World Series 2022: Dark-Horse Candidates for MVP Race
The list of World Series Most Valuable Players since 2010 is a mix of stars and random players that rose to the occasion on baseball's brightest stage.
Jorge Soler falls into the latter category and his bat came alive for the Atlanta Braves against the Houston Astros in 2021.
Soler joined David Freese, Steve Pearce and Ben Zobrist as some of the unlikeliest World Series MVPs in recent memory, so there is absolutely a chance that someone with long odds to win MVP takes it home in 2022.
The top end of the MVP odds chart at DraftKings Sportsbook is full of superstars on both the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. Bryce Harper and Yordan Alvarez are the two favorites to win the award.
Harper, Alvarez or another top name could follow in the footsteps of Stephen Strasburg, Corey Seager and George Springer, but a darkhorse candidate could emerge to win it for the second straight year.
There are a few decent candidates at +3000 and higher from both rosters that could snag the award away from the favored players.
Nick Castellanos (+4000)
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Nick Castellanos is by far the most intriguing MVP pick deeper on the odds board.
The Phillies outfielder could sit in an ideal position to benefit from the fear that Houston pitchers have in Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto in late-game situations.
Houston's relievers may be more willing to pitch to Castellanos due to his tendency to swing at the first pitch and to ground into double plays, instead of risking it against Harper or Realmuto.
Castellanos has three multi-hit games so far in the postseason, two of which came in the first three NLDS games against the Atlanta Braves. He had five hits and five RBIs in the series.
Castellanos needs to have runs attached to his hits in order for voters to pay more attention to his MVP case. A handful of singles and doubles to kickstart rallies are nice, but the last four hitters to win World Series MVP had at least five RBIs.
The Phillies outfielder could be in run-scoring situations on a handful of occasions, which is why the case for him to win MVP is so compelling before the series.
There is a chance that Castellanos' bat goes cold, like it did for stretches of the regular season, but his run-scoring hits against Atlanta are enough to at least consider him at +4000.
Yuli Gurriel (+3000)
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Yuli Gurriel has had one of the most consistent bats in the Houston order this postseason.
Gurriel hit safely in six of the seven Astros postseason contests. He produced a trio of multi-hit games, including two against the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.
A similar thought process for Gurriel to win MVP applies to Castellanos. Gurriel has the potential to knock in multiple runs with one swing if Philadelphia pitchers are more careful against Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker.
Gurriel has also flexed a bit of power in the postseason. He hit a pair of solo shots, and all it takes is one multi-run, game-changing swing to put you at the forefront of the MVP discussion.
Gurriel also carries the benefit of lengthy postseason experience into the World Series. He has been one of the mainstays on the Houston roster for every postseason run since the championship run in 2017.
The right-handed hitter just played in his 80th postseason game and he had at least two multi-hit games in each of his three previous World Series trips.
Gurriel's World Series experience could be vital to the Astros and it may pay off with an MVP award if he continues his consistent run at the plate.
Ranger Suárez (+9000)
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Ranger Suárez is the most fascinating dark horse pitcher to win World Series MVP.
All you have to do is look at the NLCS for how Suárez could be utilized in multiple ways to help the Phillies win.
Suárez started Game 3 against the San Diego Padres and then closed out Game 5 after David Robertson got into a bit of trouble in the ninth inning.
The left-handed pitcher is once again set up for a Game 3 start and his role could change after that depending on the direction of the series.
If the series reaches Game 7, Suárez would likely be the Phillies' starter, which puts him in a decent spot to win MVP by way of a standout outing.
Suárez could also be called into closing action in Games 5 and 6 if the Phillies believe those are their best chances to finish off the series.
By that point in the series, the Phillies bullpen could be maxed out because a bullpen game is looming in Game 4. Suárez could be asked to come on in relief on short rest because he has experience as a closer from previous seasons.
Other starters could shine in multiple appearances if the series goes five or six games, but Suárez could impact Games 5 and 6 in a different way and they may impress MVP voters if the Phillies win the World Series.
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