2018 MLB Betting Projections: Total Wins per Team

Spring training games are moving into their second week in Major League Baseball, with the Cactus League in Arizona and the Grapefruit League in Florida, and while we’re still almost a month away from regular season play, it’s time to take a look at a popular MLB betting futures wager — total wins on the season. The regular season is a marathon that lasts 162 games, so take a look at how each team could fare — and how you should think about pro-baseball betting strategy.

2018 MLB Betting Projections: Total Wins per Team

Tim Tebow’s revenge! First-pitch swinging in his second at-bat, he just grabbed his first hit of spring off highly touted Nationals prospect Erick Fedde. #Mets pic.twitter.com/hsaXgqT8qi

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) 2 de marzo de 2018

American League East

• N.Y. Yankees: 93

The Pinstripes have added Giancarlo Stanton to a lineup that already featured Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez. They have a rotation that features Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino. They could really use one more front-line starter if they’re going to win the American League East convincingly, but there are a lot of free agents left unsigned.

• Boston: 89

This has a lot to do with the weakness of the rest of the East than anything the Red Sox are doing. They’ll still have David Price as their ace, but he’s a year older, and Price hasn’t figured out clutch pitching yet.

• Toronto: 79

This was a terrific team when Josh Donaldson and the rest of the offense strutted their way around the American League, but Father Time and free agency have whittled away at the roster. Given the flaws on the Red Sox roster, Toronto could move into a wild-card position.

• Tampa Bay: 76

The Rays are in the middle of a fire sale right now, so I’d definitely lean toward the “under” here. With Joe Maddon gone, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of competitive fire in this franchise.

• Baltimore: 72

The Orioles still have Chris Davis slamming the ball, but their starting rotation isn’t going to scare anyone. Tampa Bay will be bad enough for you for the Orioles to finish ahead of them, but they still won’t win much more than 72 games.

American League Central

• Cleveland: 97

Corey Kluber, Carlos Correa and Danny Salazar still might be the best 1-2-3 starting pitcher collection in the junior circuit. The rest of the Central is in the midst of rebuilding projects — although Minnesota’s young talent will make them interesting. The Tribe should push close to 100 wins.

• Minnesota: 86

The Twins are rebuilding but are ahead of the dumpster fires burning in Chicago with the White Sox, as well as Kansas City and Detroit (it’s hard to believe that the Royals just went to the World Series in 2014 and 2015, winning the second time).

• Chicago White Sox: 73
• Kansas City: 73
• Detroit: 63

You might think that the Tigers will have to work hard to lose 99 games, but their talent is down in the minors right now. The White Sox and Royals are trying to rebuild without hitting rock bottom, and beating each other and the Tigers might help them avoid it.

American League West

• Houston: 100

I might consider the “under” here, if only because I don’t think the Astros will be as hungry after getting that dramatic win over Los Angeles in the World Series. Houston hasn’t made any major changes to their roster, so it will be interesting to see if they hit some fatigue around the All-Star break.

• L.A. Angels: 86

Can Shihei Otani help Mike Trout make this team into a contender? The Angels are really two or three more pieces away, including another frontline starter.

• Seattle: 81

The Mariners are good at looking solid on paper and then spitting the bit on the field. I’m not sure why people think this is a .500 team, even with the Rangers and the A’s comprising 36 games on the Mariners’ schedule.

• Texas: 80
• Oakland: 74

Back in the 1980s, Texas would sign marquee players a couple of years after their primes, such as Oil Can Boyd and Harold Baines. It looks like they’re going back in that direction now, as they’ve inked retreads Matt Moore and Tim Lincecum (who hasn’t pitched since 2016) to fill their rotation for this season. If it’s possible, Oakland is doing even less to contend for 2018 than the Rangers are, at least so far.

National League East

• Washington: 94

The Nationals should run away with this division again, although some rising talent in Philadelphia and Atlanta should keep the Nats from hitting triple digits. They still get 18 games against Miami, though, who appear to be trading away everyone who can compete at the major league level.

• N.Y. Mets: 82

Can the Mets find some offense? If so, they still have some otherworldly pitchers in their rotation. Don’t erased them from your MLB Betting plan.

• Atlanta: 76 Philadelphia: 76

Two youth movements that have a lot of intriguing pieces at work. But can they get this close to .500?

• Miami: 60

The Derek Jeter Garage Sale has begun.

National League Central

• Chicago Cubs: 92

The Cubs need their offense from 2016 to return and be considered a solid MLB Betting option. For some reason, they signed Yu Darvish to their rotation after watching him give away not one but two World Series games for the Dodgers. This team could be ready for a regression.

• Milwaukee: 86
• St. Louis: 85

I figure the Cardinals are tired of looking up at multiple teams in the Central, but they haven’t made the roster changes they need to blow by the Brewers, let alone pass the Cubs.

• Pittsburgh: 72
• Cincinnati: 68

Remember when these two teams both won more than 90 games and had to settle for wildcards? I do too, but rebuilding has hit these formerly exciting teams.

National League West

• L.A. Dodgers: 95

They lost Yu Darvish from their rotation and haven’t replaced him yet. Colorado and Arizona are still looming in the rearview mirror. I’m taking the “under” here unless the Dodgers add to that rotation to become an MLB Betting favorite once again.

• Colorado: 85 Arizona: 84 San Francisco: 82

Three teams that have a lot of contending pieces in place but haven’t quite put things together to take the division. Does that end this season?

• San Diego: 71

Why did Eric Hosmer sign a long-term deal to play in the basement of this division? I guess we’ll see.