As the 2021 MLB season approaches the halfway point, talks around the individual awards have begun heating up. That includes trying to predict who’ll be named the National League Most Valuable Player. The competition for the award is fierce and a couple of players are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the field. As of June 24, BetOnline is listing both New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom and San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. as having the best odds to be named NL MVP at +150 apiece.
It’s hard to find two players more deserving of those odds. deGrom, whose pitching has the Mets sitting first in the NL East, has been one of the best pitchers in baseball all season. He’s made 12 starts up to this point, going 7-2 with a mind-blowing 0.50 ERA. That’s not even to mention who he’s struck out 117 batters in 72.0 innings pitched and hasn’t allowed a run in his last five starts dating back to late May. Not a lot of pitchers are capable of doing what he’s been doing. Should he be named NL MVP, deGrom would be the first pitcher to accomplish the feat since Clayton Kershaw did it back in 2014. That’s some pretty elite company to join.
On the other hand, Tatis has been having an incredible season of his own. People wondered if he’d be worth the 14-year, $330 million contract he was given this offseason. So far, he’s proven that he’s worth every penny. He currently leads the National League in home runs with 22 and is tied for the lead in steals with 15. Tatis has also driven in 50 RBI on the season while slashing .281/.365/.657. Considering how he’s helped the Padres occupy a wild-card spot with a 45-32 record as of June 24, Tatis is well-deserving of these NL MVP odds.
2021 NL Most Valuable Player Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Thursday, June 24
- Jacob deGrom (+150)
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (+150)
- Ronald Acuna Jr. (+450)
- Nicholas Castellanos (+1600)
- Jesse Winker (+2000)
- Kris Bryant (+2500)
- Bryce Harper (+4000)
- Mookie Betts (+4000)
- Max Muncy (+5000)
NL MVP Odds: Acuna Having A Great Season
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has only been in the MLB for four seasons, but you couldn’t tell it by how he plays. The 23-year-old is already a two-time Silver Slugger and former all-star. This season, Acuna has the third-best odds at +450 to win his first NL MVP. Even though he hasn’t won the award in the past, he’s not a stranger around it. He finished 12th in MVP voting in 2018, 5th in 2019 and 12th again last season.
At this rate, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Acuna is named Most Valuable Player at some point in his career.
Fast forward to 2021 and Acuna has 16 doubles, a triple and 20 home runs in his first 246 at-bats while also tallying 45 RBI. He’s as dangerous when he’s on-base as he is in the batter’s boxing, having recorded 15 stolen bases and a National League-leading 58 runs scored. His on-base plus slugging percentage is also a career-high .996, showing that he’s really stepped up every area of his game. Considering how the Braves are 5.0 games behind the Mets for first place in the NL East and there’s over half the season left to play, Acuna has plenty of time to further strengthen his case to be named NL MVP.
