MLB: 5 Candidates For MVP Awards
While we should be gearing up for Opening Day, we instead find ourselves in a world where we have to wonder about when and if baseball will be played. The coronavirus pandemic has hit all sports hard and baseball is no exception. Still, there is optimism that baseball will be played this season and with that in mind, let’s take a look at some potential MVP candidates in what will likely be a shortened season. Here are 5 that could definitely be worth betting on for the 2020 season and their odds by the various pph sites
Mike Trout (-110) – 2019: .291/.438/.645, 45 home runs, 104 RBI, 110 R, 11 SB
No list would be complete without Mike Trout. In fact, a better bet may be between Mike Trout or the field as Trout has cemented himself not only as one of the best players currently, but possibly to ever play the game. He has finished as the MVP in three seasons and has finished in the top-5 eight times. To give light, Trout has played in eight complete seasons so he basically is a candidate every year he plays. The crazy part is that he is just 28 years old so he likely isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He was somewhat hampered by injuries last year, but still played in 134 games and got 600 at bats. At -110, you might not get the most bang for your buck with Trout, but that is because he could be handed the award almost every year.
Mookie Betts (+350) – 2019: .295/.391/.524, 29 home runs, 80 RBI, 134 R, 16 SB
When it comes to the MVP Award, Mookie Betts is excited to finally play in a league that doesn’t include Mike Trout. After an offseason trade that sent him to the Dodgers, Betts will be competing for the National League honors this season. At just 27 years old, Betts has finished in the top-10 in MVP voting for the AL that last four years and won the award in 2018. His batting average and stolen bases dipped last year from his MVP season, but he is still steady at the plate and should be amongst the best in the NL. In a contract year, he would love to have a monster season. I know it seems odd to have Betts here instead of his new teammate, and 2019 MVP winner Cody Bellinger, but ultimately, I think Betts is the better player.
Alex Bregman (+1200) – 2019: .296/.423/.592, 41 home runs, 112 RBI, 122 R, 5 SB
Bregman and Trout were neck and neck to the very end but it was Trout who walked away with last year’s AL MVP. Still, Bregman showed why he is one of the best in the game, eclipsing the 40-home run plateau and putting up career bests in most categories. Turning 26 later this month, he still could get better. The one interesting caveat for Bregman this season will be the conditions he has to play in. Firmly entrenched as one of the players caught up in the Astros cheating scandal, all road games will take toll on the players, it will be interesting to see how Bregman responds.
Ronald Acuna Jr. (+450) – 2019: .280/.365/.518, 41 home runs, 101 RBI, 127 R, 37 SB
It is crazy to think of how good Acuna is and to remember that he is just 22 years old. Already entering his third season, Acuna has finished 12th (in just 111 games) and 5th in MVP voting the two years he has played thus far. Needless to say, the mix of power and speed is tantalizing (he very well could be a 40-40 player) and all of his peripheral numbers are amazing. There are going to be a lot of contenders in the NL, but Acuna might just be the best bet at this point.
Christian Yelich (+700) - 2019: .329/.429/.671, 44 home runs, 97 RBI, 100 R, 30 SB
I really feel the only reason Yelich didn’t win last year’s MVP was because of a fluke injury. After having won the award in 2018, Yelich finished second in 2019 despite playing in just 130 games. In that time, he hit more home runs than the previous season and had a better average, OBP and slugging percentage. At 28 he seems to continue to get better and now has some security as he just signed a long-term deal with the Brewers this offseason.
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