2022 MLB preview: AL MVP odds, projections, more

What sort of encore will the American League give us in the MVP race? If the current AL MVP odds indicate anything, it’s that we’re going to be in for a three-horse race.

And two of those three are teammates out in Los Angeles.

Three-time AL MVP Mike Trout is back and healthy where he’ll join reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani — coming off a historic season — in hopes of lifting the Angels toward playoff contention.

North of the border, though, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is lurking to spoil the fun in the California sun.

Let’s take a look at the current AL MVP odds, our top picks, and one darkhorse to shock the field.

2022 AL MVP odds

2022 AL MVP Top Picks

Shohei Ohtani (+350)

• 2022 projected stats (batting): .261/.362/.550 (.912 OPS), 38 HR, 94 RBI
• 2022 projected stats (pitching): 138.0 IP, 9-6, 3.60 ERA, 160 K’s

We haven’t seen this sort of dual-threat since Babe Ruth 100 years ago, so expectations are obviously sky-high for Ohtani.

He managed to live up to them last season in his first full season (155 games), exhibiting top-tier power with 46 home runs to go with versatile play that included a league-leading eight triples.

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Mike Trout (+450)

• 2022 projected stats: .282/.411/.580 (.991 OPS), 37 HR, 95 RBI

He’s healthy, he’s back, and the face of Major League Baseball should pick up right where he left off. Just look at his numbers over his first eight full MLB seasons: .308/.422/.587 (1.009 OPS), 280 home runs, 736 RBI.

This is the best all-around, five-tool player in baseball who will continue his Hall-of-Fame trajectory as long as he stays on the field. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy his brilliance.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+500)

• 2022 projected stats: .305/.389/.584 (.973 OPS), 41 HR, 109 RBI

Guerrero’s Hall-of-Fame bloodlines shone through last season with a monstrous 48-home-run 2021 season though, he was he’s just a really good ballplayer.

His .311 batting average ranked third in the American League while he led the junior circuit with a .401 on-base percentage, .601 slugging%, and a 1.002 OPS.

Now with a Blue Jays team that got even better with the acquisition of Matt Chapman, Guerrero should soar again in 2022.

2022 AL MVP Darkhorse Pick

Giancarlo Stanton (+5000)

• 2022 projected stats: .261/.346/.507 (.853 OPS), 34 HR, 95 RBI

Stanton is still one of the most feared power hitters in the game and when you get to play half your home games at Yankee Stadium, you should see some big numbers.

The veteran has slowly climbed his way into the good graces of Yankees fans after hitting 35 home runs in just 139 games last season. If New York can preserve him correctly and he can play close to 150 games, we shouldn’t be surprised if he flirts with 50 home runs in 2022.

After all, his 162-game average over the last five seasons has been 45 round-trippers.

Odds courtesy of Draftkings. For more, click here.