Major League Baseball is fast approaching its 2022 All-Star break, a milestone marked not only by the calendar but the ever-shifting nature of betting odds on MLB. Every aspect of the game is seemingly subject to constant revision—particularly when it comes to betting MLB futures. In our never-ending quest to make sense if it all, we've already taken a look at why Manny Machado is the best bet to win the 2022 AL MVP award. Naturally, then, it only makes sense we dive in to our best bet to win the 2022 AL MVP award—a list the features Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and a whole litter of other intriguing options.
Before we cannonball into our 2022 MLB predictions, here's a look at the latest betting odds to win the 2022 AL MVP:
Pick to Win 
Aaron Judge -110 Shohei Ohtani +260 Mike Trout +800 Yordan Alvarez +800 Rafael Devers +1600 Jose Ramirez +2500 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. +4000 Byron Buxton +8000 Giancarlo Stanton +10000 Kyle Tucker +12500 Jose Altuve +12500 George Springer +12500 Tim Anderson +12500 Bo Bichette +12500 Xander Bogaerts +12500 Ty France +12500 Anthony Rizzo +12500
You'll notice the MLB AL MVP betting odds have fewer options than the MLB NL MVP betting odds. This is by design. The American League MVP field is currently more exclusive, with a select group of names towering over the rest of the competitions. Top sportsbooks like Bovada have deemed including many others in their MLB futures as pointless amid such a wide chasm.
Anyway, make sure you'll double-check these MLB odds prior to making your 2022 AL MVP pick. All MLB futures betting is subject to change right up until the end of the season, and our odds to win the 2022 AL MVP award are accurate entering games on Wednesday, June 8.
With so much time between now and when your MLB MVP predictions must be submitted, we strongly encourage you to go through our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. Everyone has been crafted with the goal of helping you spot the best 2022 MLB betting sites. You don't want to miss out on that opportunity.
Enough chitchat, though. Let's get to our best bets to win MLB's 2022 AL MVP award.
Should Aaron Judge be Favored to Win the 2022 AL MVP?
It's officially tough to argue against Aaron Judge (+200) as the AL MVP favorite. Not only is he clearly the best player on one of the best teams in baseball, the New York Yankees, but he's displayed a blend of power and hitting efficiency that no other player currently comes close to matching.
To wit: Judge leads MLB in on-base-plus-slugging percentage by a fairly wide margin. That's unheard of for someone so ostensibly reliant on blasting the covering off baseballs. So while he's known predominantly for his power—his 22 home runs rank first, and it's not even close—Judge has officially become the entire offensive package.
This is all in addition to improving defense in the right field. We're not sure Judge will get a Gold Glove award, but it's certainly within the realm of possibility.
Why Shohei Ohtani Slipped Behind Aaron Judge in AL MVP Ladder
Shohei Ohtani (+300) at one point led the MVP field. It wasn't hard to see why, either.
Yes, there's of course, the appeal attached to him being an everyday hitter who also takes part in the Los Angeles Angels' pitching rotation. Mostly, though, he was just impossible to pitch around. His knack for getting on base while hitting balls from all areas of the plate is nearly unparalleled—and truly terrifying for opposing teams.
Unfortunately, Ohtani has been laboring through a bit of a slump, just like the rest of his team. The Angels have lost 12 in a row at this writing, an unflattering streak that prompted them to fire their manager. Without a midseason renaissance, Los Angeles is unlikely to be good enough for Ohtani to finish atop the AL MVP ladder.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is Undervalued in AL MVP Discussion
The MVP debate too often overlooks players who dominate through comprehension. This year that means Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+1800) isn't getting nearly enough love.
Indeed, he doesn't come close to leading the majors in home runs (13), and he's seen his batting average dip a hair below .250 after his recent slump. But the kid just knows how to put pressure on opposing teams overall.
Guerrero Jr. does everything from running the bases well to forcing pitchers into walks to rattling off base hits by choosing whether to hit ground balls through the infield or fly balls into the outfield. His baseball IQ is simply off the charts. And though we wouldn't expect him to win as of now, he's a weeks-long hot streak away from party crashing the top of this discussion.
Can Yordan Alvarez Enter MLB MVP Debate?
Yordan Alvarez (+2000) is quietly having a spectacular season, even has the Houston Astros continue to show cracks in their armor. The designated hitter who can soak up reps in left field is currently hitting .289 with a .622 slugging percentage—the latter of which is the third highest in baseball, behind only Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge.
At this point, you might be wondering why Alvarez comes in as a 20-to-1 underdog. It's not all that complicated. Voters tend to gravitate towards the best players on World Series contenders, and the Astros have only recently started staking their claim to that discussion.
Fast forward a few weeks, and it wouldn't be a surprise if Houston won enough to give Alvarez some real momentum on the MVP ladder.
PREDICTION: AL MVP is Aaron Judge's to Lose
It's just not possible for us to pick anyone else at this stage. Aaron Judge is having a historically good season, and for the moment, it genuinely doesn't feel like anyone is going to catch him.
Failing a Yankee's implosion, Judge is in the driver's seat. And even if New York does take a few steps back, Judge has an inherent advantage over many other candidates simply because he plays both sides of the field rather than predominantly DHing. Our recommendation is to jump on him while he still pays out 2-to-1.
OSB AL MVP Prediction: Aaron Judge (+200)
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