Writing about sports betting for Major League Baseball is a challenge right now, as the ongoing labor dispute has pushed Opening Day back to April 14 already, with two weeks of the regular season sacrificed. The players and the owners are still far apart in a number of areas, which means that one of the most exciting props might be choosing the right day that the regular season will actually begin. Remembering that many teams will still sign free agents after the new deal is signed and the start of play, we will still take a look at some futures picks for your MLB Odds that can bring you some value.
MLB News: Targeting the Best Futures Picks for 2022
Which divisions will be the most competitive?
The American League East is intriguing, unless, of course, you are a Baltimore Orioles fan. The New York Yankees are the favorite to win it on a lot of books, although that really has more to do with the fact that the team has a ton to spend, and that people always bet on the Yankees. Their starting rotation is still a problem after Gerrit Cole. They have a solid closer in Aroldis Chapman, but getting from Cole (or any other starter) to Chapman is going to be a challenge. The team also needs a true third baseman; again, this is something they can address in the free agent market, but the Yankees have really felt like a hastily planned picnic for the past few seasons, rather than a carefully built roster.
Who else can win? Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston all have bullet points. Boston’s bats are the best of the three teams, while Tampa Bay is more efficient at scoring runs than either of the other two. The Blue Jays have a great deal of talent but have a hard time finishing when it comes to winning big games. For me, I’d go with the value and take Boston (+550) to grab the division, but I’m not laying down a ton of money until teams have added the players they need.
The National League East will also be competitive. Atlanta is the favorite (and the defending World Series champion), but they haven’t inked Freddie Freeman to a deal yet, and no team has repeated as World Series champ since 2000. The season is a marathon, and especially with an interrupted spring training process, it will be hard to get teams on a consistent path. The Mets have gone out and spent a lot of money, but they haven’t shown that they can string together consistent months for several years now. You can get a lot of value on Washington right now, and if they can add a couple of starting pitchers and a bat, they could push in this division. Remember, they won the Series just three seasons ago.
What does the MVP battle look like?
Interestingly, the top two players on the NL MVP odds list play for teams that had disappointing 2021 campaigns. Juan Soto (Washington) might be the best hitter in the National League, and if he gets going (and the Nats add help around him), he could carry the team far enough to get the trophy. You don’t have to play on a division winner to get the MVP, but living in the basement isn’t a recipe for the trophy either. Fernando Tatis Jr (San Diego) simply mashes the ball, but the team around him will need to play better; the Padres went into 2021 expected to contend, and they couldn’t even stay at .500. This year, the expectations are lower, so another monster season at the plate and on the field could make Tatis the pick.
In the American League, the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani is at the top of the list, and with good reason, as he is an elite starting pitcher and power hitter. Last year showed that he and the team have figured out how to manage the load without risking injury, and the sheer shock value of having a pitcher who can also hit could be enough to vault him up the list. A player with some value is Wander Franco (Tampa Bay). He came up last season and delivered huge numbers; if the Rays have another strong season, and his numbers jump off the page again, look at him to get a nod despite playing in a smaller market.
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