2023 MLB odds, predictions update: World Series, awards, more - ESPN

A pair of red-hot National League teams have shaken up the betting landscape.

The Atlanta Braves, winners of 27 of their final 32 games heading into the All-Star break, have strengthened their favorite status in their quest for a World Series championship, their odds improving to +330.

More importantly, they sport the now overwhelming favorite for NL Most Valuable Player honors, Ronald Acuna Jr., whose -400 odds are significantly ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (+900) and Freddie Freeman (+1200). Acuna, by the way, is on pace for a .331 batting average, 38 home runs, 100 RBIs, 75 stolen bases and 144 runs scored.

The Cincinnati Reds, meanwhile, have won 23 of 31 contests since promoting top prospect Elly De La Cruz.

De La Cruz, whose 16 stolen bases are the sixth most through any player's first 30 career games in the modern era, and go along with a .325 batting average and .524 slugging percentage, has narrowed the gap in the NL Rookie of the Year race, one that looked effectively cliched by Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll not long ago. A shoulder injury that limited Carroll shortly before the All-Star break, however, contributed to De La Cruz's rising award odds, narrowing the odds gap to -300 for Carroll and +190 for De La Cruz.

Despite the Reds' division lead, it's the Milwaukee Brewers who remain NL Central favorites (-105). The Reds check in with a much-improved +125, yet haven't made much waves in terms of championship odds either, placing 17th among the 30 teams at +6000.

Despite the blister that forced him out of his final start of the first half, and limited him to hitting duties only during the All-Star Game, Shohei Ohtani (-850) is considered the biggest favorite from among either