There are betting alternatives galore with baseball season upon us, particularly with regards to the huge array of futures on the market to your wagering pleasure. Be it which staff goes to win all of it within the fall or which gamers get to take house the {hardware} for high particular person honors, there may be prone to be a prop of some kind to your consideration.
With out additional ado, listed below are our greatest bets from Tyler Fulghum, David Schoenfield, Eric Karabell, Derek Carty and Tristan H. Cockcroft.
All odds courtesy of ESPN BET.
Workforce picks to ponder
What’s your greatest worth choose to win the World Collection, past the present favorites (Dodgers, Braves, Astros, Yankees)?
Phillies +1500: The Phillies are stronger than they had been a season in the past, once they simply missed a second consecutive World Collection look. They’ve Atlanta’s quantity within the playoffs. It isn’t nice worth, however solely two NL groups have higher odds. — Karabell
Phillies +1500: I’d like to say the Orioles due to their general expertise, however their value is a bit too steep for me. I agree with Karabell. The Phillies have been there earlier than, have a loaded lineup, a deep employees and a flame-throwing bullpen. — Fulghum
Orioles +1200: They’re the very subsequent one listed after the favorites, however I take into account them a favourite, too, between their younger, well-rounded offense and prospect extra to make crucial in-season strikes to push them excessive. — Cockcroft
Rays +3000. This market seems to be very effectively priced. Surprisingly, there does look like a whole lot of worth on the Braves at +550, implying a 15% likelihood to win whereas my projection system (THE BAT X) places them at 25%. Outdoors of the principle groups, although, the one one which is likely to be value betting for me is the Rays with an implied 3% likelihood to win and a projected 4% likelihood. That is a small edge, although. It feels bizarre to suggest a favourite, however the Braves actually do appear like one of the best worth on the board. — Carty
Giants +4000: I just like the Rangers at +1400, however no staff has repeated for the reason that 1998-2000 Yankees gained three in a row, so let’s go together with a protracted shot candidate within the Giants. A playoff rotation that might embody Logan Webb, Blake Snell and Kyle Harrison has the potential to tug off some upsets and the lineup/protection has been upgraded with Jorge Soler, Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee. –Schoenfield
Is there any staff you are as a shock division winner?
Tigers +350, Cardinals +190: The Tigers completed second within the AL Central final season and, because the younger pitching develops, issues ought to look higher in Detroit. The Cardinals have stabilized their pitching with older people. Each Central divisions are up for grabs. — Karabell
Reds +360: It might require solely 85 wins to take the NL Central this 12 months. The Reds have a younger, thrilling lineup and a surprisingly deep rotation of proficient arms. The bullpen stays an enormous query mark. If they’ll fortify that group, they may very well be a playoff staff this season. — Fulghum
Reds +360, Tigers +350: Echoing Eric, the Central divisions are usually very a lot up for grabs, with solely the Twins projected for greater than 85 wins this season. The up-and-coming Reds are loaded with high-upside children who might push them excessive, whereas persons are sleeping on the Tigers’ pitching expertise. — Cockcroft
Rays +600: The percentages on these markets mainly match the World Collection odds proportionally, so I am seeing the identical worth right here. Even at -275, the Braves are displaying respectable worth to win the NL East, whereas the Rays at +600 to win the AL East indicate a 14% likelihood in comparison with a 22% likelihood projected by THE BAT X. — Carty
Brewers +650: No one is selecting the Brewers and I perceive why, particularly with Corbin Burnes in Baltimore, however this is likely to be one of the best defensive staff within the majors, they’ve added Rhys Hoskins and rookies Jackson Chourio and Joey Ortiz to plug large gaps within the lineup from final 12 months, and I feel the bullpen can survive till Devin Williams returns. I am not saying they are going to win 90, however it could solely take 86 to win this division. — Schoenfield
What groups are particular over/underneath picks for you when it comes to their win totals?
Tigers OVER 80.5 (-115), Royals OVER 73.5 (-120), Yankees UNDER 91.5 (-105), Athletics UNDER 57.5 (+110): The Tigers and Royals are buoyed by younger gamers and sensible, veteran pitching additions, and each will problem for the AL Central. The Yankees have pitching considerations, and never simply Gerrit Cole. The Athletics misplaced 112 video games final season and aren’t higher. — Karabell
Angels UNDER 71.5 (+100): This staff gained simply 73 video games final 12 months with Shohei Ohtani contributing a +9.9 WAR (mixed pitching and hitting) on his technique to AL MVP. Ummmm, what are they going to do with out him in a division that includes the Rangers, Astros and Mariners? Yikes! — Fulghum
Reds OVER 81.5 (-110) and Brewers UNDER 77.5 (-110): Listed below are two groups headed in reverse instructions, with the Reds on the rise and having the prospect capital to make in-season trades to help a late-season playoff push. In the meantime, the Brewers are prone to transfer a bunch of gamers (Willy Adames? Freddy Peralta? Devin Williams, if he is wholesome in time?). — Cockcroft
Athletics OVER 57.5 (-135). That is your traditional “the market is treating a foul staff as worse than they’re” state of affairs. No one desires to wager the over on the A’s. They’re horrible. Everybody is aware of this. And so books can get away with inflating the road a bit, which creates alternative for sharp bettors. That is the bottom win whole of any MLB staff by three full wins, however THE BAT X tasks each the Nationals and Rockies to be worse. A 69-win projection continues to be very unhealthy, nevertheless it’s additionally 12 wins above the guide’s line. Smash it. — Carty
Marlins UNDER 77.5 (-115): They overachieved within the win-loss division 12 months in the past due to a 33-14 document in one-run video games. That can regress and the offense is not good. Then issue within the season-long harm to Sandy Alcantara and the well being considerations with Eury Perez in spring coaching and the rotation out of the blue might need some points as effectively. — Schoenfield
Who’s getting the {hardware}?
Editor’s Picks
Who do you want for worth within the races for AL and NL MVP?
Adley Rutschman +2000, Gunnar Henderson +1500, Trea Turner +2000, Paul Goldschmidt +3000: I like these younger Orioles. There’s a narrative on Rutschman that he’s the following Buster Posey, and Posey gained an MVP award early in his profession. Turner will lead Philly’s rousing offense together with his greatest 12 months but. Goldschmidt gained it in 2022. That was not so way back. — Karabell
Mike Trout +2000, Corbin Carroll +2000: With the ability to get three-time winner (and four-time runner-up) Trout at this value is a steal. If he stays wholesome, the numbers are at all times going to pop. Carroll’s rookie season featured 25 HR and 54 SB and a fifth-place end within the NL MVP race. A “12 months 2” leap might result in a stat line that matches Prime Trout. — Fulghum
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. +2000: I have been all-in on Guerrero in my fantasy baseball drafts this preseason, anticipating an enormous rebound 12 months from the younger slugger, so why not keep on model? He practically captured the 2021 award, and the then-winner, Shohei Ohtani, is now within the different league. Guerrero’s odds are too good to go up. — Cockcroft
Henderson +1500 and Spencer Strider +10000: Henderson is my AL MVP choose coming off a 6.2-WAR season as a rookie. I haven’t got a fantastic worth choose within the NL, however I can envision a state of affairs the place Strider’s new curveball proves to be a fantastic weapon, he wins 23 video games with an ERA round 2.00, and he strikes out 300 batters. Which may do it if the large hitters siphon votes from one another. — Schoenfield
Who do you want for worth to carry house the Cy Younger in both the AL or NL?
Grayson Rodriguez +2000, Justin Verlander +6000, Yoshinobu Yamamoto +1200, Justin Steele +2000: I could as effectively persist with the younger Orioles theme. Verlander might debut in April, and he gained a Cy Younger in 2022 with solely 28 begins. Yamamoto will probably be an ace for a 100-win staff. Steele is a discount choose after a top-five Cy Younger end final season. — Karabell
Tyler Glasnow +1600: Glasnow’s solely challenge all through his profession has been staying wholesome sufficient to accrue sufficient counting stats for a complete season. If he could make 30-plus begins in 2024, he’ll win a LOT of video games on this Dodgers rotation — and his strikeout numbers will rival these of Strider. — Fulghum
Logan Gilbert +2000, Shane Bieber +3000, Glasnow +1600: Apart from an early blip by Gilbert, all three have seemed wonderful this preseason, and the 2 AL candidates stand good odds of rating among the many league leaders in innings pitched, which is essential on this explicit race. I agree with Tyler that Glasnow has the uncooked stuff essential to win, if he can keep wholesome sufficient for 25-28 begins. — Cockcroft
Carlos Rodon +4000, Glasnow +1600: Tarik Skubal is my choose, however Rodon is a pleasant roll of the cube at that value. He is come on robust on the finish of spring coaching and was a high starter in 2021-22 earlier than his struggles final 12 months. I am going to echo the Glasnow feedback as effectively and I feel he’ll get sufficient innings this 12 months to place himself within the operating. — Schoenfield
What newcomers are you for high rookie honors in both league?
Junior Caminero +1200, Jackson Merrill +900: Caminero begins within the minors, however his bat needs to be so good, he may have solely four-plus months to provide noteworthy numbers. Merrill begins straight away in heart area, so alternative shouldn’t be a difficulty for a dynamic participant. — Karabell
James Wooden +2500, Colton Cowser +3000: Wooden is a towering 6-foot-6 left-handed energy hitter who attracts comparisons to Aaron Choose. He had a 1.213 OPS in 44 ABs this spring. He ought to get as many ABs as he desires on a foul Nationals staff. Cowser has extra roadblocks to taking part in time on a loaded Orioles roster, but when he will get a shot within the lineup, his bat expertise might make it inconceivable for him to ever come out. — Fulghum
Ceddanne Rafaela +2000, Wooden +2500: The favorites in both league are effectively positioned to take house this 12 months’s {hardware}, however Rafaela’s and Wooden’s odds are tantalizing. Rafaela’s pace, protection and good displaying with the bat this spring earned him an Opening Day roster spot, whereas Wooden opened sufficient eyes to be one of many high prospects on the checklist for an early-season promotion. — Cockcroft
Nolan Schanuel +1200, Joey Ortiz (not on the board): It is nearly inconceivable to go away from the Jackson Holliday/Evan Carter/Wyatt Langford trio within the AL (I’ve Langford), however Schanuel might submit a .400 OBP and possibly his energy surprises and he pops 15-20 house runs. Ortiz has a job in Milwaukee after posting robust numbers within the minors in 2023 (.321/.378/.509) with good contact skill and robust exit velocity and wonderful protection that ought to increase his WAR. –Schoenfield
Potential participant props
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What are your favourite particular person participant props for 2024?
Aaron Choose UNDER 43.5 HR (-115), Royce Lewis OVER 24.5 HR (+100) and +7500 HR chief, Trea Turner OVER 23.5 HR (+100), Aaron Nola OVER 192.5 Ok (-115), Shota Imanaga OVER 148.5 Ok (-115), Christopher Morel +15000 HR chief, Lane Thomas +15000 hits chief. Victor Scott II (not on the board) steals chief: It is a lot, however we fear about Choose’s quantity. Lewis is legit. Nola has fanned greater than 200 hitters in 5 consecutive full seasons, so why would he cease now? Morel hit 14 HR over the primary two months of 2023. Watch Scott as soon as he will get promoted to the Cardinals. He stole 95 bases within the minors in 2023. — Karabell
Fernando Tatis Jr. UNDER 33.5 HR (-115). One barrier to Tatis going over this whole is his well being. He has by no means performed greater than 141 video games in a season. He does have a 42 HR season to his credit score, however that got here earlier than his PED suspension. His 2023 HR whole dipped right down to 25 in 141 video games performed. — Fulghum
Turner +1800 hits chief, Yordan Alvarez +1000 HR chief and OVER 37.5 HR (-115): The Phillies’ offense is loaded and prone to flip the lineup over as a lot as any staff, fueling the alternatives that Turner — a giant rebound candidate — wants. As for Alvarez, his uptick in fly-ball price at no expense to his contact high quality final 12 months bodes effectively for a house run increase. If he stays wholesome for all 162, be careful. — Cockcroft
Julio Rodriguez OVER 31.5 HR (-115), +6000 HR chief: Nicely, he hit 32 final season and has loads of room to enhance by slicing down on his strikeouts and bettering his plate self-discipline. If that occurs, be careful. Oh, and we’ll simply throw this on the market: Ken Griffey Jr.’s energy exploded at age 23, going from 27 house runs to 45. Possibly J-Rod makes the identical leap ahead on the identical age. — Schoenfield
