There’s a clear favorite to win the 2026 National League Most Valuable Player Award. But in the American League, it looks like a three-man race so far.
MLB.com’s second MVP poll of the season revealed a trio of top candidates in the AL, all of whom were closely bunched together when it came to the voting totals. And despite an obvious frontrunner in the NL, plenty of other players earned consideration.
A total of 35 MLB.com experts participated in the survey, with 35 different players receiving at least one vote in the balloting. Our voters considered how the season is expected to play out, not just results to this point.
Voters ranked their top five picks in each league on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale -- five points for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote and so on. Here are the results.
All stats are through Monday.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
1. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (7 first-place votes)
Despite tying Aaron Judge with 19 first-place votes in our first MVP poll of the season in early May, Alvarez still ended up second in our projected AL balloting. That has clearly changed as the Astros slugger has continued to rake. Alvarez owns a .301/.416/.634 slash line, 20 home runs and 39 RBIs, incredible numbers for the left-handed designated hitter and outfielder. After being held to just 48 games last season due to multiple injuries, Alvarez has been a force. Can he net his first MVP Award?
2. Aaron Judge, Yankees (10)
Whether Alvarez can indeed become a first-time MVP will largely depend on the performance of Judge, who has claimed the AL’s past two MVP Awards and three of the past four. Judge has still been excellent with 17 homers and a .907 OPS, but compared to his usual standards -- he posted a 1.117 OPS from 2022-25 -- he’s not quite playing at an MVP level. (A recently revealed bone bruise might explain that.) But for a hitter of Judge’s caliber, all it takes is one good hot streak.
3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (13)
Witt actually received the most first-place votes of any AL player, but he still finished just a hair behind Judge and not far behind Alvarez in terms of total voting points. That could be because the Kansas City shortstop hasn’t had his best offensive year, boasting an .832 OPS with nine home runs. But with 17 steals this season and the best defense in the Majors by Outs Above Average, Witt is an all-around star. If Alvarez falters or Judge fails to step it up, this could be his year.
4. Ben Rice, Yankees (4)
After a breakout 2025, Rice has taken just as big a leap in his third Major League season. He is batting .306 with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs and leads MLB in slugging percentage (.658) and OPS (1.055). It’s been quite the year for Rice, who has emerged as a left-handed complement to Judge in the Yankees’ potent lineup. Will it be enough to surpass his teammate -- and stars like Alvarez and Witt -- in MVP voting, though? Only four of our voters projected Rice to claim the MVP Award at the end of 2026.
5. Nick Kurtz, Athletics
Kurtz received zero first-place votes but got plenty of down-ballot love from our voters. The A’s first baseman -- the reigning AL Rookie of the Year -- has proven himself to be an incredibly well-rounded hitter, and he’s been back for more in 2026. Kurtz’s .439 on-base percentage easily leads the Majors, 23 points ahead of Alvarez, and he has 41 RBIs and a .939 OPS as well. His 48-game on-base streak is no more, but Kurtz is still having a tremendous year worthy of MLB consideration.
Others receiving votes: Mike Trout (Angels), Junior Caminero (Rays), Munetaka Murakami (White Sox), Shea Langeliers (Athletics), Yandy Díaz (Rays), Cam Schlittler (Yankees), Julio Rodríguez (Mariners), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Miguel Vargas (White Sox), Colson Montgomery (White Sox), José Ramírez (Guardians)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (30 first-place votes)
It will be hard to stop Ohtani from winning his fifth career and fourth straight MVP Award if he keeps up his two-way success. Ohtani has taken his pitching prowess to a new level in 2026, allowing just five earned runs in 55 innings for a minuscule 0.82 ERA while striking out 61. He’s also picking things up at the plate after a relatively slow start: Since resting for two days as a hitter in mid-May, Ohtani enters Tuesday with a .410/.500/.689 slash line over his past 16 contests. He’s at the top of his game both as a batter and a pitcher, so it’s of little surprise why nearly all our voters had Ohtani atop their ballots.
2. James Wood, Nationals (2)
Wood was in a similar position this time last year thanks to a stellar first half in 2025, taking 24 homers, 12 stolen bases and a .915 OPS into the All-Star break. But he struggled mightily to close the season, batting .223 with a .660 OPS and striking out 105 times in 62 games. So far, Wood is back to his first-half numbers from last season and then some: He has 16 home runs and 10 steals, leads MLB in runs with 53 and ranks third in the NL with a .952 OPS. If he can keep up his numbers over a full season this time, the young star has a chance to challenge anyone for NL MVP. Our voters think he just might.
3. Corbin Carroll, D-backs
The D-backs are one of three franchises that have never had a player take home MVP honors. Could Carroll change that? It’s possible: He’s an all-around star, a strong defender and elite baserunner who is having his best offensive season to date. Carroll has a .286/.379/.534 slash line in 2026 with seven homers, seven steals and an MLB-high eight triples. He’s been among MLB’s best players ever since his 2023 Rookie of the Year season, and he’s having his finest season yet. Is it enough?
4. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (1)
Schwarber put the Phillies’ offense on his back in 2025 to power his way to second in NL MVP voting, playing in all 162 games, hitting 56 homers and driving in an MLB-high 132 runs. Somehow, he’s been even better this season, increasing his OPS to .940 from .928 and leading MLB with 22 home runs to put himself on pace for 62. As a designated hitter with only three appearances in the field this season, it won’t be easy for Schwarber to win MVP, but he’s a good enough hitter to have a strong shot.
5. Matt Olson, Braves (1)
It isn’t easy to be the best player in a lineup featuring the likes of Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II, but that’s what Olson has been for the MLB-best Braves in 2026 in terms of Baseball-Reference WAR (2.6). The highly productive first baseman has a .261/.340/.543 slash line with 16 homers, an NL-high 18 doubles and 45 RBIs for a 40-20 Atlanta club. Owner of the longest active consecutive games played streak in MLB -- which ranks in the top 10 all time -- Olson is as consistent as they come, not to mention an elite hitter.
Others receiving votes: Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Juan Soto (Mets), Andy Pages (Dodgers), Jordan Walker (Cardinals), Cristopher Sánchez (Phillies), Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers), Drake Baldwin (Braves), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Oneil Cruz (Pirates), Paul Skenes (Pirates), CJ Abrams (Nationals), Michael Harris II (Braves), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs)