Springer The Front-runner for World Series MVP

One of the most remarkable World Series to ever be played comes down to just one game, as the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers go head-to-head Wednesday.

Of course, with the series swinging back and forth several times over, the eventual winner of the World Series MVP award may come down to play in Game 7. Astros OF George Springer is the current favorite at +150 and he has a decent head start on his competition.

Since a hitless Game 1, Springer has come alive at the plate, going 9-for-15 with four home runs. The leadoff man is slashing .375/.483/.958 through the first six games of the Fall Classic – again, despite a hitless Game 1.

Of course, the winning team will likely see the MVP award end up in their clubhouse. The Dodgers’ top contender is Logan Forsythe (+1000), who has consistently produced great defense and timely hits for the team. Forsythe is not the sexiest name – something that might hurt him – but his play has been critical for LA.

A lot of bettors will want to lean toward a pitcher – though only Kenley Jansen is listed, the Field is +200 – but hitters have won the MVP in 11 of the past 13 World Series. The only two pitchers to win were Madison Bumgarner (2014) and Cole Hamels (2008) and none of the starting pitchers have really stood out so far this series.

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And then there were two. The World Series is set to kick off Tuesday night in Los Angeles, as the Houston Astros and L.A. Dodgers open up the Fall Classic. Both teams are – obviously – loaded with some of the best players in baseball but who will step up big for their team?

Following that thought, odds on who will claim the Willie Mays World Series MVP award have been released. The favorite – which should not surprise anyone – is Clayton Kershaw.

The Dodgers ace has already claimed basically every award a pitcher possibly could except for a World Series ring or MVP. Kershaw’s postseason stats jump off the page, as the lefty has recorded 111 strikeouts in 91.0 innings of postseason works since the beginning of the 2013 postseason but has also recorded a 4.15 ERA. However, Kershaw was shining during the NLCS, as he allowed just three runs in 11.0 innings.

However, since the 2003 World Series, a starting pitcher has only won the MVP award twice – Cole Hamels in 2008 and Madison Bumgarner in 2014. It’s a rare feat with a starting pitcher only taking the bump two or three times during an entire series.

The best odds for a positional player go to Jose Altuve. The likely AL MVP winner is slashing .400/.500/.775 during the postseason while jacking a playoff-leading five home runs. Altuve will need to hit better on the road – as will all of the Astros – as the second baseman is just 3-for-18 away from Minute Maid Park this postseason.