AL MVP 2011: Ranking Odds of Top Contenders Down the Final Stretch

It's hard to believe that the 2011 regular season is already in its final two weeks. A season of milestones, be it from Derek Jeter, Jim Thome and, most recently, Mariano Rivera, is winding down and the playoffs will be here in just 10 days.

With the playoffs getting underway it's a certainty that MLB season award talk will be heating up.

The AL Cy Young award seems to be all but handed to Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander, who has put up one of the best seasons by a pitcher in recent memory.

The MVP award, however, is more up in the air. A number of competitors got off to hot starts and established themselves in conversations, while others have come on strong down the stretch and are pushing their teams towards postseason play.

Note: The odds provided have not been posted/verified by any sportsbook or betting service, but are rather a modification of preseason odds based on season statistics and peer rankings. Basically, it's fairly subjective; any commentary or speculation on potential MVP candidates is welcomed.

7. Dustin Pedroia

Despite not getting as much attention in MVP conversations throughout the league, Dustin Pedroia has been putting together arguably his best season since 2008 when he won the award.

In 149 games so far this season, Pedroia has 56 extra base hits, including 20 home runs.

His strikeout numbers are up a bit from past seasons, but his on-base percentage is higher than any of his five prior seasons.

He has struggled recently however, batting only .217 so far in September, with only 15 hits in 17 games.

Odds to Win: 10/1

6. Adrian Gonzalez

At the halfway point of this season, it didn't seem like anyone in the league would have a chance to catch Adrian Gonzalez in the MVP race.

When the All-Star break came around, Gonzalez was batting .354 and had an OPS north of 1.000 while driving in 77 runs.

He's still batting at an impressive clip, but his second half numbers show just how much he's come back to the pack since the midsummer classic.

Gonzalez has gone deep only 10 times since the beginning of July, and his second half average is more than 50 points lower than the first half.

Odds to Win: 7/1

5. Miguel Cabrera

The success of the Detroit Tigers in recent seasons has been thanks in no small part to slugger Miguel Cabrera.

His 2011 season hasn't been any different. The Tigers have already wrapped up the AL Central crown and have an outside chance at earning home field in the ALDS.

With a .331 batting average and .997 OPS, Cabrera is the catalyst of a Tigers offense that has a number of valuable weapons.

As the regular season winds down, he's nearing 200 hits on the season (179) and will likely reach 30 HR and 100 RBI as well.

Odds to Win: 6/1

4. Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander has been a front runner for the AL Cy Young award from the start of the season and hasn't let up along the way.

Verlander's 2.29 ERA is the lowest in the league, and his 244 strikeouts are unmatched. With 24 wins in 33 starts this season, he's notched five more victories than the next best AL pitcher (C.C. Sabathia).

Those are clear cut Cy Young numbers, but it's his dominance down the stretch that have put his name into MVP talks.

Down the stretch of what was a tight division race, Verlander has gone 6-0 in the last 30 days while putting up a 2.18 ERA and striking out seven batters per contest, while walking just over two.

He has a realistic chance to become the first pitcher to win 25 games since Bob Welch won 27 for the Oakland Athletics in 1990.

Odds to Win: 11/2

3. Jose Bautista

As illustrated with last year's AL Cy Young award, it's clear that players can win awards when they're not on a playoff team.

Despite having absurdly impressive numbers this season, it's not likely that Jose Bautista will receive the recognition that he deserves.

His 42 home runs, .623 slugging percentage and 1.071 OPS are tops in baseball, and he's also drawn more walks than anyone in the game.

Odds to Win: 3/1

2. Jacoby Ellsbury

In the midst of a career season, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is quietly one of the top contenders for MVP honors.

Ellsbury leads the league in total bases with 330 and is batting .319 while putting up power numbers, surpassing anyone's expectations.

His 27 home runs so far in 2011 are seven more than he's hit in his entire career prior to this year, and yet he's still managing to put up an impressive on-base percentage (.376) and has struck out less than most power hitters in the game today.

With the Red Sox in a tight race for the AL Wild Card, Ellsbury's value is even more magnified, as he's batting better than .360 in September with an OPS north of 1.000.

Odds to Win: 5/2

1. Curtis Granderson

After a relatively disappointing first season with the New York Yankees in 2010, Curtis Granderson has made amends and has put together what appears to be an MVP worthy season.

The speed that he possesses is certainly one of the most valuable assets to his team. With 24 stolen bases this season, he's about as quick as it gets for hitters with such power.

His speed is just as valuable in the field, as he blankets the outfield and has only committed three errors in the process, good for a .991 fielding percentage.

The power numbers he's accomplished in 2011 are what really stick out. In 147 games this season, Granderson has gone deep 41 times, 11 better than his previous season high (2009). His 133 runs scored are well beyond the next best player, and his 115 RBIs lead the league as well.

Odds to Win: 2/1