MLB odds: Shohei Ohtani throws 1-hitter, hits 2 homers, and his MVP odds go haywire
Shohei Ohtani has been a massive favorite to win AL MVP for months. There was some fluctuation in the odds as trade rumors swirled, and bettors wondered what would happen in the voting if Ohtani was traded to the NL.
Anyone holding an Ohtani ticket doesn't have much to worry about anymore.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Angels let it be known that Ohtani wouldn't be traded. Then they traded for Chicago White Sox pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, announcing to the rest of the league that they would be buyers before the deadline.
Then Ohtani had a Thursday that reinforced how special he is as a player, and his MVP odds at BetMGM shortened by a factor of 10.
Shohei Ohtani has another huge day
The Angels had a doubleheader Thursday because their game Wednesday was rained out. Ohtani threw a one-hit complete-game shutout in the first game, the first shutout of his MLB career. In the second game, he homered. Twice.
Ohtani's odds went from -1000 to -10000 after his first homer in the second game of the doubleheader, according to BetMGM's John Ewing.
Shohei Ohtani started today as -1000 favorite to win AL MVP at @BetMGM
3:26 PM ET: Throws final pitch of shutout
4:45 PM ET: Hits league-leading 37th homer
Ohtani now -10000 to win MVP. ✅pic.twitter.com/wOOpDO49Oq— John Ewing (@johnewing) July 27, 2023
Those odds mean a bettor would have to wager $10,000 to win $100. Or $100 to win $1.
It's possible that we never see another player in any sport as a -10000 favorite to win MVP with more than two months remaining in a season. Ohtani is different.
Ohtani puts MVP race to rest
BetMGM is offering anyone other than Ohtani to win MVP at 18-to-1 odds. Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros is second in the race, at a distant 50-to-1. A handful of players after Tucker are 80-to-1. Practically speaking, the race is over.
Even if Ohtani suffered a season-ending injury, he might still win. His homers in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader were his MLB-leading 37th and 38th of the season. His pitching performance sliced his Cy Young odds to 25-to-1, which is still in long-shot territory but not bad for the player who leads baseball in triples, homers, slugging percentage and OPS. Even if Ohtani's stats froze after Thursday, it's not like anyone else could match his dual-value hitting and pitching.
There wasn't much suspense about the AL MVP race, especially after the Angels decided Ohtani wouldn't be traded. His lead in the race after Thursday — and the massive shift in the odds — is astonishing,
