The latest MLB MVP predictions have been released, with the Yankees' captain ranking second for the first time, signaling changes in the path to a consecutive MVP win.

On August 26, the official MLB site published the most recent MVP projections. Shohei Ohtani continues to be the near-unanimous choice to defend his National League MVP title, while in the American League, Mariners power hitter Cal Raleigh unexpectedly surpassed Aaron Judge, emerging as the top MVP candidate according to analysts.

The MVP predictions from MLB's official site are based on votes from 37 experts. In the latest results, Shohei Ohtani received 34 votes to secure the National League MVP. The site noted that Ohtani’s offensive stats alone justify his MVP repeat, not to mention his recent consistent pitching appearances. Once Ohtani starts showcasing his "two-way" skills, it will be extremely difficult for anyone to take the MVP away from him.

Aaron Judge, who had consistently led the American League MVP predictions, was surpassed by Raleigh for the first time, receiving only 15 first-place votes. After the All-Star break, Judge’s hitting slumped, with his batting average dropping to just .193 and home run production declining to only five during this period. In contrast, Raleigh, favored by 22 experts to win MVP, set the MLB single-season record for most home runs by a catcher on the 25th and became the first player this season to hit 50 home runs on the 26th.