World Series 2022: MVP Favorites, Best Players On The Astros And Phillies

The 2022 World Series MVP is likely to be a hitter, according to the latest betting odds. Of the top 10 contenders for the award, only two are pitchers. Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander is the only pitcher among the MVP favorites. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, the Philadelphia Phillies' best pitchers, are relative long-shots to win the award.

Here's a look at the 10 players with the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook to win the 2022 World Series MVP award.

Bryce Harper +550

Harper has become one of the most underrated superstars in baseball. The reigning NL MVP was limited to 99 regular-season games because of injuries, but he's been the best position player of the entire postseason. Harper is hitting .419/.444/.907 with several clutch hits in 11 playoff games. It's hard time imagine Philadelphia pulling off the upset if Harper has a poor series.

Yordan Alvarez +650

If it wasn't for Aaron Judge's historic season, Alvarez would've arguably had the best year at the plate in 2022. The 25-year-old finished second in slugging percentage (.613) and third in on-base percentage (.406) among players in both leagues. Alvarez hit a pair of game-winning home runs in the ALDS. As the most dangerous hitter in the Astros' lineup, Alvarez could be pitched to very carefully by Houston's pitchers.

Justin Verlander +1000

Verlander's 1.75 ERA during the regular season was the AL's lowest in two decades and is likely to earn him a third Cy Young award. Arguably the best pitcher of his generation, Verlander is somehow just about as dominant as he's ever been. The one blemish on Verlander's resume is an inexplicably bad World Series stat line. This is the veteran's opportunity to improve his 0-6 record and 5.68 ERA in the Fall Classic

Kyle Tucker +1000

You might've guessed that Alex Bregman or Jose Altuve had the second-highest WAR of Houston's hitters, but Tucker was actually the team's most valuable player behind Alvarez in the regular season. Tucker has hit 30 home runs and struck out no more than 95 times in consecutive seasons. The outfielder had the highest OPS in last year's World Series of any Astros' starter that will play against the Phillies

Alex Bregman +1200

The two-time All-Star had the exact same stat line against the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees. Bregman hit 333/.375/.600 with one home run in the ALDS, and then he did it again in the ALCS. Bregman hasn't been an MVP candidate since finishing in the top-five in the voting in 2018 and 2019, but he's a proven playoff performer with 14 career postseason homers, the most by any third baseman.

Kyle Schwarber +1300

Philadelphia's slugger doesn't have a high batting average, but he usually makes it count when he gets a hit. Schwarber led the NL with 46 home runs, sending 36.5% of his hits into the stands. The 29-year-old has seven hits this postseason, and three of them have left the ballpark. Schwarber had a 1.571 OPS in the NLCS.

Jose Altuve +1300

The Astros hope that Altuve snapped out of his funk just in time. The second basemen ended a 25 at-bat hitless streak in Game 3 of the ALCS and picked up two more hits in the Game 4 clincher. Prior to the playoffs, Altuve had a resurgent season, hitting .300 for the first time since 2018. The three-time batting champ entered the 2022 playoffs with a .286 average and 23 home runs in 79 career postseason games.

Framber Valdez +1300

Valdez is a much-improved pitcher from the one who gave up five runs in both of his starts during the 2021 World Series. The left-hander is expected to finish third in the AL Cy Young race after posting a 2.82 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in a league-high 201.1 innings. Including the playoffs, Valdez has only given up 11 home runs this season. Valdez can have a big series if he keeps Philadelphia inside the ballpark.

Jeremy Pena +1800

Following an impressive rookie season, Pena has proven that he can shine when the lights are brightest. The shortstop hit a pivotal three-run homer in Game 4 of the ALCS, catapulting him to become the series MVP. Pena also hit the game-winning homer in the 18-inning clincher of the ALDS. Pena posted a 4.8 WAR in 136 games as a rookie and has a .990 OPS in seven playoff games.

J.T Realmuto +1800

Realmuto has been an All-Star in three of the last five seasons. The catcher has been a model of consistency, posting an OPS between .820 and .840 in four of the last five years. Realmuto has reached base in 10 of Philadelphia's 11 playoff games, and he's tied for the team lead with 10 runs scored.