Predicting the Preseason Favorites for Each 2025 MLB Award

• Reigning NL and AL MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are favored to repeat in their respective leagues in 2025
• Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are favorites to win the NL and AL Cy Young awards
• Below, see the odds for MVP, Cy Young, rookie of the year and reliever of the year for 2025

Major League Baseball began last week in the Tokyo Series, with the Dodgers winning both contests against the Cubs. Opening Day for the rest of the MLB begins Thursday, March 27th and the awards futures are out for all the major hardware. I look at the odds to win both leagues’ MVP, Cy Young, rookie of the year and reliever of the year awards.

NL & AL MVP Odds

The favorites in both leagues are the reigning champions: the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani in the National League, and the New York Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge in the American League.

Odds as of March 25 at DraftKings. MO residents can check out SBD’s DraftKings Missouri page to see the latest on the status of online sports betting in their state.

American and National League MVP Picks

• Shohei Ohtani +170 NL, Bobby Witt Jr. +450

Shohei Ohtani, who has won won two straight Most-Valuable Player awards (with the Angels & Dodgers) and three in his career, starts as the favorite in the 2025 NL MVP odds. While there’s no timetable for when he might ramp it up and start pitching again, which could potentially make his MVP case even more air tight, his bat can do the talking and earn him another crown.

In the American League, I like the value on Bobby Witt Jr. compared to the favorite Aaron Judge. The Yankees slugger won’t have Juan Soto helping him in the lineup, and Witt Jr. was the runner-up last year. He put up monster numbers for the Royals with a .332 average, 32 HR, 109 RBI, 31 stolen bases and a 9.4 WAR, second best in baseball.

NL & AL Cy Young Odds

American and National League Cy Young Picks

• Paul Skenes +300 NL, Logan Gilbert +1100 AL

It’s not fun picking the chalky selection with Pirates phenom Paul Skenes in the Cy Young odds, but in this case I can’t avoid it. He won the 2024 Rookie of the Year award with a dominant 1.96 ERA in 133 innings, with a whopping 170 strike outs.

In the AL, I’ll select someone a little more off the board in Mariners workhorse Logan Gilbert. He’s made at least 32 starts in three consecutive seasons, and has seen ERA’s in the ‘3s’ in those campaigns (3.20, 3.73, 3.23). Last year he dropped his WHIP (1.08 to 0.89) and batting average against (.233 to 1.96). compared to 2023.

NL & AL ROY Odds

American and National League Rookie of the Year Picks

• Roki Sasaki +225 NL, Roman Anthony +700 AL

The rich got richer with the Dodgers landing prized pitcher Roki Sasaki in the off-season. The 23-year old came over from Japan and has a fastball that tops out in the triple digits to go along with a devastating splitter. His talents were on full display in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and all eyes will be on him, given that he’s under the bright lights of Los Angeles for the Dodgers.

Behind only Sasaki in the MLB top 100 prospects list is #2 Roman Anthony, who has the benefit from also playing for a team that is often the focus in the Boston Red Sox. The 20-year old outfielder is expected to hit for power and he’s a lefty that can smack baseballs around Pesky Pole at Fenway Park. I like getting him with a bit more value as the third choice in the rookie of the year odds race.

NL & AL Reliever of the Year Odds

American and National League Reliever of the Year Picks

• Raisel Iglesias +500 NL, Emmanuel Clase +300 AL

In the MLB reliever of the year odds, Raisel Iglesias is +500 pitching for the Atlanta Braves. They’re expected to compete to win the NL East and potentially World Series. In his three seasons with Atlanta, he has ERA’s of 0.84 (albeit in 26.1 innings), 2.75 and 1.95.

In the junior circuit, the Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase is the fave for a reason. He’s pitched in at least 70 games in each of the last four seasons, and has ridiculous earned run averages of 1.29, 1.36, 3.22 and 0.61 in 74.1 innings last season, with a dirty WHIP of 0.66. That makes him a worthy favorite to trust.

As the 2025 MLB season approaches, fans and analysts alike are eager to predict which players will be the frontrunners for each of the prestigious awards handed out at the end of the season. From the Most Valuable Player to the Cy Young Award, there are a number of talented players who are poised to make a strong case for themselves in the upcoming season.

Starting with the American League, all eyes will be on Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels as he looks to add another MVP trophy to his collection. Trout, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the game, has consistently put up impressive numbers year after year and is expected to be a top contender once again in 2025.

In the National League, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres is a player to watch for the MVP award. Tatis Jr. has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the league and is coming off a strong season in which he showcased his power and speed on both offense and defense.

When it comes to the Cy Young Award, Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees is a favorite in the American League. Cole has been dominant on the mound in recent years and is expected to continue his success in 2025. In the National League, Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets is a strong contender for the Cy Young Award. DeGrom has been lights out on the mound and is poised to have another stellar season.

For the Rookie of the Year award, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals is a player to keep an eye on in the American League. Witt Jr. is a highly touted prospect who is expected to make an immediate impact in his rookie season. In the National League, Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners is a top candidate for Rookie of the Year. Rodriguez has shown flashes of brilliance in the minor leagues and is poised to make a splash in his debut season.

While these predictions are based on past performance and potential, anything can happen in baseball and there are sure to be surprises along the way. As the 2025 MLB season unfolds, fans can look forward to watching these talented players compete for baseball’s most coveted awards.