Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and 5 More Early AL MVP Contenders
After a huge performance on the biggest stage, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is making an early claim for American League MVP, an award for which he finished second in voting last season.
An individual’s performance over a handful of games is not going to set anything in stone. But a strong start can shift the odds and that has happened with Guerrero Jr., who was +500 at DraftKings Sportsbook to open the season and is now priced at +380, suddenly the shortest odds in the field. He is not the only star off to a hot start, so here are six early candidates for American League MVP, two of which are familiar faces on the Los Angeles Angels (odds via DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook).
AL MVP Odds
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Vladimir Guerrero (+380)
The runner-up for American League MVP last season, Guerrero Jr. had a mere one home run through his first five games before crushing three in the Blue Jays’ 6-4 win at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
It’s not only that Guerrero Jr. has the ability to accomplish such astounding feats, it’s that he can accomplish these incredible feats with an added degree or two of difficulty. Not only did he crush three home runs against the Yankees, but Guerrero Jr. did so while suffering a laceration on his finger after he was stepped on by Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks.
Guerrero Jr. was also turning on 98 mph fastballs inside and off the plate.
https://twitter.com/BMcCarthy32/status/1514393474933608448?s=20&t=-pifqQ6kAN_nfY3xzhWi8Q
After opening the season with one home run in five games, Guerrero Jr. erupted and now leads MLB with four home runs while posting a slash line of .391/.417/.957.
Jose Ramirez (+2000)
Rumored to be on the trade block in the offseason for the cost-cutting Guardians, Ramirez ultimately signed a five-year, $124 million contract extension and has not missed a beat. In six games, the Guardians third baseman is 12-for-25 at the plate, hitting three home runs and driving in 14. He has a slash line of .480/.536/1.040 and leads MLB with 0.9 FanGraphs WAR.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1514022603782082560?s=20&t=-pifqQ6kAN_nfY3xzhWi8Q
Byron Buxton (+1200)
In 100 games across the previous two seasons, Buxton crushed 32 home runs, stole 11 bases, and had a .948 OPS. When healthy, he legitimately puts up MVP numbers. The problem for Buxton is that he played 100 out of a possible 222 games in those two seasons and his injury woes have been as much a part of Buxton’s story as his production.
In six games this season, he has three home runs and two doubles. His AL MVP odds have gotten much shorter, going from +2500 on DraftKings before the season started to +1000.
Check out the latest comprehensive and most trusted Sportsbook Reviews by SBR here.
Luis Robert (+2000)
The White Sox center fielder can fill the stat sheet and in five games he already has a couple of home runs and four stolen bases while producing a slash line of .350/.381/.700, making his early case for AL MVP.
Robert played just 68 games last season, but he hit 13 home runs and stole six bases while slashing .338/.378/.567. If his early start is any indication, Robert may still have the power, but his stolen base totals are going to go much higher.
https://twitter.com/MLBHRVideos/status/1514002631580131330?s=20&t=CzqzplO2tst4o8WSpAq7WQ
Notable Angels
Shohei Ohtani (+400)
The preseason favorite after winning the award last season, Ohtani has started slowly, going 4-for-25 at the plate but he did strike out nine in 4 2/3 innings while taking the loss in his first start as a pitcher. In the small sample of a single week, Ohtani has already lost some ground in this race.
https://twitter.com/SBRSportsPicks/status/1513893183851270146?s=20&t=CzqzplO2tst4o8WSpAq7WQ
Mike Trout (+600)
A perennial MVP candidate, Trout is just 3-for-15 at the plate, though he has walked four times. This start is not why Trout would be considered an MVP candidate. It’s the fact that he has been among the betting favorites in every one of his full major league seasons that gives him credibility, even if his first week has been underwhelming.
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