The MLB world slows down for a brief time as we ride out the remainder of the All-Star break, giving us a perfect chance to check out the latest odds for National League MVP on DraftKings Sportsbook.
As things currently stand, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani sits far ahead of the pack at the top of the leaderboard but things can always change over the remaining 66 games left to play. Will a new challenger rise to win the NL MVP, or will Ohtani the award for the second straight year?
2025 NL MVP Award Odds
The top 12 players on the NL MVP race on DraftKings Sportsbook are listed below. How will things shake out over the season’s second half?
Shohei Ohtani (-1100)
Shohei Ohtani still sits atop the NL MVP leaderboard as a -1100 favorite, far ahead of Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong in second place at +700 odds. It might appear that the Japanese slugger has all but locked down the trophy, but such an assumption could still prove short-sighted.
Look at the AL MVP race as an example. On June 1, Aaron Judge sat far ahead of the competition as a -6000 favorite to win that award. Since then, the Yankees have struggled and dropped to second place in their own division and Judge’s individual stats have dropped as he worked to fight off a slump (though his absurd slash line numbers were arguably unsustainable to begin with). Now, he’s dropped to -650 in the running with Cal Raleigh on his tail at +370.
What can we learn from this? Well, Ohtani may not be safe in the lead for NL MVP after all. He’s slashing .276/.382/.605 with a .987 OPS overall and leads the MLB with 91 runs. He’s also posted 60 RBI and 32 home runs on the year — third-most in baseball — along with 12 stolen bases, too. That’s not even getting into Ohtani’s recent return to the mound as an opener in the Los Angeles rotation, though he’s only pitched nine innings in five starts. Yes, the Japanese star looks MVP-worthy.
Still, anything can happen. The Dodgers could go on a losing streak that impacts their spot in the playoff race, Ohtani may experience an extended slump, or in a worst-case scenario he could get hurt and miss some time. Playing the rest of the market now feels wise, even with Ohtani favored to win his fourth league MVP in five years.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (+700)
Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks second in the NL MVP market at +700 odds. For those still unfamiliar with the 23-year-old’s name, he’s quickly become a fan-favorite as one of the MLB’s brightest up-and-coming talents.
The lefty hitter slashes .265/.302/.544 with an .846 OPS this season, and while his OBP may hold him back a little bit in the awards race, it doesn’t look like a significant roadblock to this point. Crow-Armstrong boasts 71 RBI and remains tied for sixth in home runs with 25 as he displays an impressive penchant for power. As one of baseball’s fastest players, he excels at legging it out to turn extra bases and ranks fourth in stolen bases with 27. That speed also helps him out in center as possibly the best defensive player at his position outside of Denzel Clarke, whose highlight reel probably rivals Crow-Armstrong’s.
The Cubs are a fantastic team and a true contender come playoff time. As one of the anchors of a lineup with the second-most runs in the MLB, Crow-Armstrong deserves plenty of NL MVP consideration, especially if his team can finish with the league’s best record. For those looking for an even longer-shot bet, fellow Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker holds some appeal at +5000, fourth-highest on the leaderboard. Who was the last Cub to win an NL MVP? Kris Bryant in 2016, so it’s about time the team delivers another one.
Juan Soto (+2000)
At third in the NL MVP race is the $765-million man himself. The Mets made baseball’s biggest splash during the winter by signing Juan Soto away from their New York rival. While he took a while to round into form following a pretty rough start to the season, Soto now looks nearly every bit his old self.
Yes, his .262 batting average remains a career-low, but Soto’s .396 OBP and .509 SLG numbers make up a .905 OPS that keeps ticking upwards as the year goes on. The 26-year-old has 70 runs, 56 RBI and 23 homers to his name plus 11 stolen bases. His numbers are a tad less impressive than the other top contenders for this award, but he’s hitting .311 since June 1 with 41 hits and 14 dingers in 25 games.
The Mets loom just half a game back of the Phillies for the top spot in the NL East standings and will likely add pieces at the trade deadline. If they keep climbing the standings and Soto continues pumping his numbers higher, he may challenge for the NL MVP. For those particularly bullish on the Mets, Pete Alonso comes in at +6500 in the midst of the best season of his career.
