Sports betting favorites to win World Series MVP

This article was contributed by BetMGM. For more sports betting insights, check out BetMGM.com.

The 2024 MLB postseason is just around the corner, and there is nothing quite like October baseball when the stakes are higher.

This year’s postseason is especially meaningful, as Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will make his playoff debut. Ohtani didn’t reach the postseason in his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

Despite it being Ohtani’s first trip to the postseason, BetMGM’s trading team has complete confidence that he will deliver for the Dodgers. Ohtani opened as a +900 favorite to win the World Series MVP Award when the market was released at the BetMGM online sportsbook.

That means a $10 bet on Ohtani to win World Series MVP would net a $90 profit. He has an implied probability of 10% to win the award entering the postseason.

Ohtani is on track to win his third regular-season MVP Award and first in the NL while playing exclusively as a designated hitter, so it’s easy to see why he’s the front-runner on a team that has been favored to win the World Series all year.

But winning World Series MVP as a DH can be difficult. David Ortiz was the last player to play exclusively as a designated hitter while winning the award, doing so for the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Hideki Matsui accomplished the feat in 2009 for the New York Yankees.

Ohtani also has plenty of competition on his team. Mookie Betts is the No. 2 option in this market behind Ohtani, trading at +1400 to win the award. Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman is fifth in odds at +1600.

Joining the Dodgers’ trio at the top of the oddsboard, New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is +1400 to win World Series MVP. He’s on pace to win his second American League MVP Award for a team that is +475 to win it all, trailing only the Dodgers (+320) and Philadelphia Phillies (+450).

The Phillies’ Bryce Harper is +1400 to win the award, while the Yankees’ Juan Soto is +1600.

It makes sense that players on the top teams in the league make up the top of this market, but it’s important to remember that anything can happen in October.

Shortstop Corey Seager won last year’s World Series MVP Award, leading the Texas Rangers from a No. 5 seed in the AL to their first championship in franchise history. The Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, the No. 6 seed in the NL.

With the postseason less than two weeks away, it could be worth exploring BetMGM’s new market to identify a sleeper heading into October.

Visit the BetMGM sportsbook throughout the season for updated MLB futures, including World Series odds. You can also view updated sportsbook promos, including a First Bet Offer for eligible new customers.