From 2014 through 2018, Jose Altuve went to five All-Star Games, won an AL MVP award, and earned a World Series ring with the Astros. In 2020, the second baseman had the worst season of his career. Now, Altuve is back in peak form and sits atop the World Series MVP odds boards ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday.
Various sportsbooks list Altuve as either the outright favorite or the co-favorite to win World Series MVP honors this year.
Altuve enjoying bounce-back year
Altuve hit .278 with 31 homers and 83 RBIs during the regular season, scoring a career-high 117 runs. He also hit well in Houston’s ALDS win over the Chicago White Sox, though he struggled in the six games against the Red Sox in the ALCS.
BetMGM rates Altuve as the +900 favorite to win the World Series MVP award this year. Winning the award – and another World Series – might help Altuve escape the shadow of the Astros sign-stealing scandal, though he was the one Houston player who never used that information at the plate.
Altuve says he’s worried about the job in front of him, however, not how a World Series win might change perceptions of the team’s past.
“I haven’t thought about that,†Altuve told reporters. “But I think we have the same mindset we always have, just going out there and try to win. There’s not a single guy that’s thinking about something else but winning.â€
Yordan Alvarez (+1000) comes in as the second choice to win World Series MVP at BetMGM. Alvarez won the ALCS MVP after hitting .522 with a home run and six RBIs against the Red Sox. The 24-year old has emerged as a key part of the Astros lineup and seems to be red hot at just the right time for Houston.
Freeman leads Atlanta World Series MVP candidates
With the Astros entering the World Series as the favorite, it makes sense that several Houston players lead the MVP odds at the top sportsbooks. BetMGM also has Michael Brantley (+1000) alongside Alvarez near the top of its list, with Alex Bregman (+1100) and Carlos Correa (+1200) close behind.
| World Series MVP Odds | |||
| BetMGM | FanDuel | PointsBet | |
| Jose Altuve | +900 | +1000 | +900 |
| Michael Brantley | +1000 | +1000 | +1200 |
| Yordan Alvarez | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Alex Bregman | +1100 | +1000 | +1400 |
| Freddie Freeman | +1100 | +1100 | +1200 |
| Carlos Correa | +1200 | +1200 | +1100 |
| Kyle Tucker | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Eddie Rosario | +1400 | +1700 | +1600 |
When it comes to Braves’ hopefuls, Freddie Freeman (+1100) ranks as the most likely World Series MVP winner. The 32-year-old veteran made his fifth All-Star Game this year, hitting .300 with 31 homers during the regular season while leading the National League with 120 runs scored. He’s also been strong in the postseason, slamming three homers over the course of the NLDS and NLCS.
Braves outfielder Eddie Rosario won the NLCS MVP, and BetMGM rates the 30-year-old as a +1400 pick to repeat the feat and pick up the World Series award as well. Atlanta fans should also keep an eye on starting pitcher Max Fried (+1600), who is just 1-1 so far in the 2021 playoffs, but who went 14-7 with a 3.04 ERA during the regular season.