The Los Angeles Angels are going to miss out on the playoffs again this season, but it has been a historic season for the team. Shohei Ohtani is doing things never before seen in baseball, and it will likely earn him an MVP Award this season.
Ohtani enters action on Sunday with 43 home runs and 93 RBIs on the year and has emerged as one of the best hitters in baseball. To go along with that, Ohtani has been nearly unhittable on the mound since the All-Star Break and will be in the mix for the Cy Young Award as well.
The great run for Ohtani has shortened his MVP betting odds to -7000, and he could very well be a unanimous selection this season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having a great season as well, but his odds now sit at +1500.
The MVP race in the National League is expected to be a closer decision, but there is a clear favorite in that league as well. Fernando Tatis Jr. is the betting favorite at -280 and Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies is next on the list at +750.
There are other MLB player future awards betting markets available, but the MVP pick is always the most popular.
NL West Race Heating Up
The San Francisco Giants have been leading the NL West Division since the beginning of the season, but that is no longer the case. After a terrific month of August, the Los Angeles Dodgers have now moved into a first-place tie with their rivals.
Los Angeles has remained the NL West betting favorites all season long, and the odds are still in their favor. The Dodgers are the betting favorites at -240, while the Giants are listed at +200.
This race looks like it will come down to the wire, and might be decided on the final day of the regular season.
Athletics Falling Behind in AL West
The Oakland Athletics are having another fine season in the AL West, but it appears as if they are going to fall short. Oakland enters Sunday trailing the Astros by 5.5 games, and there is not much time to make up ground.
Not only that, but the Athletics are starting to fall behind in the Wild Card race as well. Oakland is now in a tie with the Seattle Mariners, and have a number of AL East teams in their way.
The Athletics still have odds set at +4600 to win the American League, but just reaching the playoffs will be a challenge.
Another Title For Dodgers?
The Dodgers remain the World Series betting favorites at +250, and those odds are going to shorten if they happen to win the NL West. Winning the World Series is not impossible as a Wild Card, but it does make the task more difficult.
The Houston Astros (+450), Tampa Bay Rays (+750), and the Chicago White Sox (+750) are all expected to be the top competition for Los Angeles. The American League is much tougher overall, and the betting odds reflect that.
