Pitchers Are Favored to Win Both AL and NL MVP for First Time Since 1968

In what many are dubbing the “Year of the Pitcher”, it’s only fitting that we see an accomplishment by pitchers that we haven’t seen in half a century.

WynnBET has recently released the latest odds list to win the National League and American League MVP awards, and they have a pitcher listed as a betting favorite to win each. Jacob deGrom, who is having an other-worldly type of year for the New York Mets, has re-established himself as the -105 favorite to win NL MVP. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Angels dual-threat, Shohei Ohtani, is now the -180 favorite to be named AL MVP.

Both MVP awards haven’t been won by a pitcher in the same season since 1968 when Danny McLain won the AL MVP for the Detroit Tigers, and Bob Gibson won the NL MVP for the St. Louis Cardinals.

deGrom is currently leading a three-man race for the award, as he’s currently listed above Fernando Tatis Jr. at +150 and Ronald Acuna Jr. at +425. Ohtani is batling Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+165) for the American League honors.

deGrom is having a season that we haven’t seen the likes of in MLB history. He currently sports an unheard of 0.95 ERA through his first 14 starts of the season. He gave up three earned runs in his last start, and it was the first time that he had done so all season. He went five straight starts without giving up a run from May 31st-June 21st.

Ohtani, on the other hand, is having a historic season for a completely different reason. Not only does he have a very solid 3.60 ERA as a starting pitcher, but he’s also leading Major League Baseball in home runs with 31. Guerrero Jr. is the next closest with 27.

We haven’t seen someone with the talent at both pitching and hitting since the likes of Babe Ruth 100 years ago. Ohtani’s talent is so special, that it’s almost difficult to completely process it. Ohtani was also recently voted an MLB All-Star as both a pitcher and position player, something that's never been done in the history of the sport.

While a lot of the “spider tack” issues have taken over as the top news in the MLB world, it’s important to recognize the historic greatness we’re witnessing from these two players this season.