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Shohei Ohtani has won the past two National League MVP awards, and his two-way production as a pitcher and a hitter give him a leg up on the competition in the race for what could be his third. 

FanDuel’s odds for NL MVP show Ohtani (-370) as the easy favorite to repeat amidst an emerging field of rising stars. Ohtani’s striking out 10 batters per 9 innings and posting a sub-1 WHIP. He’s still an excellent hitter who’s drawn the most intentional walks, but he’s slugging just .454 and working through a genuine slump, going hitless through four straight games for the first time in his career. 

Even a small dimming of Ohtani’s star might contribute to voter fatigue as members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) look to reward more of the game’s incredible talents. Despite the long odds of overtaking the dual-threat Ohtani, there are a few early candidates who could see their stocks rise significantly with another impressive month of production.

Corbin Carroll (+1700) finished tied for sixth in NL MVP voting last season, and he’s returning from a broken hamate bone by drawing more walks and legging out extra-base hits at an historic clip.

Matt Olson (+1700) is leading the league in WAR after the first month, mashing 11 HRs and pushing across a league-leading 31 RBI while slashing .299/.380/.650.

Elly De La Cruz (+2200) is already in his third season in the pros at just 24 years old. After playing through a quad strain for much of last season, he’s back on pace for a potential 40/40 season, and just a fraction behind the league lead in WAR.  

Ronald Acuna Jr (+2200) was the most recent non-Ohtani recipient of NL MVP, and he’s produced MVP-caliber numbers whenever he’s healthy. His health is another big reason for the Atlanta Braves’ league-leading win total, but he’ll need to bounce back quickly from a recent stint on the IL.

Juan Soto (+3000) – finished third in NL MVP voting last year, and he’s starting to get healthy for a Mets lineup that’s desperate for a star to step up. His first game back in the lineup marked the end of a 12-game losing streak.

James Wood (+4000) has a massive frame and a short swing that blasts through contact. He strikes out a fair amount, but he’s also walking more this season (19.9% walk rate leads NL), and has made a few highlightplays in right field.

Drake Baldwin (+5000) won the 2025 Rookie of the Year award, and if the left handed-hitting catcher continues on his pace to leap past last year’s 19 HRs, he could emerge as Atlanta’s brightest star.
Jordan Walker (+6000) is stealing more bases and he’s already exceeded last season’s HR total, showing the 23-year-old might be getting comfortable in his 6’6”, 250 lb. frame.

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Yohendrick Pinango is off to an amazing start to his MLB career, and I’m expecting the Toronto Blue Jays rookie to continue swinging a hot bat tonight against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen.

Read on to see why with my Blue Jays vs. Rays predictions and MLB Picks on Tuesday, May 5. 

Blue Jays vs Rays predictions

Blue Jays vs Rays best bet: Yohendrick Piango Over 0.5 hits (-145)

Yohendrick Pinango has been a delight since being called up from Triple-A.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ rookie outfielder has seven hits in his last three contests, raising his batting average to .500 over seven games. 

He’s gone 5-2 to the Over on his hits market, and has cashed in three straight games. 

Pinango’s early results suggest he’s got a pretty good matchup tonight with Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a three-pitch starter who deploys a cutter, sinker, and four-seamer. 

Though it's a small sample size, Toronto’s rookie owns a .600 batting average with a .475 xBA against the trio of pitches Rasmussen uses. He's also batted leadoff in the last two games, giving him more opportunities at the dish.

COVERS INTEL: While his 5.3% strikeout rate is unsustainable, Pinango has never showcased much swing-and-miss, with K-rates ranging between 19-24% in Double-A and up since 2024.

Blue Jays vs Rays same-game parlay (SGP)

I’ll continue to bet on the birds and take Kazuma Okamoto to record a hit. The Jays slugger is on a heater, with at least one hit in four straight, recording seven total in that stretch.

For the final leg of the SGP, I’ll take Kevin Gausman to go Over 17.5 outs. The Blue Jays ace owns a .96 WHIP and has seen his pitch count increase game by game. He should be in line to throw up to 100 pitches if he’s dealing.

Additionally, Gausman is averaging 18 outs over his last three starts, and has finished the sixth in four of his seven appearances.

Blue Jays vs Rays SGP

• Yohendrick Pinango Over 0.5 hits
• Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits
• Kevin Gausman Over 17.5 outs

Blue Jays vs Rays home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+510)

I’m only betting a half unit on this one.

Rasmussen doesn’t give up a lot of hard contact, but he has been a little homer-prone in 2026, allowing five long balls in just over 30 innings (1.47 HR/9). 

However, Daulton Varsho has a good chance to go hard tonight. 

He’s got a lot of pop in his bat and has a .611 SLG rate against the sinker, which is one of Rasmussen's go-to pitches. Also, four of the five home runs Rasmussen has allowed have come off left-handed bats.

Blue Jays vs Rays odds

• Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Tampa Bay -130
• Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-190) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)

Blue Jays vs Rays trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 25 of their last 35 games (+14.90 Units / 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Rays.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Rays and game info

Blue Jays vs Rays latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Rays weather

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This is going to be a grab bag of news items on the Tigers for Tuesday. Manager A.J. Hinch was on MLB Radio on Tuesday morning. He confirmed that infielder Zach McKinstry will return from the injured list against the Boston Red Sox tonight. McKinstry was banged up in a pair of collisions in a series against the Kansas City Royals in mid-April, and went on the injured list with hip and abdominal inflammation after colliding with Jac Caglione as he tried to field a ground ball.

Hinch also mentioned that Gleyber Torres is still day-to-day with tightness on the left side of his torso, presumably a mild oblique strain. At the moment Torres is still expected to avoid an injured list stint, but isn’t ready to play either. Torres last played on Saturday.

The Tigers infield depth is under some stress as a result, with Javier Báez on the injured list with an ankle injury. The club picked up veteran infielder Paul deJong on a minor league deal on Tuesday. DeJong played for the Washington Nationals in 2025, and still played a bit of shortstop with them, though third base was his most played position. He hit .228/.269/.373 with six homers and four stolen bases in 208 plate appearances. He will be assigned to Triple-A Toledo.

Finally, in a shocker, Toledo Mud Hens manager Gabe Alvarez, a rising star on the farm system who managed the Double-A Erie SeaWolves to back-to-back Eastern League Championships in 2023 and 2024, has been fired. There are no further details, as the Tigers simply announced that his contract was terminated for a violation of club policy. All we know is that hitting coach Mike Hessman has taken over as interim manager. That’s a tough one as Alvarez has played a role shepherding several of the club’s top prospects to the major leagues, and was thought to have the potential to manage in the major leagues or move into player development in the front office.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 22-13 record, face the Houston Astros, who are fourth in the AL West with a 14-22 record. Starting pitchers are Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers, with a 0.60 ERA, and Peter Lambert for the Astros, with a 3.52 ERA.

How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros

• Date: Tuesday, May 5

• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET / 5:10 p.m. PT

• Where: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

• TV Channels: TBS, Space City Home Network, Space City Home Network (Sp), SportsNet LA

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Los Angeles Dodgers: 22-13 (first in NL West)

• Houston Astros: 14-22 (fourth in AL West)

Odds

• Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5

• Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers -220 / Houston Astros +180

• Over/under: 8.5

Starting pitchers

Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (2-1, ERA: 0.60, K: 34, WHIP: 0.87)

Houston Astros: Peter Lambert (1-2, ERA: 3.52, K: 19, WHIP: 1.24)

Weather: 81°F at first pitch

Two rookies are off to fast starts in the American League with both Munetaka Murakami and Kevin McGonigle making an early splash.

It’s no surprise the duo finds themselves atop FanDuel’s American League Rookie of the Year 2026 market through the first month of the season. Only two of the last 14 American League Rookie of the Year winners were full-time pitchers, giving a sizable recency advantage to rookie hitters in the voting. 

Chicago White Sox slugging sensation Munetaka Murakami (+145) is the current favorite for AL Rookie of the Year. Tied for the league lead in home runs (14 in 35 games) with Aaron Judge, Murakami is tied for fifth in baseball in RBI (28) and ninth in OPS (.961).

The Japanese first baseman is off to a highlight-reel start with numerous towering home runs and a star quality the White Sox lacked in recent seasons. Murakami’s only downside is a high strikeout rate with 50 in his first 35 games. 

Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (+155) stays in the mix with Murakami after claiming AL Rookie of the Month for March/April. A four-hit performance on Opening Day set the tone for the 21-year-old’s fast start, which included signing an eight-year, $150 million extension just weeks into the start of his Major League career. 

McGonigle is 16th in baseball with a .315 batting average to go along with two home runs, 16 RBI and a notable 2.2 WAR. Although Murakami is deservedly grabbing early headlines for his power, McGonigle has been the most polished rookie at the start of the season.   

After a rapid decline in odds from the top two contenders, Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (+1000) and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (+1200) find themselves firmly in the next tier. Both players find themselves in the midst of recent hot streaks.

DeLauter went 8-for-11 during Cleveland’s latest three-game series against the Athletics, giving him a team-leading .304 batting average, 21 RBI and .946 OPS. In the midst of an eight-game hitting streak and 12 straight games on base, DeLauter is recovering nicely from a small slump in mid-April and could be a sleeper candidate with continued production. 

Okamoto has six of his nine home runs in the last 15 days, finding his stride by hitting mammoth home runs and climbing Toronto’s batting order. Although behind in offensive numbers compared to his rookie counterparts, Okamoto has the power and defensive acumen to quickly climb the odds if the hot streak sustains. 

The 1950s were a hugely successful stretch for the Yankees organization. Although the rosters were often headlined by future Hall of Fame members and generational greats, they were rosters full of talented players, a necessity for winning multiple World Series. Among the players with smaller roles was Bob Cerv, who had limited playing time in pinstripes, but would later prove himself as a talented player in his own right.

Although his most significant mark may have been made with other clubs, Cerv was a legitimate big league bat for much of his 12 years in The Show, even if it didn’t always come with New York. Either way, the outfielder filled a role on the successful Yankees teams of the early 1950s, one of the franchise’s most impressive runs of dominance.

Bob Cerv
Born: May 5, 1925 (Weston, NE)
Died: April 6, 2017 (Blair, NE)
Yankees Tenure: 1951-56, 1960, 1961-62

Born in Nebraska in 1925, Robert Henry Cerv played baseball in college as a Cornhusker and fought in World War II, before eventually signing with the Yankees prior to the 1950 season. A year later, at the age of 26, Cerv would make his Major League debut with New York. The big right-hander was called up in August of 1951, kicking off just a cup of coffee with the club. Although this was more in the style of a late-season call-up, the part-time role he had in ‘51 became the norm for Cerv for much of his Yankee career.

After just 12 games and 33 plate appearances in that debut season, Cerv combined for barely over 100 combined plate appearances over the next two seasons with the Yankees. The results were not particularly convincing, but enough to keep him around going into the 1954 season, when he would really begin to prove himself.

That ‘54 campaign kicked off a really good run for Cerv, though it notably took place in a limited role, as he spent much of his time on the field in a part-time capacity and as a pinch-hitter. That being said, for the final three years of his first stretch with New York, Cerv was an All-Star level hitter, who likely would have earned himself a lot more time in the modern game. He had a 121 OPS + in ‘54 across 112 plate appearances, and would only come to improve on that number. In the following season, he posted a terrific .341/.411/.541 slash line and was worth 1.2 bWAR in less than 100 plate appearances. And in 1956, he was just as good, in a then career-high 155 plate appearances. He was also a postseason contributor during that impressive run, which included a home run in their losing 1955 Fall Classic, as well a 1-for-1 line in the victorious ‘56 Series, both against the Dodgers.

Shortly after that World Series win, Cerv’s services were purchased by the Kansas City Athletics. It was clear that the A’s planned on giving Cerv a more substantial shot, and although the experiment was disappointing in 1957, the veteran turned in a massive career-year in the following season. In that 1958 season, Cerv was a star, exploding for 38 home runs, and hitting to the tune of a near-MVP-level 159 OPS+. Reasonably so, he was rewarded with his first and only All-Star selection, and finished fourth in MVP voting that season — not too bad for a former part-timer relegated to pinch-hitting duty.

The powerful outfielder had a couple of good seasons left in him as he entered his mid-30s, including another with KC in ‘59, and a season split between teams in 1960. Despite the post-World Series departure, Cerv’s time in pinstripes was also far from done. In 1960, he was traded back to the Bombers and played 87 solid games with them that season, before being selected by the Angels in the expansion draft that winter.

He returned to the club once again via trade in 1961 for 51 solid games with the Yankees, and would spend the beginning of the ‘62 season with the club as well. By this point, Cerv was entering his late-30s, and was once again largely occupying a part-time role. He wrapped up his big league career in 1962, with his final time coming with Houston in the middle of that season.

After a dozen seasons, Bob Cerv’s big-league career was over, and though his role was limited for much of it, he was able to briefly reach significant heights. Born on this day 101 years ago, he lived in his native Nebraska into his 90s, before passing in 2017. Like many players featured in this series, today marks a good opportunity to look back on an interesting and at times very good career in Yankees history — and one that got to be celebrated at several futures Old-Timers’ Days. Happy birthday, Bob.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

The Texas Rangers, ranked third in the AL West with a 16-18 record, face the New York Yankees, who are first in the AL East with a 24-11 record. Starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for Texas, with a 2.01 ERA, and Elmer Rodríguez for New York, with a 4.50 ERA.

How to watch Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees

• Date: Tuesday, May 5

• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. PT

• Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

• TV Channels: YES, Rangers Sports Network

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Texas Rangers: 16-18 (third in AL West)

• New York Yankees: 24-11 (first in AL East)

Odds

• Spread: New York Yankees -1.5

• Moneyline: New York Yankees -125 / Texas Rangers +105

• Over/under: 9

Starting pitchers

Texas Rangers: Jacob deGrom (2-1, ERA: 2.01, K: 40, WHIP: 0.96)

New York Yankees: Elmer Rodríguez (0-1, ERA: 4.50, K: 3, WHIP: 2.00)

Weather: 74°F at first pitch

Catcher Jonah Heim, who signed with the Atlanta Braves this offseason after being non-tendered by the Texas Rangers, was traded to the Athletics yesterday for cash considerations.

Heim went to camp with the Braves on a minor league deal, but with veteran Sean Murphy starting the year on the injured list, Heim was on the Opening Day roster for Atlanta as the backup to Drake Baldwin. Murphy was activated yesterday, so Heim was designated for assignment, and then promptly traded to the A’s.

Both Heim and Murphy, incidentally, originally debuted with Oakland. Murphy was a third round pick of the A’s and spent four seasons in the majors with them before being traded to the Braves in a weird three team deal that saw the A’s get an underwhelming package of five players highlighted by Esteury Ruiz. The Milwaukee Brewers, the third team in the deal, got catcher William Contreras from Atlanta.

Heim, meanwhile, was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013, was traded to the Rays at the 2016 trade deadline, and then was sent to Oakland as the player to be named later in the Joey Wendle trade. Heim then was traded to Texas in February, 2021, as part of the Khris Davis/Elvis Andrus trade.

Heim is slashing .231/.311/.410 in 45 plate appearances so far this season, and is taking the active roster spot of Shea Langeliers, who has been placed on paternity leave. 35 year old veteran Austin Wynns has been backing up Langeliers this season, but has a 244 OPS in 39 plate appearances, and so Heim may ultimately end up replacing Wynns as the primary backup catcher.