Brewers and Rays' World Series MVP odds offer several long-shot possibilities

Predicting the World Series MVP before the Fall Classic begins is by no means an easy task. It's made more difficult by the fact that the World Series MVP, aside from the 1960 Fall Classic when Bobby Richardson won the award, is bestowed to a member of the winning team, so predicting a World Series MVP involves accurately predicting which team will win the best-of-seven series.

Whereas the safe bet is to pick the favored team's best power hitter or their top starting pitcher, history tells us that doing so doesn't always lead to a successful prediction. Rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña, who was named the WS MVP in 2022, journeyman Steve Pearce, who was the MVP of the Boston Red Sox' most recent title in 2018, and veteran utility-man Ben Zobrist, who earned the WS MVP for the Chicago Cubs in 2016, are just three of many examples of unlikely players turning in memorable performances in the Fall Classic and being named the series' MVP.

The current odds for the 2026 World Series MVP reflect this uncertainty. While fans can find Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, NLCS MVP Jake Bauers, and Rays' slugger Junior Caminero at the top of the list of WS MVP favorites, no one is a clear-cut front-runner. Look farther down the list and fans will find a number of players who certainly could bring home the MVP award, but their odds would certainly have them considered "long-shots." Here's a look at the odds for the 2026 World Series MVP provided by FanDuel Sportsbook, as of Thursday, October 22:

2026 World Series MVP odds (via FanDuel Sportsbook):

1. William Contreras (+700)
2. Jackson Chourio (+700)
3. Jake Bauers (+750)
4. Junior Caminero (+850)
5. Yandy Díaz (+950)
6. Brice Turang (+950)
7. Jacob Misiorowski (+1100)
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10. Garrett Mitchell (+2000)
11. Christian Yelich (+2000)
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14. Logan Henderson (+5500)
15. Cooper Pratt (+5500)
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18. Aaron Ashby (+7000)
21. David Hamilton (+10000)
30. Trevor Megill (+17500)
31. Sal Frelick (+17500)

Current 2026 World Series MVP odds reflect volatilty of the award

When a series of strong at-bats or a pair of dominant starts on the bump can determine the winner of the World Series MVP award, it's perhaps unsurprising that the odds communicate such uncertainty. David Hamilton and Aaron Ashby were similarly long shots to win the NLCS MVP award, and both were certainly in the running before Bauers ultimately earned the honor.

A pair of dominant starts from Jacob Misiorowski, should the Brewers need two starts from their flame-throwing ace, could skyrocket the soon-to-be NL Cy Young into "front-runner" territory. The same goes for the rookie right-hander Logan Henderson, who is expected to start Game 2 and could start a hypothetical Game 6 as well. Add a surprise relief appearance from either of those two starters, and their case for the World Series MVP award grows even stronger.

It's by no means out of the conversation that a reliever takes home the World Series MVP award this year, which would be especially rare. A true relief pitcher hasn't won World Series MVP since New York Yankees' Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera won the award in 1999. Given Pat Murphy's aggressive use of his bullpen during the first two rounds of the postseason, a Brewers reliever such as Ashby, Uribe, or Megill could certainly break that long streak.

Certainly a big home run or two from any one of the Brewers' hitters would immediately throw them into the conversation, as would a walk-off or late-game go-ahead hit. While Contreras, Chourio, Bauers, and Turang may be the best bets to accomplish that feat, a big home run could really come from anyone, as evidenced by Hamilton's ninth-inning homer in Game 4 of the NLCS and Frelick's seventh-inning homer in Game 3 of the 2024 NL Wild Card Series. It's therefore anyone's guess who ends up hoisting the World Series MVP trophy if the Brewers do win four more games and secure the first title in franchise history.

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