The MLB season is in full swing as the calendar reaches mid-May. Several teams have stayed competitive, while others have built commanding leads in their divisions.
At the same time, several players have delivered standout performances. Some are familiar names already competing for their league’s MVP award — baseball’s most prestigious individual honor.
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Odds markets have tracked the favorites throughout the regular season. While some stars continue to dominate, several new contenders have climbed the rankings. Here are the NL and AL MVP favorites entering mid-May:
NL MVP Favorites
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
The reigning NL MVP has won each of the last three MVP awards and is once again off to a dominant start as the Dodgers defend their World Series title.
Ohtani is batting .240 with seven home runs and 17 RBI. On the mound, he has posted an outstanding 0.82 ERA across seven starts. Can he capture a fourth consecutive MVP award?
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Olson has enjoyed an exceptional run in Atlanta. After leading the majors in both home runs and RBI in 2023, he has remained firmly in the MVP conversation.
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He currently trails only Ohtani in MVP odds. Olson is batting .287 with 14 home runs and 37 RBI. Can he maintain his strong form and secure the first MVP award of his MLB career?
Yordan Alvarez
AL MVP Favorites
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
The reigning AL MVP is putting together another dominant MLB campaign. Judge has won three of the last four AL MVP awards and continues to anchor the Yankees lineup.
Through mid-May, he is batting .267 with 16 home runs and 30 RBI. Can Judge match Ohtani’s recent dominance and earn a third straight MVP award?
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
The Astros slugger has surged up the MVP odds boards and emerged as one of Judge’s top challengers. Alvarez has opened the 2026 season with impressive offensive production.
He is batting .321 with 14 home runs and 30 RBI. Will Alvarez dethrone Judge and claim the first MVP award of his MLB career?
