One unique feature about the 2022 MLB regular season, through the month of April, is the low offense. On average, teams scored 4.0 runs per game, the lowest monthly average in 31 years. The average for April 2021 was 4.26 runs per game. The batting average across all of MLB through April was .231, the lowest of any April in the history of the league. The average OPS was .675, the lowest since 1968, which was dubbed “The Year of the Pitcher.” If you consider the fact that this is the first season with the permanent addition of a universal DH. Pitchers were hitting only .110 in 2021. The culprit? The vanishing home run. Only 36% of the runs scored in April came on the long ball, the lowest percent for an April in seven seasons. In 2019, the Year of the Home Run, 43.5% of the April runs came on the home run, so things have changed dramatically in just three seasons. Changes in the manufacture of the baseball for this season were designed to lose about 0.5% of distance, and all teams are keeping their balls in humidors (controlling the moisture around the ball in storage). The league wanted home runs to decline, and they have. Will teams find other ways to generate offense? Read on for this week’s updated MLB betting odds for each team to win the World Series.
MLB News: Updated Odds to Win the World Series
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| L.A. Dodgers | +500 |
| Toronto Blue Jays, N.Y. Mets, N.Y. Yankees | +800 |
| Houston Astros | +1000 |
| Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox | +1200 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +1400 |
| San Diego Padres | +1800 |
| Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants | +2000 |
| Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, L.A. Angels | +2500 |
| St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox | +3000 |
| Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians | +8000 |
| Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers | +10000 |
| Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies | +15000 |
| Oakland A’s | +30000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds | +50000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles | +100000 |
Mike Trout has played for the Los Angeles Angels since 2011, but 2022 is the first season that the Angels have come into May leading the American League West. One reason is Taylor Ward, the team’s new leadoff hitter. Through 67 plate appearances, he has a white-hot .507 on-base percentage. No team is scoring more than the Angels through April, and the pitching is cooperating, with a 3.53 ERA for the starting rotation.
San Francisco uncharacteristically dropped two of three to the Washington Nationals at home, but they are still right behind the Dodgers and Padres in the National League West. One reason for the solid start to the Giants is their relief pitching corps, which is tops in the National League, posting a 2.59 ERA.
The Mets notched the first no-hitter of 2022, using five pitchers to squelch the Philadelphia offense on Friday. The team did issue six walks, but this is a team on a roll, not something that Mets fans have been used to since their World Series run.
Tampa Bay is still committed to using openers and running games through the bullpen more than other teams, but starters Shane McClanahan, Corey Kluber and Drew Rasmussen have also done their share to help the Rays stay in the wild-card hunt. McClanahan has struck out 42 batters in 27 innings pitched.
Milwaukee has gotten an elite start out of Corbin Burnes, the reigning Cy Young hurler in the National League. He had ten strikeouts over seven innings in a hard-luck loss on Friday, but overall, through five starts, he has struck out 43 hitters and posted a 1.93 ERA.
Seattle is third in the American League with 102 runs scored, and Julio Rodriguez is hitting big bombs at Safeco Field. The Mariners had a decent season last year, and their offense posted the worst batting average (.226). If the offense can keep performing, then the Mariners might be able to snag a wild card of their own.
MLB Betting Odds
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