2025 MLB MVP Race, Odds: Judge Back Atop AL Oddsboard Depsite Injury

The MVP race — at least in one league — is no longer a foregone conclusion. 

Let’s take a look at the odds for which two players will separate themselves from the rest by winning MVP at the end of the year, with odds from BetMGM Sportsbook as of Aug. 4. 

American League MVP 2025

Aaron Judge: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)
Cal Raleigh: +145 (bet $10 to win $24.50 total)
Tarik Skubal: +6600 (bet $10 to win $670 total)
Jose Ramirez: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Bobby Witt Jr.: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

What to know: Just a few weeks ago, the AL MVP race appeared … in hand? Aaron Judge — last year’s winner — had been this year’s favorite since before Opening Day and was at -650 to win the award on July 17. But after landing on the 10-day IL on July 26 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, his odds dipped to +100. However, once Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced that Judge is expected to return no later than Tuesday (Aug. 5), his odds bounced back to the top of the oddsboard.

Judge still leads MLB in batting average (.342), ranks third in home runs (37) and is tied for second in hits (129). 

Seattle’s Cal Raleigh is the clear No. 2 in the race. He made headlines last week by breaking the record for homers by a switch-hitting catcher with his 42nd dinger — also the current MLB lead.

According to BetMGM, Judge is the most bet player in terms of handle, while Raleigh is their biggest liability. Bobby Witt Jr., meanwhile, is attracting the most tickets.

National League MVP 2025

Shohei Ohtani: -1000 (bet $10 to win $11 total)
Pete Crow-Armstrong: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Kyle Schwarber: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Manny Machado: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Juan Soto: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

What to know: The NL MVP race is not as hotly contested. Ohtani opened the year as the favorite after winning the NL MVP last season. He leads the NL in home runs (38, tied with Schwarber) and runs scored (102) by a wide margin. Presumably, his RBIs would be higher (he only has 73) if he didn’t mostly bat leadoff, meaning he is often up to the plate with no runners in scoring position. 

Ohtani is the most bet player both in terms of total handle and tickets, while the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong is BetMGM’s biggest liability.

Ohtani is looking to win back-to-back NL MVP awards for the first time since Albert Pujols did it in 2008 and 2009. However, he won the AL MVP in 2023 and NL MVP in 2024, making him the first player in MLB history to win MVP back-to-back in each league.

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