The unofficial first half of the 2026 MLB regular season is in the books and the All Star Break has begun. As we take a multi-day hiatus from game action, let’s make the most of our time off by examining where sharp money is leaning for the MLB Awards market, including MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year.
All odds and bet splits courtesy of BetMGM.
AL MVP
Leader: Yordan Alvarez -160
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge led this category for much of the first half but is now off the board due to his injury status. Alvarez opened at +2800 and has flipped to minus money recently (-160), as he leads the American League in home runs (31), RBIs (70) and ranks second in batting average (.318). The Astros DH is threating to win the triple crown. He is receiving 4.8% of tickets and 6.6% of the handle.
Alvarez’s closest competition are Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (+450) and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (+500). Caminero opened at +2000 is an intriguing value play due to his plus money price and the fact he plays both the field (unlike Alvarez who only DHs), hits (.279, 28 homers, 59 RBIs) and plays for the team with the best record in the AL. Caminero is garnering 4.8% of tickets and 6.4% of money.
Witt Jr’s numbers are decent (.286, 13 homers, 39 RBIs) but he plays for a team with the 2nd worst record in the AL. BetMGM will be rooting against Witt Jr., as he is receiving the highest percentage of tickets (15.6%) and money (15.4%) of any player. He opened the season at +500 and remains the same price today.
AL CY YOUNG
Leader: Cam Schlittler +115
This award has become a two-man race between the Yankees Schlitter (+115) and the Blue Jays Dylan Cease (+140), which provides bettors some actionable plus-money value. The two righties are neck-in-neck and no other pitcher is priced below +1000.
Schlitter opened at +10000 and ranks second in the AL in wins (9), first in ERA (2.05) and second in strikeouts (137). Meanwhile, Cease opened at +2000 and ranks 23rd in wins (6), third in ERA (2.56) and first in strikeouts (148).
Sharp bettors seem to be leaning Schlitter, as the Yankees righty is receiving 8.3% of tickets but a whopping 18.9% of handle, by far the largest share of money of any pitcher. By comparison, Cease is receiving 6.1% of tickets and 10.1% of handle.
Schlitter has made three more starts than Cease (20 vs 17) and also plays for a team with a better record, as the Yankees sit in second place in the AL at 54-42 while the Blue Jays own the 5th worst record in the AL at 45-51.
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Leader: Kevin McGonigle -250
Tigers shortstop McGonigle opened at +600 and is running away with this award, hitting .283 with 8 homers and 34 RBIs. He is taking in 25.1% of tickets and 32.9% of dollars, a massive share of action across the market. No other player is receiving more than 13% of bets or 16% of dollars.
McGonigle’s closest competition is White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami. He opened at +700 and remains at +700. At one point earlier in the season, Murakami was the leader in this category but then missed major time with an injury. He is hitting .232 with 20 homers and 42 RBIs for the upstart White Sox. Murakami may provide some value as he recently returned from injury. Provided he stays healthy and produces the rest of the way, the 26-year-old Japanese product could make this a tighter race down the stretch.
NL MVP
Leader: Shohei Ohtani -10000
This award is so lopsided it’s become unbettable. Ohtani opened at -105 and now sits at -10000, a number so expensive the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. Ohtani is hitting .293 with 22 homers and 58 RBIs, while also going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA on the mound. The two-way phenom is only garnering 6.8% of tickets but a whopping 38.7% of dollars. No other player is receiving more than 9% of handle. If you grabbed Ohtani early in the season closer to even money or slight minus chalk, you are feeling pretty, pretty, pretty good about cashing that ticket right now.
NL CY YOUNG
Leader: Jacob Misiorowski -500
Misiorowski opened at +5000 and has been steamed all the way to -500. The Brewers flame thrower is 10-4 and leads the NL (and all of MLB) in ERA (1.62) and strikeouts (167). The one concern is his durability. Misiorowski routinely throws 100 MPH or more and he will miss the All Star Game and his first start after the break due to arm fatigue. He is still receiving 9% of tickets and 19.9% of handle.
Cristopher Sanchez of the Phillies has the second best odds, sitting at +700 after opening at +1000. Sanchez will start the All Star Game in his home ballpark after going 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA in the first half. Sanchez’s teammate Zack Wheeler is an intriguing dark horse play who currently sits at +2000. Wheeler’s numbers are sparkling (10-1 with a 2.13 ERA) and the righty is likely to be highly motivated to prove doubters wrong after being snubbed and then turning down the All Star Game.
Pirates righty Paul Skenes (8-8, 3.57 ERA) has completely fallen off the map after a poor first half, opening the season as a +300 favorite but now sitting at +3500. BetMGM is ecstatic about this development, as Skenes has taken in the highest handle of any pitcher (25.1%).
NL Rookie of the Year
Leader: JJ Wetherholt -155
Wetherholt opened at +700 and has flipped to a chalk favorite in recent weeks, hitting .259 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs for the surprisingly competitive Cardinals. The rookie infielder is receiving 12.5% of tickets and 13.7% of handle, the second most money of any player. At -155, Wetherholt still feels bettable, especially considering how much the analytics love him. He has posted a 3.7 WAR (7th best in MLB).
Wetherholt’s closest competition is Reds first baseman Sal Stewart (.256, 19 homers, 65 RBIs). Stewart sits at +280 after opening at +500. He is receiving 13.9% of tickets and 12.7% of handle.
BetMGM is laughing their way to the bank after Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin recently came down with an injury. The Pittsburgh shortstop (.276, 5 homers, 25 RBIs) was garnering 16.3% of tickets and a massive 34% of handle but will now miss much of the 2nd half after being placed on the 60-day injured list.
