NL MVP 2018: Freeman, Arenado The Frontrunners? Diamondbacks May Have The Top Candidate

While the American League MVP looks like it's going to be Mike Trout or a member of the Boston Red Sox, the National League MVP in 2018 appears to be more wide open. However, the two top NL contenders are competing on teams that are in danger of missing the postseason.

According to oddsmakers, Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman is the frontrunner to win the award at +125 but is barely ahead of the Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado (+150). Many experts think the Philadelphia Phillies could still win the East and the Los Angeles Dodgers, despite their third-place status, may still win the West, which could dampen enthusiasm for both Freeman and Arenado.

Though Freeman and Arenado should remain in MVP contention through the rest of the season, it wouldn't be surprising if neither player wins it.

A dark horse candidate might be Paul Goldschmidt. The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman is second in the NL in OPS (.949) despite the humidor in full use at Chase Field. He also plays in the competitive and pitching-rich NL West, yet his batting average (.295), home run total (29) and on-base percentage (.399) are all MVP-caliber.

Goldschmidt, a three-time Gold Glove winner, only has three errors this season. The combination of another solid year with the bat and glove might be too much for voters to ignore. It helps that he might be the sentimental pick given that he's been in the league since 2011 and has never won the award.

What hurts the 30-year-old is that he only has 73 RBI with 34 games remaining. Goldschmidt has also been slightly overshadowed by teammate David Peralta, who has posted similar numbers.

BetOnline had Goldschmidt at +450 on July 19. Inexplicably, he is not listed among the current MVP candidates.

Another candidate that might garner consideration is Jacob deGrom. The New York Mets have languished this season, but the right-hander has thrived with a 1.71 ERA over 174 innings.

DeGrom is still a longshot. Voters will probably be hesitant to give him both the Cy Young and MVP, especially since the Mets are among the worst teams in the league. His 8-8 record is also hard to overlook.

NL MVP Odds (BetOnline.com - Aug. 21)

Freddie Freeman (ATL) +125

Nolan Arenado (COL) +150

Bryce Harper (WAS) +600

Jacob deGrom (NYM) +700

Lorenzo Cain (MIL) +800

Matt Kemp (LAD) +1000

Max Scherzer (WAS) +1000