Who Will Win the National League MVP Award?

Spring training has arrived, which means the 2024 MLB season is right around the corner.

There's plenty of excitement to come with the start of baseball. There's a Los Angeles Dodgers team that is loaded from top to bottom, an American League that looks wide open, and a National League packed with superstars. Those superstars are going to be fighting for the NL MVP award and it's why it will be the most intriguing award race of the upcoming season.

Let's take a look at the National League MVP odds, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

MLB NL MVP Odds

Ronald Acuna Jr. (+500)

The reigning NL MVP should naturally be the one who is receiving the top odds heading into the season.

Ronald Acuna Jr. is a superstar, and it’s hard to not be impressed by what he accomplished last year. The Atlanta Braves’ outfielder checked every box on his way to the best 40-40 campaign in MLB history.

Not only did Acuna hit 41 home runs, but he swiped 73 stolen bases. The 40-40 season was the first since 2006 when Alfonso Soriano did it, and it was only the fifth in MLB history. That’s how good Acuna was last year.

Along with that were his other astonishing numbers that topped the league. He was second in batting average (.337), OPS (1.013), and wOBA (.428), and he was third in wRC+ (170). Every important statistic saw Acuna at the top, and it’s why he walked his way into his first MVP award.

Topping such a season isn’t going to be easy. It may very well not be possible. But Acuna is just 26 years old and is in his prime years. He’s going to be at the top of a lineup that was historic last season, and that lineup hasn’t changed much. It takes a special player to follow up a performance like Acuna had last year, and he’s the guy to do it.

Notably, there hasn’t been a back-to-back winner of NL MVP since Barry Bonds won four straight awards from 2001-2004. It’s tough competition for Acuna to fight through, but at +500 odds, he’s the best option to consider heading into the new season.

Mookie Betts (+650)

The Dodgers are stacked, and it’s Mookie Betts who has the best odds on their roster to win NL MVP.

It was just a season ago that Betts finished in second, having pressured Acuna at one point to be the favorite to win the award. He was an offensive machine, hitting a career-high 39 home runs and achieving the best wOBA of his career since his MVP season at a .416 clip.

Betts’ home run numbers have flown up these last two seasons, and there’s real potential for him to hit the 40-homer plateau for the first time in his career.

Things didn’t stop there for Betts as he also swiped 14 bases (his most since 2019) and knocked in the most runs since 2016 (107). The star may be on the older side at 31 years old, but he’s a five-tool player still getting it done in every facet of the game.

The Dodgers' outfielder led MLB with an 8.3 fWAR, tying Acuna for the lead. There should be confidence in Betts to have another great season with how this offense is expected to perform. Not only will he have protection behind him, but he’s going to be setting up the Dodgers every night atop the lineup.

Everyone should expect nothing but another excellent year for Betts.

Freddie Freeman (+900)

Freddie Freeman is still getting things done at the plate, and it gives the former MVP another chance to shine in the Dodgers' lineup.

Manager Dave Roberts has already confirmed Freeman will remain in the two spot of the lineup this upcoming season. Last year, that same spot led him to hit 29 home runs, average .331 at the plate, and slug to the tune of .567. If we consider the long-term success of Freeman, it jumps off the page that he had the second-best wOBA of his career at .411.

Competing with his teammates and Acuna for the MVP crown isn’t going to be easy, especially since he’s the oldest player (34) on this list of odds. But the beauty of Freeman is that he’s always been a healthy player, which does benefit him.

Betting on the MVP prior to the season isn’t always easy, but if there’s a longshot who can be considered a “safe bet,” Freeman would be the one to fit the bill.

Shohei Ohtani (+950)

If the circumstances were different, Shohei Ohtani would be the favorite to take home the NL MVP one season after winning the AL MVP for the second time in his career.

Sadly, that’s not the case because he won't be pitching this season. Ohtani suffered a UCL injury towards the end of last season, and it led him to getting surgery. He will be a designated hitter in his first year with the Dodgers, but his bat can do the talking in his pursuit of a third MVP award.

In 2023, Ohtani led the majors in wOBA (.433), slugging (.654), and wRC+ (180). In the 132 games he played, he smashed 44 home runs and knocked in 95 runs, and he also stole 20 bases. Sitting back and realizing he did this while also putting up All-Star pitching numbers is when you appreciate what he accomplished at the plate even more.

With his focus on just hitting this season, there’s reason to believe that he can have an MVP-caliber giant season. His +950 odds are fitting, and if you believe he can produce even better numbers in a lineup of stars, it’s always a bet worth considering given his immense talent.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (+1000)

A return to baseball after missing all of 2022 wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Fernando Tatis Jr., but he showed signs of greatness that he can build on in the upcoming season.

Tatis played in 141 games, finishing with 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, and a .368 wOBA. He also stole 29 stolen bases and had a 4.4 fWAR. It was a fine season but not to the level of where he was prior to his suspension.

Juan Soto is now gone from the San Diego Padres, so the workload of the lineup is back squarely on the shoulders of Tatis. The Padres will need Tatis to be better this season.

Not only do the odds believe in him, but FanGraphs’ projections are on his side. Their FGDC projections expect him to hit 38 dingers while upping his average (.272) and wOBA (.368).

The bounceback for Tatis is one to bet on for a player this talented and has a track record of being great. Missing an entire year isn't easy, and now that he's back in the flow, things can and should be different. Going through a full spring training with no suspension looming -- that matters.

At +1000, you're banking on him returning to the form that included MVP finishes of third and fourth in 2020 and 2021. That's the guy we should see in 2024, and it makes him a longshot worth rolling with.

Looking for more MLB betting opportunities? Check out all of the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.