MLB Trends: Slow Start Hurts Bryce Harper’s NL MVP Odds

More than a month into the 2022 Major League Baseball season, trends are starting to take shape when it comes to MLB awards. 

Last year’s National League Most Valuable Player, Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper, has struggled at the plate - and, coupled with mediocre play from the Phillies overall, he is losing ground in this year’s MVP race. 

Harper has hit six home runs with 19 RBI and 21 runs scored through 28 games but has a slash line of .241/.294/.500, and that on-base percentage is far below Harper’s .390 career OBP. 

The Phillies are just 12-16, so Harper’s struggles are magnified through the lens of a team that is not getting the results they had expected. 

As a result, Harper’s odds for NL MVP are now longer at BetMGM. 

Here are the latest odds for the major MLB awards courtesy of BetMGM. 

Check out the latest comprehensive and most trusted Sportsbook Reviews by SBR here. 

National League MVP 

Although he is named on the greatest percentage of the tickets (14.8%) and bringing in the highest percentage of the handle (12.7%) at BetMGM, Bryce Harper’s slow start this season has contributed to his odds climbing from +1000 to +1500. 

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado and San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado are co-favorites, priced at +600. 

We covered their cases for MVP very early in the season. Arenado is named on 9.8% of the tickets, second behind Harper, while Machado has brought in 11.4% of the money, also second behind Harper. 

The third basemen have pulled ahead of Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto (+700) and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (+1000). 

American League MVP 

The Los Angeles Angels duo of Shohei Ohtani (+350) and Mike Trout (+400) remain the favorites, just ahead of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+450). 

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (+850) and Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (+1200) round out the top five. 

Luis Robert was a speculative play early and is on 15.5% of the tickets to lead the way, while Guerrero leads with 18.9% of the handle at BetMGM. 

National League Cy Young 

Max Scherzer of the New York Mets and last year’s winner, Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers, are currently co-favorites at +500, just ahead of San Francisco Giants left-hander Carlos Rodon. 

The Dodgers duo of Walker Buehler (+1200) and Clayton Kershaw (+1500) round out the top five contenders. Buehler leads in the percentage of tickets at 12.0%, and injured Mets starter Jacob deGrom has brought in 12.7% of the handle to lead the way. 

American League Cy Young 

Houston Astros veteran Justin Verlander has taken a slight lead, priced at +600, just ahead of Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman (+650), Gerrit Cole (+700) of the New York Yankees, and Dylan Cease (+700) of the Chicago White Sox.  

Los Angeles Angels dual-threat Shohei Ohtani is priced at +1000 after opening at +2500. Cease is on the highest percentage of tickets (12.7%), while Toronto’s Alek Manoah (11.4%) has captured the most significant percentage of the handle. 

National League Rookie of the Year 

A quick start vaulted Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki into favorite status, and he is priced at -140 while named on 39.2% of the tickets bringing in a whopping 65.6% of the handle.  

The most notable movement is from San Diego Padres left-handed pitcher Mackenzie Gore, who opened at +4000 and now has the second shortest odds at +500. Gore is 2-0, with a 1.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, with 22 strikeouts in 21 innings through four starts. 

American League Rookie of the Year 

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena has jumped up the list and now has the shortest odds at +400 after opening at +1100.

He is ahead of Detroit Tigers' first baseman Spencer Torkelson (+550), Kansas City Royals third baseman Bobby Witt Jr. (+550), Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (+600), and Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (+600). 

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