The 2026 World Series is set to get underway on Friday, and that means it’s time to lock in your World Series MVP picks.
Don’t worry, CSB is here to help you handicap this World Series betting market, and is ready to point out some bets with real value at the best MLB betting sites.
Pitchers have historically won the most World Series MVPs, earning 29 selections since the award was adopted in 1955. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the last pitcher to claim the honour last season for the Dodgers, but a pitcher hadn’t won previous to that since 2019 (Stephen Strasburg).
Outfielders have won the most World Series MVPs among positional players, with 15 selections since 1955. Some of the latest winners from this group include Jorge Soler (2021) and George Springer (2017).
Best Long Shot Bet: Freddy Peralta (+4000)
Freddy Peralta has all the tools to take home the World Series MVP award, largely built on his elite swing-and-miss stuff and high-stakes postseason track record.
As the Tampa Bay Rays’ ace after arriving via trade, “Fastball Freddy” boasts a high-spin fastball and a devastating slider-changeup combination that makes him virtually unhittable when he is locked in. Starting pitchers hold a distinct advantage in World Series MVP voting because a single dominant performance—or two strong starts—can completely alter the trajectory of a seven-game series.
Peralta has already proven he can step up under the brightest lights, taking home 2026 ALCS MVP honours after posting two victories and allowing just one run over 12 innings in that series with the Guardians. If he delivers two quality starts in the Fall Classic, racking up double-digit strikeouts while neutralizing the heart of the opponent’s lineup, his impact on the series outcome will be undeniable.
In modern postseason baseball, where starting pitching length is rare, an ace who can routinely reach the sixth or seventh inning with zero to one run allowed carries immense value. If Peralta suppresses opponent scoring and anchors Tampa Bay’s rotation, he will easily be the frontrunner for World Series MVP honors.
Freddy Peralta to win World Series MVP
Best Value Bet: Jacob Misiorowski (+1100 – FanDuel)
Jacob Misiorowski has all the dynamic tools required to capture the World Series MVP award, anchored by historically elite arm talent and game-altering velocity.
The 24-year-old Milwaukee Brewers starter represents a terrifying assignment for opposing hitters. Armed with a blazing fastball—he became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to cross the 1,000-pitch mark at 100-plus mph in a single season—and a devastating breaking ball, the young right-hander possesses unmatched strikeout potential.
Starting pitchers carry a natural advantage in Fall Classic MVP voting. Delivering two (possibly three) dominant outings, or taking control of a decisive Game 7, often dictates the entire momentum of a seven-game showdown. After leading the major leagues in strikeouts during a breakout 2026 campaign, Misiorowski’s pure swing-and-miss ability makes him capable of completely shutting down a high-powered lineup on baseball’s biggest stage.
If Misiorowski harnesses his control, neutralizes the opposition’s best hitters, and delivers two key victories to secure Milwaukee’s championship, his sheer impact on the series outcome will make him an undeniable front-runner for the honour.
2026 World Series MVP Odds
| Jackson Chourio (Brewers) | +550 |
| William Contreras (Brewers) | +650 |
| Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers) | +800 |
| Junior Caminero (Rays) | +800 |
| Brice Turang (Brewers) | +850 |
| Yandy Diaz (Rays) | +1000 |
| Jake Bauers (Brewers) | +1200 |
| Jonathan Aranda (Rays) | +1200 |
| Drew Rasmussen (Rays) | +2000 |
| Christian Yelich (Brewers) | +2500 |
| Garrett Mitchell (Brewers) | +2500 |
