AL MVP looks like Aaron Judge vs. Yordan Alvarez, but these players still have a chance

TL;DR

The 2026 AL MVP race features Aaron Judge and Yordan Alvarez as frontrunners, with several other players still in contention. Judge leads with +170 odds, while Alvarez follows closely at +270, showcasing strong performances early in the season.

Key points

Aaron Judge is the frontrunner for the 2026 AL MVP.
Yordan Alvarez is closely following Judge in the MVP race.
Judge has +170 odds, while Alvarez has +270 odds.
Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson are also in contention.
Judge and Rice made Yankees history with their home run achievement.

New York YankeesHouston AstrosKansas City RoyalsBaltimore Orioles

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 22: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images The battle for American League MVP features plenty of star power and familiar names only a month into the 2026 MLB season. In the latest FanDuel Sportsbook American League MVP 2026 market, there are plenty of viable candidates trying to dethrone reigning back-to-back MVP Aaron Judge. Unlike the NL MVP race — which has turned into Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani running away from most of the field — the AL MVP race still has eight players under 30/1 odds. On a quest to capture his fourth MVP award overall, Judge (+170), the outfielder, remains the frontrunner. The Yankees are off to a strong start and Judge is top-10 in home runs and OPS. While Judge’s wasn’t particularly strong out of the gate, his consistency and history with the award lends him considerable credibility at this stage in the season. All it takes is one big power surge for Judge to grab a big lead in the race. After home runs in back-to-back games, Judge could be settling in for another big summer. Keeping pace with Judge is Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (+270). Leading all of MLB in batting average, OPS and hits while tied for second in home runs, Alvarez is back in form after injuries derailed his 2025 season. Alvarez is on pace for his best season, but matching Judge’s power could prove difficult for a player who has never hit more than 37 home runs in a season. It’s been a power outage for shortstop (+1100) so far this season. With only one home run, Witt needs to start slugging more frequently to stay with Judge and Alvarez in the MVP race. shortstop (+1500) was off to a hot start after his offensive production dipped last season. Already at nine home runs on the season after hitting only 17 in 2025, Henderson’s returning power and 11 stolen bases are worth tracking. But Baltimore’s young star is also struggling to get on base with only a .280 on-base percentage. Similar to Judge, Los Angeles Angels outfielder (+1500) is also pursuing his fourth AL MVP award. After winning three MVPs last decade, Trout hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Off to a promising start in 2026 with nine home runs, Trout is hoping for a resurgent season. Cleveland Guardians star (+2000), Athletics slugger and Yankees first basemen (both +2500) are three more secondary MVP contenders worth tracking. Rice and Judge made history on Monday as the first Yankees teammates to hit 10 or more home runs in the team’s first 29 games since Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle in 1956.

Q&A

Who are the top contenders for the 2026 AL MVP award?

The top contenders include Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez, Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, and Mike Trout.

What are Aaron Judge's current odds for winning the AL MVP?

Aaron Judge's current odds for winning the AL MVP are +170.

How is Yordan Alvarez performing in the 2026 season?

Yordan Alvarez is leading MLB in batting average, OPS, and hits, and is tied for second in home runs.

What historical achievement did Judge and Rice accomplish recently?

Aaron Judge and Ben Rice became the first Yankees teammates to hit 10 or more home runs in the team's first 29 games since Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle in 1956.

AL MVP looks like Aaron Judge vs. Yordan Alvarez, but these players still have a chance

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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