Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers open spring training looking to repeat their trophy performances in 2020, while Mike Trout leads a list of the usual American League favorites for Most Valuable Player.
Oddsmakers made Betts and Juan Soto the leaders for the NL honor, and the World Series champion Dodgers also have a second candidate in the NL’s top three. Cody Bellinger is close behind the favorites.
2021 NL MVP favorites
Mookie Betts, Dodgers (+750 at Draft Kings, +500 at PointsBet)
Betts bagged a huge contract and a World Series title in his first year in Los Angeles. He looks to get his first NL MVP award in 2021.
Last season, the former AL MVP with the Boston Red Sox slashed .292/.366/.562 with 16 home runs and 39 RBIs in only 219 at-bats. He hits at the top of one of the league’s best lineups. He also has the ability to steal between 10-20 bags.
Juan Soto, Nationals (+750 at Draft Kings, +1000 at PointsBet)
Soto had a very good 2020 season after missing several weeks with COVID-19. He managed to only get 154 ABs and managed a slash line of .351/.490/.695 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs. He is a young left-handed hitter who hits for high average and has above-average power. He hits in the meat of the Washington Nationals’ lineup and is only two years removed from his “wow” showing for the World Series champs.
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (+800 at Draft Kings, +800 at PointsBet)
Bellinger is looking to repeat his 2019 MVP season. In his MVP campaign 2019 season he had a line of .305/.406/.629 and hit 47 homers with 115 RBIs. The extra-base hit machine has at least 60 XBHs in every full season of his career.
Bellinger will continue to produce with a championship lineup on base in front of him. He is also due for a new contract.
With a tower of cash on the line, watch for a big year for him to prove his worth.
2021 AL MVP favorites
Mike Trout, Angels (+200 at Draft Kings, +175 at PointsBet)
Trout is the favorite to win the AL MVP yet again. He has finished in top-five voting every full season of his career. He also has three MVP awards already. He has plenty of help in the Angels lineup this season with Anthony Rendon and Shohei Otani. Expect another huge year from one of the most consistent players in the league.
Alex Bregman, Astros (+1000 at Draft Kings, +1000 at PointsBet)
Bregman had a rough 2020 season which he hit .242 with just six home runs and 22 RBIs.
But he hit 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs in 2018 and 2019 and will hit in the middle of the Astros’ order with plenty of chances to drive in runs.
Aaron Judge, Yankees (+1200 at Draft Kings, +1100 at PointsBet)
Judge is one the most powerful hitters in the league. He has had struggles staying healthy.
He destroys the baseball when he’s not hurt, hitting 115 home runs with 258 RBIs over the past four seasons.
Not only are the Yankees an American League favorite again, Judge hits in the meat of the most powerful lineup in the league. Expect plenty of production.
Others to Watch:
NL
Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres (+850 at Draft Kings, +1000 at PointsBet)
Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves (+1000 at Draft Kings, +750 at PointsBet)
AL
Jose Abreu, White Sox (+2500 at Draft Kings, +1000 at PointsBet)
Anthony Rendon, Angels (+1500 at Draft Kings, +2000 at PointsBet)
–Field Level Media
