Bet on these MLB players to win the 2020 NL MVP award

Making our picks and best bets to win the NL MVP award in the shortened 2020 MLB season.

The 2020 MLB season is nearing its start as teams are less than two weeks away from playing their first games of this modified season. The National League is loaded with talent and stars across several teams, many of whom are good picks to win MVP.

Unlike the American League, there isn’t a clear-cut favorite to take home the award, but rather a cluster of excellent candidates. Below, we dive into the betting odds at BetMGM and make out best picks to win the 2020 NL MVP award.

2020 NL MVP best bets: Favorite

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 13 at 12:40 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles Dodgers OF Mookie Betts (+500)

Mookie Betts is the favorite to win the award after being dealt to the NL by the Red Boston Sox, joining a loaded Dodgers team in this shortened season. Betts has been one of the most productive and consistent players in MLB for the last four years, finishing in the top eight of MVP voting each season since 2016.

At +500, his payout for winning MVP is still rewarding despite being the favorite, unlike Mike Trout (+130) of the Los Angeles Angels in the AL. Injury risk is a concern with teams only playing 60 games and little ramp-up period before the season starts, but Betts hasn’t missed more than 26 games in a single season.

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2020 NL MVP best bets: Contender

Los Angeles Dodgers OF Cody Bellinger (+800)

Betts’ teammate, Cody Bellinger, is also a great bet for MVP. Bellinger’s odds are slightly longer, but he’s certainly deserving of being among the favorites after winning the award last year. He was scorching hot in the first half of the season, too, which bodes well in a shortened season. He hit 30 home runs and had 71 RBI in the first half before cooling off slightly in the later months.

Bellinger can hit for average and power and is always available – he missed just six games in the last two seasons. With Betts ahead of him now in the lineup, the opportunities to drive in runs will be even greater.

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Washington Nationals OF Juan Soto (+1100)

Juan Soto would’ve been a tougher bet to make if his odds were around teammate Ronald Acuna Jr.’s (+600), but at +1100, the risk is worth the potential reward. Soto finished ninth in MVP voting last year after hitting 34 home runs, driving in 110, stealing 12 bases and hitting .282. He’s the new star in Washington after Bryce Harper’s departure, and as the star of the reigning world champions, Soto should be in a great spot to continue progressing.

His average dipped in the second half of last season just as his power numbers went up, but he shouldn’t have any trouble heating up quickly this year.

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Philadelphia Phillies OF Bryce Harper (+2000)

Harper has been one of the most inconsistently great players in the majors lately, hitting .319 in 2017 before his average dipped to .249 the following year. It rose to .260 last season and his power numbers have remained strong, but he’s simply not getting on base as much as he used to.

The Phillies should be in contention in 2020 with a solid roster, especially if Harper plays up to his contract’s standards. He hasn’t finished in the top 15 of MVP voting since he was 12th in 2017, but in his second season in Philly, he should turn things around.

2020 NL MVP best bets: Long shot

New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso (+4000)

Pete Alonso is my long-shot pick after a remarkable rookie year with the Mets in 2019. He won NL Rookie of the Year with an MLB-best 53 homers and finished seventh in NL MVP voting. So why is he only +4000 to win MVP, which is tied for 14th? There are a lot of studs in the NL with a more proven track record than Alonso, but the Mets star will continue rising in Year 2.

He dominated the first half of last season with 30 homers and a .280 average. A hot start will be important with 102 games cut from the schedule, so that bodes well for the young power hitter. It’ll help his case if the Mets are in contention, too.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Bet on these MLB players to win the 2020 AL MVP award

Making our picks and best bets to win the AL MVP award in the shortened 2020 MLB season.

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All 15 teams in the American League will begin the 60-game 2020 MLB season in World Series contention. Players will have less time than ever to make a noticeable impact on their team’s postseason chances. Below, we look at a player from each tier of the betting odds at BetMGM and make out best picks to win the 2020 AL MVP award.

2020 AL MVP best bets: Favorite

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, July 10 at 2:10 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles Angels 3B Anthony Rendon (+1600)

Angels OF Mike Trout is the odds-on favorite to defend his 2019 AL MVP crown at +130, but is still uncertain of his playing status for the full season with his wife expecting to give birth later this summer. With the risk of him not even being available for a full 60 games, there’s no sense in eating this much chalk on an award race that’s wide open this season.

Rendon has the next best odds of any Angels player and is the fifth favorite overall. The free-agent signee and reigning World Series champion with the Washington Nationals is a plus defender at the hot corner. He slashed .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs and led the majors with 126 RBIs in a career-best 2019 season. Should Trout miss any amount of time and the Angels remain in playoff contention, Rendon should be justly rewarded in his first season in the AL.

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2020 AL MVP best bets: Contender

Chicago White Sox C Yasmani Grandal (+6000)

3B Yoan Moncada (+4500) is the top contender from a White Sox team being widely picked as a darkhorse World Series contender, but he was there last year and can be overshadowed by 2020’s marquee additions should the team reach new heights in 2020.

Grandal signed as a free agent this offseason after hitting .246/.380/.468 with 28 home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. He’s also one of the best defensive catchers in baseball and could be largely credited with helping to get the best out of a young and largely inexperienced starting rotation.

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2020 AL MVP best bets: Long shot

Boston Red Sox OF Alex Verdugo (+17500)

As noted above, the AL MVP race is up for the taking this year. As such, it only makes sense to sprinkle at least a small wager on one of 10 players with the longest odds on the board. Verdugo slashed .294/.342/.475 and hit 12 homers with four stolen bases across 377 plate appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.

Verdugo will be under pressure in Boston this year as the replacement for former-MVP OF Mookie Betts in the trade with the Dodgers. A similar line and helping to keep the Red Sox in contention with the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East title will get him the recognition he needs on one of baseball’s most popular teams.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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MLB Futures Betting: 2020 AL MVP odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the baseball futures odds to be crowned the 2020 AL MVP, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.

The American League’s Most Valuable Player award will once again go through Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout, who has won the award three of the last six seasons. He’ll have some added competition this year following a busy MLB offseason. Here, we assess the MLB futures odds to win the 2020 AL MVP, with picks, tips and best bets.

2020 AL MVP Bets: Favorites

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday, March 8 at 6 p.m. ET.

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels (+150)

Trout is heavily favored to successfully defend his 2019 AL MVP crown. The Angels’ offseason signing of 3B Anthony Rendon helps surround Trout with the best supporting cast he’s had to date. L.A. has its sights set on its first postseason berth since 2014, and Trout will be able to add that MVP credential which has eluded him each of his last two award-winning seasons.


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Gleyber Torres, 2B, New York Yankees (+2500)

The Yankees are stacked with MVP candidates. OF Aaron Judge leads the group with +900 odds to rank second to Trout. 2B DJ LeMahieu (+4000), OF Giancarlo Stanton (+4000) and SP Gerrit Cole (+5000) are also able to win the award with their respective talents. The two outfielders both have injury concerns after missing a solid chunk of last season, however, while Torres has played 267 games over the last two seasons.

2020 AL MVP Bets: Contenders

Yasmani Grandal, C, Chicago White Sox (+5000)

Grandal was named an All-Star last season during his one-year stint with the Milwaukee Brewers. He helped get the best out of a patchwork starting rotation while hitting a career-high 28 home runs. His defense and offense will have plenty of room to shine on a White Sox club with high hopes in 2020. He’ll once again need to be a steady presence behind the plate to maximize the efforts of a young pitching staff.

Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics (+8000)

Olson excelled in the second half of last season with a .282 batting average, 17 home runs and 53 RBI across the final 69 games. The A’s will again be in playoff contention this season, and Olson will garner added attention down the stretch.

2020 AL MVP Bets: Long shots


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Austin Meadows, OF, Tampa Bay Rays (+12500)

Meadows hit 21 homers over his final 67 games of 2019 to finish the year with 33. He also stole 12 bases and slashed .291/.364/.558. The Rays are the No. 2 contenders in the AL East, behind the Yankees, and Meadows will get plenty of credit if the Rays can somehow overcome New York to win the division.

Alex Verdugo, OF, Boston Red Sox (+15000)

Verdugo hit 12 home runs and stole four bases over 106 MLB games with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. He’ll have a spotlight on him all season as the key replacement for former Red Sox MVP OF Mookie Betts. He’d be a darling in the eyes of voters if he can keep the Red Sox in playoff contention following the much-criticized trade.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Verdugo to be named AL MVP at the end of the season would return a profit of $1,500.

Want some action on the 2020 MLB season or other sports? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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