Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper won the 2021 National League MVP Award last season, despite Philadelphia not making it to the 2021 MLB Playoffs. It has happened a lot in the MLB before where players have won MVPs on teams, that didn’t make it to the playoffs.
There are sports news articles out there that have people writing up their predictions for the 2022 MLB regular season, including who will potentially win the National League MVP Award. Who are the potential candidates for the National League MVP this year?
Juan Soto +350
Juan Soto has the best odds to win the National League MVP this year. He is an outfielder for the Washington Nationals. Soto is going to be on a really bad baseball team this season and it is very possible that they could lose 100 games, but Vegas is telling you it doesn’t matter.
Juan Soto is that good of a baseball player that he is going to put up serious numbers during the regular season. Soto is going to go very high in fantasy baseball drafts as well. In 151 games played last season, his batting average was .313 with 29 home runs and 95 RBIs, along with nine stolen bases.
He was caught stealing seven times. Juan Soto also had a .465 OBP, a .534 SLG, and a .999 OPS. Those advanced statistics matter in baseball when voting on the National League MVP. The best way to enjoy a game is by going to it, so if you’re interested in your favorite team games, check the Twins schedule and see if you can get some tickets before the season ends.
Ronald Acuna Jr. +800
Ronald Acuna Jr. will be on the 10-day DL to start the 2022 MLB regular season and he will be already in a tough spot for the Atlanta Braves. Acuna Jr. is still recovering from knee surgery after having a season-ending torn ACL last year. This is a player I would fade away from.
Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies both have +3300 odds on their own team and would be more worth the risk to bet on than Ronald Acuna Jr. would be. Acuna Jr. played in 82 games last season for the Atlanta Braves. His batting average was .283 with 24 home runs and 52 RBIs, along with 17 stolen bases.
He was also caught stealing six times. Ronald Acuna Jr. also had a .394 OBP, a .596 SLG, and a .990 OPS.
Bryce Harper +1000
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies won the National League MVP last season. He will have a loaded lineup helping him out this season. Harper is a power hitter and actually had a great year last year also hitting for contact-wise.
In 141 games played last season with Philadelphia, he had a .309 batting average with 35 home runs and 84 RBIs, along with 13 stolen bases. Harper was caught stealing three times.
He also had a .429 OBP, a .615 SLG, and a 1.044 OPS. That OPS is probably what won him the National League MVP Award last season. Advanced statistics like that matter in the long run when the voters vote for the MVP.
Mookie Betts +1200
Mookie Betts has the fourth-best odds to win the National League MVP Award. He is an outfielder on the Los Angeles Dodgers. The only problem with potentially betting on Betts to win this award is that they have other players that can produce in their lineups like Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger, and Justin Turner.
Los Angeles is loaded with talent this year. Betts has the talent to win another MVP, just like he did with the Boston Red Sox in the American League a few years ago. In 122 games last season with the Dodgers, his batting average was .264 with 23 home runs and 58 RBIs, along with 10 stolen bases.
He also got caught stealing five times last season. Betts also had a .367 OBP, a .487 SLG, and a .854 OPS.
Other Odds: Trea Turner (LAD, SS) +1400, Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD, SS) +1800, and Francisco Lindor (NYM, SS) +2000.