Updated:
Aug 7, 2026 , 06:21 PM ET
• 4 min read
Chicago Cubs star uses sparkling start to week to overtake Shohei Ohtani in NL MVP race. Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease now leads New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler in AL Cy Young betting odds.
Photo By – Reuters Connect. The Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) runs to score a game-winning run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the 11th inning at Wrigley Field. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has shockingly overtaken Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani as the favorite to win the MLB National League MVP.
Ohtani, who was on the verge of tying an all-time record with four straight MVPs, began the season at -105 and was -235 last week at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Key Takeaways
- Crow-Armstrong is a two-time All-Star and has never won MVP.
- Ohtani would tie Barry Bonds’ MLB record with four straight MVPs if he won this year’s award.
- Dylan Cease passed Cam Schittler in AL Cy Young odds this week after a seven-inning shutout on Thursday.
| Player | Opening Odds | Last Week | Aug. 4 | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | +3,000 | +185 | +100 | -120 |
| Shohei Ohtani | -105 | -235 | -130 | +100 |
| CJ Abrams | +10,000 | +12,500 | +10,000 | +10,000 |
| Kyle Schwarber | +2,000 | +5,000 | +8,000 | +15,000 |
Ohtani has dominated MLB with his wicked arm on the mound and enormous power at the plate. As of Tuesday, 34.6% of the money wagered in the NL MVP odds market at BetMGM was backing him to win his fourth straight piece of hardware.
That momentum came to a screeching halt this week, and Crow-Armstrong crept to -120 to become the new odds-on favorite. That came immediately after he went 6-13 with two home runs, five RBIs, and two stolen bases in a three-game series sweep against the Dodgers.
He also went 2-5 with a stolen base and two runs – including the game-winning run – in Thursday’s walkoff win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Pete Crow-Armstrong races home to complete a comeback W for the @Cubs! pic.twitter.com/JB9FEH7VKL
— MLB (@MLB) August 6, 2026
Crow-Armstrong is up to .289 at the plate (15th), with 26 home runs (tied-ninth), 69 RBIs (tied-21st), 29 stolen bases (fifth), and a .937 OPS (second). He’s also an overwhelming favorite to win the Golden Glove.
Ohtani – around +100 – has been excellent, but not quite up to his recent MVP standard at the plate. He’s at .297 (10th) at the plate, also has 26 home runs (tied-ninth), 70 RBIs (tied-15th), and a .954 OPS (seventh).
Ohtani is having the best pitching season of his career. He’s 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, both career-bests, although he didn’t throw enough innings to qualify for the season leaderboard.
BetMGM bettors are backing Crow-Armstrong more than any other candidate. A leading 12.3% of tickets are supporting the Cubs’ star, while only 7.1% are backing Ohtani. Elly De La Cruz (+15,000; 7.4%) and Juan Soto (off the board; 7.3%) both have a larger share of bets than Ohtani.
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Cease steals AL Cy Young lead
The other major awards market that changed this week was the American League Cy Young odds race. After New York Yankees ace Cam Schittler was a -135 favorite on Tuesday, Blue Jays star Dylan Cease (-115) crept ahead.
| Player | Opening Odds | Last Week | Aug. 4 | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Cease | +2,000 | +135 | +110 | -115 |
| Cam Schlittler | +10,000 | -135 | -130 | -105 |
| Sonny Gray | +3,000 | +4,000 | +5,000 | +2,200 |
| Drew Rasmussen | +8,000 | +2,800 | +2,200 | +3,000 |
| Gavin Williams | +3,000 | +6,000 | +4,500 | +3,500 |
Cease is 7-5 with a 2.28 ERA (fourth), 184 strikeouts (second), and a 1.04 WHIP (ninth). Schlittler is 10-6 with a 2.26 ERA (third), 171 Ks (fifth), and a 0.95 WHIP (fourth). The odds change was influenced by Cease’s dominant start against the Cubs on Thursday, during which he only gave up two hits and one walk and struck out 10 batters in seven scoreless innings.
Dylan Cease records his EIGHTH 10+ strikeout outing this season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Fm8O0l9Jdx
— MLB (@MLB) August 6, 2026
BetMGM bettors are hoping that Schlittler will surge back into the lead. A leading 9.2% of tickets and 22.4% of the handle are backing the 25-year-old, while 6.7% of bets and 11.7% of the pot are supporting Cease.
Former Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal is second in bets (9%) and handle (7.2%), respectively, although he is now in the NL after he was traded to the Dodgers.
Cease is easily enjoying the best year of his eight-year MLB career, crushing his previous-best marks that include a 3.47 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.
Schlittler is only in his second MLB campaign. He went 4-3 in 14 starts last year, producing a 2.96 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
MLB awards odds
Looking at other MLB awards races, Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez (-1,000) is easily favored in AL MVP odds. He had 17.2% of the handle but only 6% (fifth) of bets backing him.
Milwaukee Brewers fireballer Jacob Misiorowski is crushing NL Cy Young odds at -500 and 8.5% of bets (fourth) and 17.7% of the money (second) are in his favor.
Kevin McGonigle (-275) is running away with the AL Rookie of the Year race. He leads bets (24.1%) and handle (33.9%) in the market.
NL Rookie of the Year odds are closer, but still favor JJ Wetherholt (-160). He has 12.2% of wagers (third) and 15.7% of the pot (second) supporting him.