Mookie Betts started the season fast and became the NL MVP favorite in BetMGM odds, a spot he held for more than two months. It looked like Betts had a chance to hold that spot for the rest of the season unless he got injured.
Then Betts was hit on the wrist with a 98 mph fastball.
The Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop broke a bone in his left wrist on Sunday and will miss some time with the injury. That makes it very difficult for him to win MVP, and as a result there was a shakeup in the odds.
A Dodgers teammate and player who was quite familiar with MVPs moved to the favored spot.
Mookie Betts’ injury opens the MVP race
Betts’ injury makes Shohei Ohtani the new MVP favorite at BetMGM. He has +185 odds. Betts dropped all the way back to +2500.
Ohtani had been +425 before Sunday, before big favorite Betts was injured.
It’s possible Ohtani could have pursued Betts even if his teammate had stayed healthy.
Ohtani is having a great season after joining the Dodgers this offseason. He is hitting .309 with 19 home runs, 46 runs batted in and 15 steals. Ohtani can’t pitch this season due to an elbow injury, but he’s been productive enough as a hitter that he’s now back in line to win another MVP.
Shohei Ohtani takes over as favorite
Ohtani won American League MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. He became the biggest star in the sport because of his unique ability to dominate as a hitter and also as a starting pitcher. Ohtani blew the field away for MVP last season. He did not play again after September 3 due to injury, but won unanimous MVP. It would be a remarkable story if Ohtani changes teams and leagues and still wins MVP.
Ohtani is unlikely to leave the field as a hitter this season. However, not many legitimate candidates have emerged yet. Part of that is due to the struggles of the Atlanta Braves’ stars. MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. last season wasn’t playing great before suffering a torn ACL, and Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II are playing below their standards.
Bryce Harper (+325 for MVP) is still in the MVP conversation, Fernando Tatis Jr. (+900) is having a strong season, Marcell Ozuna (+900) is the only Braves hitter to produce all season and others could emerge too.
But the NL MVP race is well defined after Betts’ injury. Betts slides back and Ohtani gets his chance to lead the odds.
