With the first half of the season in the books, the 2025 MLB MVP odds are still available to wager on up to October! Baseball fans can bet on season-long futures for MVP candidates for both the AL and NL.
This guide highlights the MLB MVP betting odds for top American and National League contenders. I will break down the early odds and analyze each MVP challenger’s chance of winning the award for their respective league.
Who Will Win MVP MLB in 2025?
According to the betting odds as of early August, Aaron Judge is the favorite for the AL MVP in 2025, while Shohei Ohtani is leading for the NL MVP. If they stay healthy until the end of the MLB season, they will likely win the award.
Still, there are several interesting potential scenarios and sleepers on the board to consider. Cal Raleigh’s (AL) MVP odds have skyrocketed to put pressure on Judge, while Manny Machado (NL) and Kyle Schwarber (NL) are chasing Shohei Ohtani with a faint chance in the National League.
MLB 2025 MVP Betting Odds
There are not one, but two, regular-season MVPs up for grabs in the MLB. Here are the MLB MVP odds for the AL and NL, courtesy of Bovada.
2025 AL MVP Betting Odds
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- Aaron Judge (-185)
- Cal Raleigh (+120)
- Bobby Witt Jr. (+10000)
- Jose Ramirez (+10000)
- Tarik Skubal (+10000)
- Nick Kurtz (+15000)
- Byron Buxton (+20000)
- Corey Seager (+20000)
- Junior Caminero (+20000)
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+20000)
The latest 2025 MVP odds have Yankees’ right fielder Aaron Judge (-185) favored to repeat in the American League. However, the picture has gotten much tighter with Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh (+120) rallying to get closer to Judge.
Judge’s odds to win MVP have regressed drastically over the past few months. On June 18, he was a monster -18500 favorite to win MVP, with oddsmakers essentially stating it’s a lock at the top MLB betting sites.
However, Judge slipped to -700 in mid-July and is at -185 on August 18, as his stranglehold on the AL MVP award has deteriorated. Only two weeks ago, Judge was -225, so his odds to win the MVP continue to falter.
Meanwhile, Raleigh’s odds for AL MVP have skyrocketed up the board. In our last update, Raleigh had a +170 price to win, but he keeps gaining on Judge’s heels. As of August 18, Raleigh has a 45.5% implied chance to complete the comeback and win MVP.
Aside from Judge and Raleigh, there isn’t another player in the American League within reach of winning. It’s either Judge or Raleigh taking home the hardware!
2025 NL MVP Betting Odds
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- Shohei Ohtani (-15000)
- Kyle Schwarber (+2000)
- Manny Machado (+9000)
- Paul Skenes (+10000)
- Kyle Tucker (+15000)
- Corbin Carroll (+20000)
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (+20000)
- Juan Soto (+20000)
- Ketel Marte (+20000)
- Pete Alonso (+20000)
The NL MVP odds paint an interesting picture, with one frontrunner out ahead of the rest. Ohtani (-15000) has a significant lead, and essentially has the MVP wrapped up, giving the 31-year-old superstar his fourth award and third straight!
On July 16, Ohtani had a -1200 price to win the NL MVP, which dipped briefly to -800 in early August. In mid-August, Ohtani’s price has ballooned to -15000 to signify that he is basically a lock.
Overall, Ohtani’s 2025 MLB MVP odds have improved throughout the season. Now, at -15000, Ohtani has a 99.3% implied probability to win the NL MVP, and as the final month of the season approaches, it would have to take something major for anything different.
Bovada’s 2025 MLB MVP odds give Judge and Ohtani clear advantages. In the case of Judge, it looked like the race was already over in June! Raleigh has managed to chip into his lead and continues to reel him in.
While for Ohtani, he is on the verge of pulling away from his rivals. There remains some hope for Crow-Armstrong, and an outside bid from Soto, though it’s fading quickly with Ohtani on the mound now.
Currently, NL and AL MVP betting odds are available at Bovada, so check out the latest prices if you want to target long shots.
AL MVP Favorites for 2025
The Yankees’ Aaron Judge swept first place in MVP voting last year, earning all 30 votes. Following the first half of the 2025 season, Judge is back in the driver’s seat to win his third AL MVP award.
Nevertheless, Raleigh’s success in the first half has put a tremendous amount of pressure on Judge to pick things up. A lot could change in the coming weeks on the bases!
Aaron Judge (-185)
Feeling the heat from Raleigh, Judge’s lead for MVP evaporated in a hurry. That being said, at -185, Judge has the best probability of receiving his third MVP honors.
He missed some time on the diamond this summer after going down on July 25 against the Phillies. Judge suffered a flexor strain that kept him off the field for a couple of weeks. Fortunately, though, Judge was able to avoid an extended stay on the IL and returned on August 5.
That was enough to allow Raleigh to sneak up and close the gap in the AL MVP race. In any event, despite Raleigh’s huge surge, Judge’s all-around offensive numbers remain mightily impressive to keep him a step ahead of the Mariners’ catcher.
No. 39 for Aaron Judge 👨⚖️ pic.twitter.com/cKnBeYb6q5
— MLB (@MLB) August 17, 2025
Although Raleigh has the power numbers, Judge is ahead in batting average (.333), OBP (.447), OPS (1.134), SLG% (.687), and WAR (6.9). Additionally, Judge has been able to get the power bat working recently.
He has tallied two home runs since August 12 and should keep a hot hand through September. If Judge goes on a tear with the long ball over the final month to lead the Yankees to the playoffs, he is likely to clinch the AL MVP.
Cal Raleigh (+120)
The biggest surprise in the American League this season has been the emergence of Seattle Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh. He’s on an unprecedented pace for a catcher and deserves plenty of recognition.
On July 26, Raleigh became the first catcher and switch-hitter to belt 40 home runs before the end of the month! Earlier in the season, Raleigh became the first catcher to reach 20 long balls before the end of May.
The public has been lining up to bet on Raleigh to win MVP. His red-hot streak has pushed Judge to the limit in the race in the American League. Along with winning the Derby, Raleigh has tacked on 47 regular-season home runs to lead the Major Leagues as of August 18. His 102 RBIs put him in a tie with Schwarber for the most in the Major Leagues!
Wave goodbye to this baseball 👋
Cal Raleigh blasts his 47th home run! pic.twitter.com/UwaXmLdL3D
— MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2025
However, Raleigh’s contact numbers and ability to get on base haven’t been as impressive. Will voters be fine with awarding a batter hovering around .250 the AL MVP? Raleigh has a .252 batting average, .359 OBP, .600 SLG%, .959 OPS, and 5.9 WAR, which positions the catcher well behind Judge’s numbers.
Raleigh has been terrific, but he’s largely in the race due to his power numbers. Judge has been the stronger all-around player, and No. 99’s injury didn’t extend long enough to allow Raleigh to cruise into the sunset with the MVP.
Still, given Raleigh’s accomplishments while playing catcher, it’s hard to disregard him as a potential winner. I played Raleigh to win AL MVP as a longshot at +2000 earlier this season, so I’m thrilled with that bet now!
NL MVP Favorites for 2025
Ohtani has been the betting favorite to win the NL MVP for the duration of the season. He opened at +250, and the odds have progressively moved in his favor. From -400 in June to -800 in August, and now, he has better than a 99% chance at -15000 odds!
There truly is only one favorite remaining for the MVP in the National League. The rest of the field is all longshots, so let’s break down his body of work in 2025:
Shohei Ohtani (-15000)
Shohei Ohtani lived up to the hype in his first year with the Dodgers, helping LA dominate the Yankees in the 2024 World Series. He’s extended his lead as a huge betting favorite to win consecutive MVP awards in 2025.
Unless Ohtani finds himself in some kind of controversy that prevents voters from giving him the nod, he’s going to win again this year. Even if he were to suffer a season-ending injury right now, the awards still belong to Ohtani. Keep in mind that he won the MVP solely as a DH last season.
Ohtani returned to the mound in mid-June and has been pitching at a high level. He has a 3.47 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through nine starts and 23.1 innings of work. The Dodgers have kept the training wheels on and restricted his workload, but he has been solid when asked to pitch.
Ohtani became the first full-time DH to ever win the award and is even more dangerous as an MVP contender in a two-way role. His odds to win jumped after Dave Roberts inserted him back into the rotation. There isn’t another player in the National League who can contend with Ohtani in this regard.
Shohei Ohtani since the Trade Deadline (MLB Ranks) 🚨
🥇 .389 AVG — 1st⁰🥇 .522 OBP — 1st⁰🔥 .759 SLG — 4th⁰🥇 1.281 OPS — 1st⁰🥇 243 wRC+ — 1st⁰💣 5 HR — T-12th⁰⚡️ 18 Runs — 1st
Ohtani is on another planet right now. 🌎💥
👉 Is Shohei your MVP? pic.twitter.com/iU88ewdzSJ
— SleeperDodgers (@SleeperDodgers) August 18, 2025
As a hitter, Ohtani’s numbers are naturally impressive. Through 122 matchups, Ohtani has posted a .283 batting average, 43 home runs, 80 RBIs, .391 OBP, and 1.013 OPS. With 17 stolen bases, he’s well off last year’s pace but still has delivered MVP-caliber production offensively.
No matter how you put it, Ohtani is repeating as the NL MVP!
Best MVP Sleeper Bets for 2025
Judge and Ohtani are favored to win the MVPs for their respective leagues again this year after winning them unanimously last season. Injuries, voter fatigue, and breakout seasons can shake up the MVP voting before it is all said and done.
Here are my top sleepers based on the latest MVP odds for the MLB.
1. 2025 AL MVP Sleepers
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- Jose Ramirez (+10000)
- Nick Kurtz (+15000)
It’s worth adding that I am confident that the race for MVP in the American League is between Judge and Raleigh. There isn’t much room for another player to get into the mix.
We’re too late in the season where season-ending injuries will have an impact, either. In any event, if something truly unexpected happens, Jose Ramirez and Nick Kurtz could be there to swoop in and steal the AL MVP.
What a treat it is to watch José Ramírez play baseball every day.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/fYaWwNjTOS
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 3, 2025
The Guardians’ third baseman has tallied a .291 batting average with 25 home runs and 64 RBIs in 120 matchups. He has also been impressive with a .364 OBP and .879 OPS this season.
Additionally, Kurtz’s historic four-home run, eight-RBI game on July 25 puts the 22-year-old rookie within reach of the MVP. Overall, the A’s first baseman has been sensational, with a .306 batting average and 25 homers! He’s heating up at the end of the season, as his BA has grown from .240 on July 4th to over .300 in August.
For small plays, consider Ramirez and Kurtz for your best 2025 AL MVP picks!
2. 2025 NL MVP Sleepers
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- Kyle Schwarber (+2000)
Schwarber has the second-best odds to win the NL MVP, but he is still a massive underdog behind Ohtani. The way I see it, Schwarber is really the only player with a puncher’s chance of winning the MVP. Again, perhaps if Ohtani is embroiled in some massive scandal that holds voters back, he’s going to win.
Nevertheless, Schwarber has small value to win at +2000. Schwarber has launched 43 home runs and 102 RBIs this season. The 102 RBIs has Schwarber in a tie with Raleigh for the lead in the Major Leagues.
He’s on fire with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs over 28 games since July 18. While Crow-Armstrong has fallen back in the MVP hunt, Schwarber has pulled away from him and the rest of the field to position him squarely behind Ohtani’s 2025 NL MVP betting odds.
It isn’t going to be easy with Ohtani out to such a big lead, but Schwarber might be able to steal one if he continues to stay hot in August and September! I recommend a small play here.
MLB 2025 MVP Predictions and Best Bets
Every player has a full season ahead of them to prove they deserve MVP honors. Here are my MVP predictions for the 2025 season.
AL MVP Predictions
Although Raleigh has cut into Judge’s lead, No. 99 on the Yankees is still the most likely winner. Judge avoided a major injury and will, fortunately, be back on the diamond this week. That gives me big confidence in Judge having the edge over Raleigh down the stretch.
Judge is more well-rounded at the plate, so he could hit a slide with his power numbers and remain ahead. Raleigh doesn’t have that luxury. I will say, though, if Judge goes cold in September, and Raleigh maintains his current pace, it’s highly likely that the Mariner will add an MVP trophy next to his HR Derby hardware.
Yes, Raleigh is having a record-breaking season, but he still doesn’t hold up against Judge’s numbers. That includes WAR, with Juge leading MLB comfortably at 6.9 over Raleigh’s 5.9. And, how much confidence do you have in Raleigh outperforming Judge in September? It could be close, but I give the edge to Judge, who I anticipate going off down the stretch.
With Judge down to -185 all the way from -18500, there is finally a window to bet on his AL MVP 2025 odds! It’s going to be tight, but Judge should ultimately hold on in a vote that goes down to the wire.
NL MVP Predictions
In a different storyline in the National League, there is a large discrepancy between the top favorite and the rest of the field in the American League. There was plenty of value in Ohtani’s preseason NL MVP markets at +250 odds. Even at -400, I thought there was some justification to it, given his return to the bump.
However, at -15000, it’s impossible to recommend betting on Ohtani. You would have to wager $15,000 for a $100 return, so that is a bet to stay away from! Still, Ohtani is definitely winning the MVP again this season.
Since Ohtani is back pitching, he is going to separate himself from the rest of the contenders in the National League. There are some talented players, but no one can compete with his two-way talent. Last year, Ohtani won as a DH, which was an impressive feat.
Ohtani’s offensive numbers won’t be as potent as in 2024, but it’s still enough to soar over his rivals, and the pitching will only help his resume. With the Dodgers’ rotation suffering a myriad of injuries, Ohtani’s arm becomes even more critically important.
The Japanese star is likely to win the MVP again, but I wouldn’t bet on it at -15000. There’s simply no value in such short odds to even include this bet in a parlay.
Where to Bet on the MLB MVP?
The 2025 MLB MVP odds can be wagered on at a variety of online bookies! For our best recommendation, check out Bovada’s MVP betting markets. With superior odds on a reliable and trusted platform, Bovada is our top choice for the 2025 season!
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