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, 35 steals, and a .768 OPS.
That blend of power and speed gives him a legitimate path to outperforming this number. He probably needs a jump in batting average and on-base consistency to become a true MVP threat, but the tools are there. At +2500, he is one of the more interesting upside plays on the board if the Cubs win big and he takes another step.
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