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**Udog** · 06-25-2020, 11:29 PM

2020 MLB Win Totals Odds

The 2020 MLB regular season was scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 26, 2020 but the COVID-19 global pandemic has put sports on hold in the United States and other countries.

Fortunately for MLB bettors, the league is expected to restart in late July with a 60-game schedule on July 23 or 24.

MLB Win Totals Odds receive plenty of attention from bettors and PointsBet, a legal online US Sportsbook, was the first to open their betting market with their oddsmakers making numbers on a 60-game schedule.

MLB 2020 American League Win Total Odds

Teams Listed in order of Projected Wins per Division

American League East
N.Y. Yankees 38.5
Tampa Bay 34.5
Boston 32.5
Toronto 26.5
Baltimore 20.5

American League Central
Minnesota 34.5
Cleveland 33.5
Chicago White Sox 31.5
Kansas City 24.5
Detroit 21.5

American League West
Houston 35.5
Oakland 33.5
L.A. Angels 31.5
Texas 29.5
Seattle 24.5

MLB 2020 National League Win Total Odds

Teams Listed in order of Projected Wins by Division

National League East
Atlanta 34.5
Washington 33.5
N.Y. Mets 31.5
Philadelphia 31.5
Miami 24.5

National League Central
St. Louis 32.5
Chicago Cubs 32.5
Cincinnati 31.5
Milwaukee 31.5
Pittsburgh 25.5

National League West
L.A. Dodgers 38.5
Arizona 30.5
San Diego 31.5
Colorado 27.5
San Francisco 25.5

**Udog** · 06-26-2020, 10:13 AM

How a 60-game 2020 MLB schedule affects betting odds
Patrick Everson

The National League implementing the designated hitter is just one of the quirks of this 60-game 2020 MLB season that oddsmakers are adjusting for.

MLB betting is back on the odds board with a 60-game regular season that took several weeks to hash out. Bookmakers now face the challenge of setting MLB odds for a very different kind of season.

Oddsmakers at Circa Sports, The SuperBook at Westgate and Caesars sportsbooks discussed how the 2020 MLB schedule impacts the futures books and day-to-day regular-season odds.
How does the 2020 MLB schedule impact World Series odds?

World Series odds, and for that matter all MLB futures odds, become a much different proposition when the regular season leading to that postseason undergoes such a dramatic change.

“The biggest adjustments will be in the futures market, where you’ll see the long shots’ odds shortened,” said John Murray, executive director of The SuperBook. “It’ll be more likely for a team to get hot for a short period of time and steal a playoff spot or even a division title in a 60-game season than in a 162-game season.”

In fact, the 60-game schedule is so radically different that Circa sportsbook manager Chris Bennett is proceeding with far more caution than normal.

“I don’t plan to reopen baseball futures until I am confident this season is actually going to be played,” Bennett said. “The biggest impact of a 60-game regular season vs. a 162-game regular season is that it gives weaker teams a better chance of making the playoffs and winning the World Series. Whatever our World Series and division odds were before the pandemic, the bad teams need to have shorter odds and the good teams need to have longer odds with a 60-game regular season.”

So for the moment, Circa Sports is offering a Yes/No prop on each team to win the World Series, but has no other MLB futures odds on the board. Caesars director of trading Jeff Davis has World Series, AL and NL odds, and regular-season win totals posted, but he concurred with his peers on what the biggest impact the 2020 MLB schedule has on the futures book.

“With the smaller sample size, there will be a larger randomness quotient. Therefore, in future-style markets, favorites aren’t quite as favored and long-shot prices aren’t as long,” Davis said.

How does the 2020 MLB schedule impact regular-season game odds?

On a day-to-day basis, MLB odds won’t be handled much differently by sportsbook operators. However, there are some considerations oddsmakers will keep in mind once the schedule is set and games start going up on the board.

“I’d expect the better teams to give more effort than they would in a 162-game season,” Murray said. “By that I mean, using their best relievers for two innings instead of one inning, or not throwing away games with a spot-starting pitcher the way they may have done during a 162-game season. Every game is worth that much more, and we expect the managers to act like it.”

Bennett pointed to another pitching component that might be key in the 60-game season.

“I wouldn’t change much with the approach to booking individual games,” Bennett said. “I will want to know if any starting pitchers are on pitch counts. That’s the only thing I can think of right now that could be an issue.”

Of course, there’s the prospect of injuries or players needing rest, along with the likelihood of players testing positive for COVID-19. But Murray said his oddsmaking team is prepared for those situations.

“We’ll have to be even more diligent than ever checking to see if guys are in or out, but from years booking the NBA, we are pretty used to guys not playing,” he said.

How do rule changes impact MLB odds?

With an unusual season comes some unusual MLB rule changes, the biggest of which is that the National League will have a designated hitter, rather than having pitchers step up to the plate. In addition, regular-season games that go into extra innings will see each team start the additional frames with a runner on second base, in hopes of preventing prolonged extra-inning affairs.

There are a few more minor changes, but oddsmakers agreed the NL DH rule will require the most noteworthy adjustment.

“We’ll see higher totals in the NL games with the DH hitting instead of the pitcher, but otherwise, the day-to-day should be pretty consistent with last year,” Murray said.

Who will win the World Series?

Team Odds to win
Los Angeles Dodgers +350
New York Yankees +350
Houston Astros +1,100
Atlanta Braves +1,500
Minnesota Twins +1,500
Tampa Bay Rays +1,800
Washington Nationals +1,800
Chicago Cubs +2,000
Cincinnati Reds +2,000
Oakland Athletics +2,000
Los Angeles Angels +2,200
New York Mets +2,200
Chicago White Sox +2,500
Cleveland Indians +2,500
St. Louis Cardinals +2,500
Philadelphia Phillies +3,000
San Diego Padres +3,000
Milwaukee Brewers +4,000
Arizona Diamondbacks +5,000
Boston Red Sox +5,000
Texas Rangers +6,000
Toronto Blue Jays +7,500
Colorado Rockies +10,000
Detroit Tigers +25,000
Miami Marlins +25,000
Kansas City Royals +25,000
Pittsburgh Pirates +25,000
San Francisco Giants +25,000
Seattle Mariners +25,000
Baltimore Orioles +50,000

**Udog** · 06-26-2020, 02:04 PM

2020 MLB rule changes and their impact on baseball betting
Andrew Caley

The Yankees' Gleyber Torres slashed .394/.467/1.045, with 13 homers in 75 plate appearances against the Orioles last season. They make up almost 17 percent of the Yankees’ games now.

Major League Baseball returns with an abbreviated 60-game 2020 season and a handful of new rules, and these changes will certainly impact MLB odds.

For bettors, these new MLB rule changes will affect everything from daily MLB betting lines to World Series odds for the season, slated to begin around July 24.

So, with a bunch of uncertainty staring us in the face, we break down some stuff to focus on in this new world of MLB betting, as we prepare to dive head-first into MLB picks and predictions for the upcoming season.
What are the 2020 MLB rule changes?

Teams will play 40 division games, and 20 interleague games against the corresponding division (Ex: AL East will play NL East).
The National League will use a designated hitter.
Pitchers must face three batters or complete a half-inning before being removed from the game.
If a game goes to extra innings, teams will begin with a runner on second base.
Rosters will start at 30 for the first two weeks, then 28 for the next two and 26 for the remainder.
Teams will also have a taxi squad which will allow for up to 60 players to be available for MLB games.

Prepare for randomness with MLB Futures betting

Sixty games is nothing close to resembling a full MLB season. Sometimes it takes 60 games for hitters to get their timing down. Or a couple of months for starting pitchers to find their grooves. With a schedule this short all it will take is one major injury or one cold streak to derail a season. For example, the World Series champion Washington Nationals were just 27-33 after 60 games last year.

Conversely, one hot start means we could wind up with an unexpected team in the postseason. The point is to use caution when betting things like World Series or division title futures, and regular-season win totals. That said, maybe give a little added value to a dark horse team you like to win a division, or a live longshot for a player to lead the league in home runs. The Yankees' Gleyber Torres slashed .394/.467/1.045, with 13 homers in 75 plate appearances against the Orioles last season. They make up almost 17 percent of the Yankees’ games now.

A Boon in NL runs?

It has been long debated whether the National League should adopt the designated hitter, and the day is finally here. The junior circuit has generally been the higher scoring league, because, duh, they don’t have a pitcher hit. So, you can expect a small uptick in runs in the NL.

More importantly, this is going to give some roster flexibility to some teams. For example, the Cubs no longer have to worry about Kyle Schwarber having to patrol an outfield position. Additionally, it means teams like the Dodgers and Reds, with a ton of depth, become even more dangerous. It will be interesting to see how books evaluate these teams early on.

Bullpen Management

Two things with bullpens here. One, in this abbreviated season teams with bullpen depth should have an edge. And two, with the three-batter minimum rule in effect, managers will have to be more careful when deciding which reliever to call for each situation.

First off, just like hitters, it usually takes starters a little while to get a feel for all their pitches. So, in this 60-game sprint, there is going to be a premium on teams with good bullpens. The top five MLB teams in terms of ERA last season were:

Tampa Bay Rays
Houston Astros
Cleveland Indians
San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers

Other teams who should have excellent bullpens heading into 2020 are the Brewers, Padres and Yankees. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Rays and Brewers only use starters for half their games.

And secondly, the bullpen management. Sorry Joe Girardi, the one-and-done specialist is gone. Girardi was notorious in New York for his many pitching changes, but managers will have to look much more closely at matchups now. And relievers who get thrown into jams will have to get out of them on their own. Which again, can lead to more runs being scored. Girardi is now in Philly but he’s not alone. Guys like the Rays' Kevin Cash, Joe Maddon - now with the Angels - and the Dodgers' Dave Roberts all love tinkering with their relievers (some to better ends than the others).

A Return to Small Ball

The extra-inning tweak is going to change games that need them quite a bit, and you are going to see far fewer walk-off homers. Bunting has kind of gone the way of the dodo in baseball, but you’ll see a return in 2020. The smart baseball play is to advance that runner on second to third with a bunt. Then all you need is a ball in play. You will see lots of run-on-contact plays, and tagging up on sacrifice flys. Imagine if you’re a team like the Braves, and will have a guy like Billy Hamilton on the bench most games. He comes in to pinch run, steals third, and the chances of scoring that run are very high. So keep an eye on teams with speedsters coming off the bench.

So what does it all mean for MLB betting?

To wrap it up, teams with strong bullpens and good bullpen management should have an advantage in daily moneyline wagers early on. But once the players get warmed up, teams with strong starting rotations should excel. Try to find some early-season value in National League totals. And use caution when wagering futures, while maybe taking a look at some live long shots who have a little more value in the shorted season.

**Udog** · 07-06-2020, 09:46 AM

AL & NL East Win Total Picks and Predictions
Kevin Davis

MLB Win Totals

Major League Baseball is finally going to start this year on July 24th when the New York Yankees face the defending World Series Champion Washington Nationals. Before COVID-19 postponed the beginning of the MLB season in March, various sportsbooks had win total bets for each of the 30 MLB teams.

While I had my own picks for the originally scheduled 162 games season, I must throw out all that analysis because this shortened season is going to be radically different. Not only will each team play only 60 games this year, but who they will play will be much different.

Over the 60-game season, each team will play 40 games against their own division, and then the remaining 20 games against interleague teams from the same region. The other radical change is that National League teams will have a designated hitter for the first time. The result of both changes mean that National League lineups are going to be radically different, and teams in competitive divisions will be at a larger competitive disadvantage than usual.

2020 MLB

Win Total Odds
National League East

Atlanta Braves: 34 Wins: Over -105, Under -118
Miami Marlins: 23.5 Wins: Over +100, Under -120
New York Mets: 31.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Philadelphia Phillies: 31.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Washington Nationals: 33.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110

American League East

Baltimore Orioles: 21.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Boston Red Sox: 31.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
New York Yankees: 37.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Tampa Bay Rays: 33.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Toronto Blue Jays: 27.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110

2020 MLB Win Projections

For the upcoming MLB Season, I have two win total plays that I am backing based on my above projections. I am betting on the New York Mets to win more than 31.5 games, and the Baltimore Orioles to win fewer than 21.5 games.

Best Win Total Under

Baltimore Orioles
Under 21.5 Wins

My favorite win total bet for both the AL and NL East, is to bet that the Baltimore Orioles will have a winning percentage that is less than 35.5%. A 35.5% winning percentage this season would equate to a 21.3-38.7 record, and I believe that the Baltimore Orioles will win 21 or fewer games this season. Last the Baltimore Orioles were dreadful as they finished the season with a 54-108 record. While there is a cliché that you should buy low and sell high, betting against the Baltimore Orioles this year is a sell low play that has immense value.

Before the scheduled 162-game season, it might have been unthinkable to bet on the Baltimore Orioles winning less than 35.5% of their games as that translates to a 57-105 season and it’s natural for young teams to improve the next season. However, the new 60-game season will be worse for the Baltimore Orioles winning percentage as they must play half of their games against the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays.

While my model projects the Baltimore Orioles to have a 38.4% Pythagorean winning percentage, when you match them up to their opponents, they end up with a 19-41 record which equates to a 31.7% winning percentage. If Baltimore played in the AL Central this would be a bad bet, but because they play in the AL East the win total bet is 2.3 games higher than what the total should be.

My model not only projects Baltimore to have the worst record of any team this year, they also project Baltimore to score the fewest runs out of all 30 MLB teams. Among the Baltimore Orioles lineup, my model doesn’t project an offensive player having an above average DRC+ (Deserved Runs Created Plus). Their best projected offensive production is from 25-year-old Austin Hays who has only played in 60 career games.

In addition to scoring the fewest runs out of all 30 MLB teams, my model also projects the Baltimore Orioles to give up the most runs out of all 30 MLB teams. One reason for this is that their starting rotation is projected to be trash. Based on pre-season projections from Baseball Prospectus, out of Baltimore’s starting rotation the only starting pitcher projected to have a sub 5 FIP is John Means.

The rest of the Baltimore starting rotation is made up of Alex Cobb (5.36 Projected FIP), Asher Wojciechowski (5.31 Projected FIP), Wade Leblanc (6.21 Projected FIP), and Tommy Milone (5.13 Projected FIP). You should bet that the Baltimore Orioles are going to win fewer than 35.5% of their games since they play a tough schedule, can’t produce runs, and can’t prevent runs.

Best Win Total Over

New York Mets
Over 31.5 Wins

The poor New York Mets never get the respect they deserve even in their own city. According to a 2018 Quinnipiac poll, only 34% of New Yorkers are Mets fans compared to the 53% that are Yankees fans. Even in Queens where the Mets play, there are more Yankees than Mets fans.

However, despite their lack of popularity the 2020 New York Mets should not be overlooked. That is because they finished the 2019 season on a high note with the 2nd-best record after the All-Star Break going 46-26. My model projects the Mets to win 34.7 games which is why I am betting on the Mets winning over 31.5 games at -110 juice.

One reason why I believe that the Mets are going to win more than 31.5 games this year is that I can’t think of a National League team that will benefit from having a Designated Hitter more than the New York Mets. The highest paid position player on the Mets is the oft-injured Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes who makes $27.5 million a year.

Facing the reality that Cespedes is often injured, talented, and in the final year of his contract, the New York Mets have already announced that they plan to utilize the DH spot in their lineup on Cespedes. My model projects Cespedes to be an above-average offensive player. In addition to Cespedes, the Mets lineup which includes sluggers Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Michael Conforto is projected to lead the NL East in runs scored.

In addition to great hitting, the Mets biggest strength is arguably their pitching. Their starting rotation is led by 2018 NL Cy Young winner Jacob Degrom who can always be counted on to perform. While the Mets lost Zach Wheeler to free agency, and Noah Syndergaard Tommy John surgery, the rest of the Mets starting rotation is still solid.

The Mets still have Marcus Stroman, Michael Wacha, Steven Matz, and Rick Porcello who are all projected to have FIP’s between 4.06 and 4.54. While those aren’t great numbers, all four of those starting pitchers are dependable and the New York Mets bullpen is going to be more reliable in 2020 after having a 4.71 FIP in 2019.

Mets closer Edwin Diaz for example is expected to rebound in 2020 with a 2.91 FIP after having a 4.51 FIP and -0.5 WAR in 2019. In addition to Diaz having a rebound performance, the Mets also added reliever Dellin Betances in free agency who is projected to have a 2.77 FIP.

Based on the Mets pitching and hitting I believe that betting on the Mets winning more than 31.5 games is the best win total over bet in the AL and NL East.

**Udog** · 07-09-2020, 10:46 PM

AL & NL Central Win Total Picks and Predictions
Kevin Davis

Handicapping 2020
MLB Win Totals

The Major League Baseball season is finally going to start in two weeks when the Washington Nationals host the New York Yankees on July 23rd. Before COVID-19 postponed the beginning of the MLB season in March, various sportsbooks had win total bets for each of the 30 MLB teams. While I had my own picks for the originally scheduled 162-game season, I must throw out all that analysis because this shortened season is going to be radically different.

Not only will each team play only 60 games this year, but who they will play will be much different. Over the 60-game season, each team will play 40 games against their own division, and then the remaining 20 games against interleague teams from the same region.

What does this mean for AL Central and NL Central teams? Every one of those teams is going to have a weaker schedule than during the originally scheduled 162-game season. The other radical change is that National League teams will have a designated hitter for the first time. The result of both changes mean that National League lineups are going to be radically different, and teams in competitive divisions will be at a larger competitive disadvantage than usual.

For the upcoming MLB Season, I have two win total plays that I am backing. I am betting on the worst two teams in the AL and NL Central regions to go over their win total number. My two win total bets for the AL and NL Central are for the Kansas City Royals to win over 23.5 games, and the Detroit Tigers to win over 20.5 games.

2020 MLB
Win Total Odds

National League Central

Chicago Cubs: 32.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Cincinnati Reds: 32.5 Wins: Over +100, Under -120
Milwaukee Brewers: 30.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Pittsburgh Pirates: 25.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
St. Louis Cardinals: 32.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110

American League Central

Chicago White Sox: 31.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Cleveland Indians: 32.5 Wins: Over -120, Under +100
Detroit Tigers: 20.5 Wins: Over -105, Under -115
Kansas City Royals: 23.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110
Minnesota Twins: 34.5 Wins: Over -110, Under -110

Why I am betting on only AL Central win total 'overs', as opposed to one win total 'under' and one win total 'over'?

When you add up the win total numbers for all 10 AL Central and NL Central teams, the number of wins equals 296. This is mathematically impossible if all 10 teams play the full schedule of 60 games each because during the 2020 regular season, each team will only play teams in their region. This means that the total number of wins and losses for all 10 teams is going to equal 300 wins.

With the average AL and NL Central win total number being set too low, there is more value in betting 'overs' than 'unders'. This is unlike the AL and NL West where the combined number of wins according to the win total numbers equals 308.5 and the AL and NL East where it equals 307. In both of those regions East and West, the total combined number of wins is going to be 300, so for those regions the under is a better valued bet than the 'over'. For the central region this is not the case as the over is a better bet than the 'under'.

Best Win Total Over #1

Kansas City Royals
Over 23.5 Wins

My favorite win total bet for both the AL and NL Central, is to bet that the Kansas City Royals will win over 23.5 wins. A 24-36 win season would translate to a 40% winning percentage. For a traditional 162-game MLB season, a 40% winning percentage would translate to a 65-97 record. Last year, Royals were dreadful as they finished the season with a 59-103 record. The reason why I think Kansas City will perform better this season is because of two factors. The first factor is for this year’s 60-game season, the Royals will play 66.7% of their games against the AL Central which is arguably the weakest division in the MLB.

In a 162-game regular season, the Royals would play 46.9% of their games against the other AL Central teams. This means that the Royals will avoid playing the Yankees, Astros, Rays, and Angels which can only improve their winning percentage. The other factor that favors the Royals winning more than 23.5 games is that they are a young team whose players are going to get better as opposed to worse.

While I am betting on the Royals winning more than 23.5 games, by no means do I think that they will be any good this year. Among all 30 MLB teams, my model projects the Royals to have the 6th lowest number of wins. This is not the Kansas City team that won the 2015 World Series. However, for the win total bet to cash, the Royals need to win only 40% of their games (24 wins), and my model projects the Royals to win 44% of their gamers (26.4 wins). Among the Royals' lineup, my model predicts that they are going to rank 24th out of all 30 MLB teams in runs scored. What is preventing the Royals from being even worse is their designated hitter Jorge Soler.

Soler had a breakout season for the Royals last year as he had 48 home runs, 117 RBI’s, and a wRC+ of 136. Soler seemingly came out of nowhere last year as his previous season high in home runs was only 12. While Soler may not be able to replicate last year’s performance, my model projects the slugger to have another solid season in 2020 as he is only 28-years old.

As far as the Royals pitching is concerned, they are projected to give up the 5th most runs out of all 30 MLB teams. The Royals bullpen and starting rotation are projected to be consistently mediocre this season. One reason for this is that of their five starting pitchers, their projected FIP’s range from 4.43 to 4.57. While the Royals rotation does not have a clear ace, they do not have a clear disaster waiting to happen either. On any given day one of those starters can randomly have a quality start and the Royals lineup could give them enough run support to get a surprise win. That and Soler is the reason why I am betting on the Royals winning more than 23.5 wins.

Best Win Total Over #2

Detroit Tigers
Over 20.5 Wins

The $30 million question for the 2020 Detroit Tigers is, is this year's team worse than the 2019 edition? The reason why it is a $30 million question is because that is what they are paying the ancient injury prone Miguel Cabrera per year for the next 3 years. The 2019 squad was so bad, that they had the worst record in the league with a 47-114 record. However, I believe that last season was a low water mark, and in order for the Tigers to win 20 or fewer games this season they would have to win less than 35% of their games. Based on a few minor changes that the Tigers made this offseason, I am betting that the Tigers will win more than 20.5 games.

One reason why I believe Detroit is going to win more than 20.5 games this year is that their lineup will benefit from the free agent acquisitions of 1B C.J. Cron and 2B Jonathan Schoop. Both Cron and Schoop signed this offseason for one-year $6.1 million contracts, meaning that they both have an incentive to perform well this year so they can get better contracts next offseason. When you factor in Detroit’s infield of Cron, Schoop, SS Niko Goodrum, and 3B Jeimer Candelario, every one of those players is projected to be either average or above average offensively.

On the other hand, the rest of the lineup excluding Cabrera is projected to perform below average offensively. The one x-factor for the Tigers is Cabrera. While Cabrera has been besieged with injuries over the last 2 seasons, he is reportedly in good physical shape. With a 60-game season causing less stress on his body, I think we see a Cabrera that is closer to his 2-time MVP form than the one of last season that had a -0.1 WAR. That is one of the reasons why I am betting on the Tigers winning more than 20.5 games this season.

While the Tigers have an underrated lineup, their pitching staff is a dumpster fire. Out of all 30 MLB teams, only 2 teams are projected to have worse bullpens than Detroit. Typically, you can avoid having to rely on your bullpen with quality starting pitching, they do not have that luxury. The Tigers starting rotation is a combination of inexperienced and past their prime pitchers. The pitcher most emblematic of the veterans on their staff is Jordan Zimmermann who was 1-13 with a 6.91 ERA last season.

Luckily for the Tigers, they have plenty of young pitching talent waiting in the wings including 2018 first overall pick Casey Mize. Detroit's pitching might be bad, but I don’t think they are bad enough to lose at least 2/3rds of their games this season. That combined with their hitting is why I am betting on the Tigers winning more than 20.5 games this season.

**Udog** · 07-14-2020, 09:56 AM

AL East Betting Odds & Forecast

2020 AL East Division Odds

New York Yankees 33/100
Tampa Bay Rays 7/2
Boston Red Sox 8/1
Toronto Blue Jays 25/1
Baltimore Orioles 250/1

The New York Yankees are the odds-on favorite to win the AL East title at 33/100 odds (-305) after picking up 103 victories and the division championship in 2019. The Tampa Bay Rays posted a strong 96-66 record last season, which was good enough for a Wild Card berth (and eventually a spot in the American League Divisional Series). The Boston Red Sox represented the AL East from 2016 through 2018, but fell back to 84-78 in 2019, which resulted in them missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

2020 American League Pennant Odds

New York Yankees 7/4
Tampa Bay Rays 8/1
Boston Red Sox 13/1
Toronto Blue Jays 50/1
Baltimore Orioles 350/1

Eight of the last 10 AL East champions have failed to win the pennant with the 2013 and 2018 Red Sox being the only outliers (both won the World Series). The Yankees are the American League favorite to claim the pennant at +175 odds (7/4), while the Rays are fourth at 8/1 behind New York, Houston, and Minnesota, all division winners last season.

Aaron Judge and the Yankees are listed as the odds-on favorite to win the AL East title for the second straight season. (AP)

2020 World Series Odds

New York Yankees 4/1
Tampa Bay Rays 18/1
Boston Red Sox 30/1
Toronto Blue Jays 100/1
Baltimore Orioles 750/1

The Yankees haven’t even made it to the World Series for over 10 years now, so the fans are hoping the team makes up for lost time with so many superstars on the roster.

2020 AL East Win Totals Odds

N.Y. Yankees 37.5
Tampa Bay 33.5
Boston 31.5
Toronto 27.5
Baltimore 20.5

2020 AL East Playoff Props

New York Yankees Yes - 670 No +460
Tampa Bay Rays Yes -110 No -110
Boston Red Sox Yes +200 No -250
Toronto Blue Jays Yes +650 No -1115
Baltimore Orioles Yes +3300 No -10000

2020 AL East MVP Contenders

Aaron Judge (New York) 8/1
Gleyber Torres (New York) 20/1
Xander Bogaerts (Boston) 30/1
Giancarlo Stanton (New York) 33/1
Rafael Devers (Boston) 40/1
D.J. LeMahieu (New York) 40/1
J.D. Martinez (Boston) 40/1
Gerrit Cole (New York) 50/1
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (Toronto) 50/1

Judge is arguably the best power hitter in baseball, but he has had some injury concerns too. He has missed 110 games due to injury over the last two seasons, putting the kibosh on his home run totals after cranking 52 home runs in 2017. Judge can be very boom or bust at the plate with high home run and walk numbers, but he strikes out a ton too.

2020 AL East Cy Young Contenders

Gerrit Cole (New York) 11/4
Blake Snell (Tampa Bay) 9/1
Tyler Glasnow (Tampa Bay) 12/1
Charlie Morton (Tampa Bay) 12/1
Eduardo Rodriguez (Boston) 28/1
Hyun-Jin Ryu (Toronto) 35/1
James Paxton (New York) 40/1

Ryu was signed from the Dodgers this offseason after a stellar last two seasons pitching in Chavez Ravine. He is 21-8 with a 2.21 ERA over the last two seasons, and he has a 1.008 WHIP in that stretch. While the addition of Ryu looks great on paper, everything is pointing towards a downturn from Toronto’s new ace in 2020.

2020 AL East Rookie of the Year Contenders

Brendan McKay (Tampa Bay) 7/1
Nate Pearson (Toronto) 25/1
Wander Franco (Tampa Bay) 25/1

2020 American League East Predictions

Best Bet & Value on AL East Division Winner

Best Value: Tampa Bay Rays (7/2)
Best Bet/Value on American League Pennant Winner
Best Value: New York Yankees (7/4)
Best Bet/Value for World Series Winner
Best Value: New York Yankees (4/1)
Best Bets/Value for AL East Win Totals
Best Over: Baltimore
Best Under: Boston

Baltimore is going to lose a lot of games this season again, but the worst of the worst is over in this rebuild for the franchise, and a 40% win rate has got to be the next goal that Orioles brass is hoping they shatter this season. They didn't have a winning record against any division rival a year ago and still got to 54 wins, which includes that disastrous run vs. the Yankees.

Best Bets/Value for Yes/No in the 2020 MLB Playoffs

Best Value: Boston - No (-250)
Best Bets/Value for Individual Awards
Best Bet MVP: Gleyber Torres, Yankees (20/1)
Best Bet Cy Young: Gerrit Cole, Yankees (11/4)
Best Bet Rookie of Year: Nate Pearson, Blue Jays (25/1)

Torres had a breakout season in his second year for the Yankees by hitting 38 home runs and driving in 90 runs. Both Judge and Stanton are dealing with injury questions which should help Torres' stock for a New York team projected to win the AL East division.

Cole became the first pitcher in MLB history to sign a contract worth more than $300 million in December, and the Yankees have made it clear that they expect to win multiple championships with Cole as the ace of this rotation. Although Cole has yet to win a Cy Young, he was the best pitcher in the American League last season, leading the league in ERA, ERA+, strikeouts, K/9, and FIP.

Pearson was fantastic during the brief time that Spring Training was going on, and he quickly moved from high A to AAA ball in 2019. His fastball has steadily improved during his time in the minors, and he has three other out pitches. He is the eighth best prospect in the minors per MLB Pipeline.

**Udog** · 07-14-2020, 09:58 AM

NL East Betting Odds & Forecast

2020 NL East Division Odds

Atlanta Braves 43/20
Washington Nationals 5/2
New York Mets 11/4
Philadelphia Phillies 13/4
Miami Marlins 200/1

This is set to be the most difficult division to navigate in baseball. The New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, and Philadelphia Phillies are all projected to win between 85 and 90 games, but at least one of these teams is guaranteed to be left out of the playoffs.

2020 National League Pennant Odds

Atlanta Braves 6/1
Washington Nationals 15/2
New York Mets 9/1
Philadelphia Phillies 11/1
Miami Marlins 350/1

Washington has largely decided to run it back with almost its entire team save Anthony Rendon. The Nationals have a staff that is the envy of the sport, and two great, young bats in the lineup. If one or two players can overachieve and the team can stay healthy, the Nationals have a solid chance at repeating.

Following a disappointing 2019 season with high expectations, the Phillies look to rebound and make it to the top of the NL East. (AP)

2020 World Series Odds

Atlanta Braves 12/1
Washington Nationals 18/1
New York Mets 20/1
Philadelphia Phillies 20/1
Miami Marlins 750/1

Washington is out to become the first franchise to win consecutive World Series crowns since the New York Yankees won three straight titles between 1998 and 2000. The Nationals have a puncher’s chance to repeat the feat, thanks to the best one-two combination of starters in MLB between Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

2020 NL East Win Totals Odds

Atlanta 33.5
Washington 33.5
New York 32.5
Philadelphia 31.5
Miami 24.5

2020 NL East Playoff Props

Atlanta Braves Yes -110 No -110
Washington Nationals Yes +100 No -121
New York Mets Yes +135 No -165
Philadelphia Phillies Yes +215 No -275
Miami Marlins Yes +1800 No -5000

2020 NL East MVP Contenders

Ronald Acuna, Jr. (Atlanta) 9/1
Juan Soto (Washington) 10/1
Bryce Harper (Philadelphia) 18/1
Freddie Freeman (Atlanta) 25/1
Pete Alonso (New York) 30/1
Jacob deGrom (New York) 33/1
Max Scherzer (Washington) 40/1

2018 NL Rookie of the Year Acuna, Jr is a key component of the Braves lineup. He scored 127 runs last year with 37 stolen bases, 41 home runs, and 101 runs batted in. Soto came up big for the Nationals throughout the regular season and postseason even though he was just 20 years old. His .949 OPS was the second-best on the team, and he showed excellent plate discipline for a young player with 108 walks.

2020 NL East Cy Young Contenders

Jacob deGrom (New York) 7/2
Max Scherzer (Washington) 4/1
Stephen Strasburg (Washington) 12/1
Patrick Corbin (Washington) 22/1
Aaron Nola (Philadelphia) 22/1
Max Fried (Atlanta) 28/1
Mike Soroka (Atlanta) 30/1
Zach Wheeler (Philadelphia) 50/1

deGrom, the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, has won the last two NL Cy Young Awards, and he has averaged 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings over the last two seasons while throwing more than 200 innings. Strasburg has been solid for over a decade, and he is coming off one of his strongest seasons. He posted a career-best 18-6 record in 33 starts, pitching 209 innings and striking out 251 batters. Strasburg had a 1.038 WHIP and placed fifth in the NL Cy Young voting.

2020 NL East Rookie of the Year Contenders

Carter Kieboom (Washington) 9/1
Cristian Pache (Atlanta) 20/1
Kyle Wright (Atlanta) 25/1
Sixto Sanchez (Miami) 25/1

2020 National League East Predictions

Best Bet & Value on NL East Division Winner

Best Value: Philadelphia Phillies (13/4)
Best Bet/Value on National League Pennant Winner
Best Value: Washington Nationals (15/2)
Best Bet/Value for World Series Winner
Best Value: Philadelphia Phillies (20/1)
Best Bets/Value for NL East Win Totals
Best Over: Philadelphia
Best Under: New York

Best Bets/Value for Yes/No in the 2020 MLB Playoffs

Best Value: Atlanta - Yes (-110)
Best Bets/Value for Individual Awards
Best Bet MVP: Bryce Harper, Phillies (18/1)
Best Bet Cy Young: Max Scherzer, Nationals (4/1)
Best Bet Rookie of Year: Cristian Pache, Braves (25/1)

Harper didn’t have a stellar first season in the City of Brotherly Love. After signing a massive 13-year, $330 million contract, he failed to finish with an OPS over .900, and he struck out a career-high 178 times. Harper is entering the prime of his career, and Philadelphia needs the six-time All-Star to hit like he did in Washington to break its playoff drought.

Scherzer has been the best pitcher of the last decade and has finished in the top five of the Cy Young Award voting in each of the last seven seasons, winning the award three times. He has shown no signs of slowing down after posting a 12.7 K/9 in 2019, and his 2.45 FIP and 7.36 K/BB rate were the best in the big leagues.

**Udog** · 07-14-2020, 10:00 AM

AL Central Betting Odds & Forecast

2020 AL Central Division Odds

Minnesota Twins 3/4
Cleveland Indians 13/5
Chicago White Sox 14/5
Kansas City Royals 90/1
Detroit Tigers 150/1

The Minnesota Twins are the odds-on favorite to win the division after its prospects came into their own in 2019. The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians are seen as the second- and third-best teams in the AL Central, while the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers are likely to finish 20 games behind the rest of the pack since both clubs are in the middle of massive rebuilding efforts.

2020 American League Pennant Odds

Minnesota Twins 8/1
Cleveland Indians 11/1
Chicago White Sox 15/1
Kansas City Royals 250/1
Detroit Tigers 350/1

The 2019 season was a banner year for the Twins. Minnesota set the MLB record for home runs in a season with 307 dingers, and a whopping 11 players hit at least 10 home runs. Eight of the nine everyday starters finished the year with at least 20 home runs, and nearly all last year’s starters are back.

Josh Donaldson looks to bolster an already strong Twins' lineup as Minnesota seeks another AL Central division championship. (AP)

2020 World Series Odds

Minnesota Twins 16/1
Cleveland Indians 22/1
Chicago White Sox 25/1
Kansas City Royals 500/1
Detroit Tigers 750/1

Minnesota has the shortest World Series odds in the AL Central. The Twins have the fifth lowest odds to win the World Series of any team at FanDuel, and they have the benefit of playing in the weakest division in the American League. They will have a tough time getting past the Twins and the Yankees in the AL though, and they have lost 16 straight playoff games to the Bronx Bombers.

2020 AL Central Win Totals Odds

Minnesota 34.5
Cleveland 32.5
Chicago 31.5
Kansas City 23.5
Detroit 21.5

2020 AL Central Playoff Props

Chicago White Sox Yes +180 No -225
Cleveland Indians Yes -118 No -104
Detroit Tigers Yes +3300 No -10000
Kansas City Royals Yes +1600 No -5000
Minnesota Twins Yes -195 No +157

2020 AL Central MVP Contenders

Francisco Lindor (Cleveland) 10/1
Josh Donaldson (Minnesota) 20/1
Jose Ramirez (Cleveland) 25/1
Yoan Moncada (Chicago) 40/1
Yasmani Grandal (Chicago) 50/1

Lindor was second on the team with a .854 OPS, and the shortstop has hit 30 home runs or more for the last three seasons. Moncada led the White Sox with a .915 OPS, and he had a banner year after leading the majors in strikeouts in 2018. His strikeout rate was still pretty high (154 K’s), but he made much better contact and saw his OPS rise by over 200 points. He will need to bring that rate down further if he is to take the next step in his career.

2020 AL Central Cy Young Contenders

Mike Clevinger (Cleveland) 10/1
Shane Bieber (Cleveland) 12/1
Lucas Giolito (Chicago) 18/1
Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland) 22/1
Jose Berrios (Minnesota) 25/1
Matthew Boyd (Detroit) 50/1

Bieber is one of the best young pitchers in the game. He made a run at the Cy Young last season with a 15-8 record and a 3.28 ERA, and he showed that he has the durability to last a full season by throwing 214.1 innings. Clevinger posted a 12.1 K/9 rate, and his WHIP was right in line with Bieber’s last season. That gives the Indians two excellent pitchers to lean on, but durability is a concern for Clevinger after he only threw 126 innings in 2019.

2020 AL Central Rookie of the Year Contenders

Luis Robert (Chicago) 4/1
Michael Kopech (Chicago) 6/1
Casey Mize (Detroit) 12/1

2020 American League Central Predictions

Best Bet & Value on AL Central Division Winner

Best Value: Cleveland Indians

Cleveland is in the top half of teams in terms of odds to win the World Series, but not by much. The Indians are buoyed by playing in a relatively weak division, and that will help them win more games than they would in either the AL East or AL West.

Best Bet/Value on American League Pennant Winner

Best Value: Cleveland Indians (11/1)
Best Bet/Value for World Series Winner
Best Value: Cleveland Indians (22/1)
Best Bets/Value for AL Central Win Totals
Best Over: Kansas City Royals
Best Under: Detroit Tigers

Detroit had one of the worst offenses we have seen in the 21st Century last season, posting a .682 OPS as a team, and no player hit more than 15 home runs or knocked in 60 runs. They are a strong contender to finish with the worst record in baseball again in 2020, but it appears they have hit rock bottom.

Best Bets/Value for Yes/No in the 2020 MLB Playoffs

Best Value: Cleveland - Yes (-118)
Best Bets/Value for Individual Awards
Best Bet MVP: Josh Donaldson, Twins (20/1)
Best Bet Cy Young: Lucas Giolito, White Sox (18/1)
Best Bet Rookie of Year: Casey Mize, Tigers (12/1)

Donaldson has hit at least 30 home runs in four of the last five seasons, and the only year he didn’t reach that mark was a season where he missed over 100 games. Donaldson gives the Twins another powerful bat in the middle of the lineup, but he needs to improve his strikeout rate after seeing that number rise for each of the last five seasons.

Giolito was the top arm for the White Sox last season. The young pitcher is coming into his own with a 14-9 record and a 3.41 ERA, and his 11.6 K/9 was the top mark on the team. He did a solid job of limiting walks, and he was fantastic against left-handed batters, allowing them to hit just .172 in 176.2 innings of work.

**Udog** · 07-14-2020, 11:02 AM

NL Central Betting Odds & Forecast

2020 NL Central Division Odds

Chicago Cubs 9/4
St. Louis Cardinals 12/5
Cincinnati Reds 13/5
Milwaukee Brewers 3/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 70/1

The St. Louis Cardinals figure to be the Chicago Cubs toughest competition in the NL Central division after the Cardinals won the division and advanced to the NLCS in 2019. The Cincinnati Reds will be competitive with a rotation that looks intimidating on paper, while the Milwaukee Brewers can’t be counted out with Christian Yelich returning to action.

2020 National League Pennant Odds

St. Louis Cardinals 9/1
Chicago Cubs 11/1
Cincinnati Reds 15/1
Milwaukee Brewers 20/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 100/1

The luster has worn off Chicago, but it feels like the Cubs have some value due to their bats. Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kris Bryant are the core of a lineup that could be the best in the division, and this team should claim the NL Central if the pitching is above average.

The Chicago Cubs missed the playoffs in 2019 as third baseman Kris Bryant looks to lead the North Siders back to the postseason. (AP)

2020 World Series Odds

St. Louis Cardinals 20/1
Chicago Cubs 22/1
Cincinnati Reds 25/1
Milwaukee Brewers 35/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 100/1

The Cardinals brought back virtually their entire roster from last season, so they could be even better than they were in 2019 as younger players like Paul DeJong and Harrison Bader continue to develop.

2020 NL Central Win Totals Odds

Win Totals Odds

St. Louis 32.5
Chicago 32.5
Cincinnati 31.5
Milwaukee 30.5
Pittsburgh 25.5

2020 NL Central Playoff Props

Chicago Cubs Yes +115 No -139
St. Louis Cardinals Yes +125 No -152
Cincinnati Reds Yes +160 No -200
Milwaukee Brewers Yes +200 No -250
Pittsburgh Pirates Yes +1500 No -5000

2020 NL Central MVP Contenders

Christian Yelich (Milwaukee) 7/1
Javier Baez (Chicago) 18/1
Kris Bryant (Chicago) 25/1
Anthony Rizzo (Chicago) 33/1
Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis) 40/1
Eugenio Suarez (Cincinnati) 50/1

2020 NL Central Cy Young Contenders

Jack Flaherty (St. Louis) 8/1
Luis Castillo (Cincinnati) 18/1
Yu Darvish (Chicago) 20/1
Trevor Bauer (Cincinnati) 22/1
Sonny Gray (Cincinnati) 40/1
Brandon Woodruff (Milwaukee) 50/1

2020 NL Central Rookie of the Year Contenders

Mitch Keller (Pittsburgh) 7/1
Dylan Carlson (St. Louis) 10/1
Nico Hoerner (Chicago) 18/1
Ke'Bryan Hayes (Pittsburgh) 25/1

2020 National League Central Predictions

Best Bet & Value on NL Central Division Winner

Best Value: Chicago Cubs (9/4)
Best Bet/Value on National League Pennant Winner
Best Value: Milwaukee Brewers (20/1)
Best Bet/Value for World Series Winner
Best Value: Chicago Cubs (22/1)
Best Bets/Value for NL Central Win Totals
Best Over: Milwaukee
Best Under: Cincinnati

Milwaukee has some upside heading into this season. The Brewers have arguably the best hitter and the best relief pitcher in the game, and Woodruff could become a bonafide ace. The variables are why this team is considered the fourth-best in the NL Central, but the potential makes the Brewers worth a small play.

Best Bets/Value for Yes/No in the 2020 MLB Playoffs

Best Value: Milwaukee - Yes (+200)
Best Bets/Value for Individual Awards
Best Bet MVP: Kris Bryant, Cubs (25/1)
Best Bet Cy Young: Trevor Bauer, Reds (22/1)
Best Bet Rookie of Year: Dylan Carlson, Cardinals (10/1)

Bryant cranked at least 30 home runs for the second time in his career in 2019, posting a .903 OPS, but he has not been great with ducks on the pond.

The Reds are hopeful that Bauer can put together a solid season with free agency looming in the offseason and throw like he did during his All-Star season in 2018. Bauer has been erratic over his career though, alternating great seasons with below average campaigns.

**Udog** · 07-14-2020, 11:17 AM

AL West Betting Odds & Forecast

2020 AL West Division Odds

Houston Astros 3/5
Oakland Athletics 11/4
Los Angeles Angels 11/2
Texas Rangers 16/1
Seattle Mariners 100/1

The Houston Astros have won at least 100 games in three straight seasons, easily winning the AL West in each of those three campaigns. No division rival finished within single-digit games of Houston in 2017 and 2019, but the fallout of their sign-stealing scandal has led to a drop in the Astros’ AL West odds. Oakland isn’t far behind with odds of +325 to win the AL West. The L.A. Angels could emerge as a contender too, while the Texas Rangers are seen as a year away and the Seattle Mariners are in a total rebuild.

2020 American League Pennant Odds

Houston Astros 7/2
Oakland Athletics 13/1
Los Angeles Angels 15/1
Texas Rangers 50/1
Seattle Mariners 250/1

Oakland has won 97 games in each of the last two seasons, and the Athletics have been the hottest team in baseball the second half of the year in each of those campaigns. Their reputation of falling short in the playoffs has led to relatively high odds for this franchise to win the World Series though.

The Oakland Athletics clinched a Wild Card berth last season as it looks to dethrone the defending division champion Houston Astros. (AP)

2020 World Series Odds

Houston Astros 13/2
Oakland Athletics 25/1
Los Angeles Angels 35/1
Texas Rangers 80/1
Seattle Mariners 500/1

The Astros are one of the best teams in the American League, but there is a lot to unpack with this franchise. It’s fair to expect certain hitters to regress, and an offseason of criticism could wear on these players. They are dangerous if they put it all behind them, but that’s a big conditional.

2020 AL West Win Totals Odds

Houston 35.5
Oakland 33.5
Los Angeles 31.5
Texas 28.5
Seattle 24.5

2020 AL West Playoff Props

Houston Astros Yes -360 No +275
Los Angeles Angels N/A
Oakland Athletics Yes -118 No -104
Seattle Mariners Yes +1200 No -2500
Texas Rangers Yes +650 No -1115

2020 AL West MVP Contenders

Mike Trout (Los Angeles) 2/1
Anthony Rendon (Los Angeles) 14/1
Alex Bregman (Houston) 20/1
Matt Chapman (Oakland) 20/1
George Springer (Houston) 25/1
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles) 30/1
Jose Altuve (Houston) 40/1
Carlos Correa (Houston) 40/1
Marcus Semien (Oakland) 40/1
Joey Gallo (Texas) 50/1

Trout was the best player in baseball during the 2010s. He ended the decade with a 1.000 OPS over nine seasons, and he was named the AL MVP three times while finishing runner-up four times. Trout has led MLB in OPS+ for each of the last four seasons, and he has led the majors in runs, stolen bases, walks, OBP, OPS, and total bases at various points over his career.

2020 AL West Cy Young Contenders

Justin Verlander (Houston) 7/1
Corey Kluber (Texas) 22/1
Zack Greinke (Houston) 25/1
Lance Lynn (Texas) 25/1
Frankie Montas (Oakland) 40/1
Lance McCullers, Jr. (Houston) 40/1
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles) 50/1

Verlander is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, and he is putting the final touches on a Hall of Fame career. He posted his best numbers in an Astros uniform last season, going 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA, and he did it while also leading the AL in innings pitched (223.0 IP) and WHIP (0.803 WHIP). Verlander led the league in K/BB ratio for the second straight season (7.14 K/BB), and he posted a career-high 300 strikeouts.

2020 AL West Rookie of the Year Contenders

Jesus Lazardo (Oakland) 5/1
Jo Adell (Los Angeles) 11/1
Evan White (Seattle) 16/1
A.J. Puk (Oakland) 20/1
Forrest Whitley (Houston) 20/1

2020 American League West Predictions

Best Bet & Value on AL West Division Winner

Best Value: Los Angeles Angels (11/2)
Best Bet/Value on American League Pennant Winner
Best Value: Houston Astros (7/2)
Best Bet/Value for World Series Winner
Best Value: Houston Astros (13/2)
Best Bets/Value for AL West Win Totals
Best Over: Texas
Best Under: Oakland

Gallo and Kluber have the potential to lead Texas to the playoffs. If both players play up to their potential and the bullpen isn’t a disaster, the Rangers have a shot at sneaking into the postseason.

Best Bets/Value for Yes/No in the 2020 MLB Playoffs

Best Value: Oakland - No (-104)
Best Bets/Value for Individual Awards
Best Bet MVP: Alex Bregman, Astros (20/1)
Best Bet Cy Young: Corey Kluber, Rangers (22/1)
Best Bet Rookie of Year: Jo Adell, Angels (11/1)

Bregman finished runner-up to Trout in the AL MVP race, and he was the most feared hitter on the Astros. He hit 41 home runs and posted a 1.015 OPS in 156 games, and he walked (119) more times than he struck out (83). Bregman destroyed left-handed pitching, hitting .350 against southpaws, and he is entering the prime of his career at the age of 26.

Kluber only pitched 35.2 innings after his right arm was broken because of a line drive back to the mound in early May, and that sidelined him for nearly the rest of the regular season. He was 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.654 WHIP before the injury, but he should post much better numbers in 2020. Kluber didn’t register a WHIP above 1.10 from 2014 to 2018, and he should be fine provided he keeps his walk rate low.

**Udog** · 07-14-2020, 11:21 AM

NL West Betting Odds & Forecast

2020 NL West Division Odds

Los Angeles Dodgers 2/15
San Diego Padres 15/2
Arizona Diamondbacks 9/1
Colorado Rockies 30/1
San Francisco Giants 80/1

The Los Angeles Dodgers won its division by a whopping 21 games in 2019. The Dodgers were far more talented than any of the other four teams in the NL West, and the only teams that could challenge them this season are Arizona and San Diego. The Diamondbacks won 85 games last season, and they have a burgeoning star in Ketel Marte. Meanwhile, the Padres have had the best farm system in baseball for the last couple seasons, and those young players make San Diego a dark horse.

Colorado and San Francisco have little to no chance of being competitive in the NL West. The Rockies have a lot of concerns with their rotation once more, while the Giants are in the middle of a long rebuild as they are still paying $15 million a year to six players that are 32 or older.

2020 National League Pennant Odds

Los Angeles Dodgers 17/10
San Diego Padres 22/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 30/1
Colorado Rockies 70/1
San Francisco Giants 125/1

San Diego is dripping with potential in 2020. If the free agents play up to their contracts, and most of the prospects hit, the Padres could win one of the two NL Wild Card spots. Conversely, this team might still be a year away if the free agents continue to underperform and the prospects don’t pan out. There might not be a team with a wider range of possibilities than the Padres in 2020.

The upstart Padres led by Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis, Jr. look to make some noise for a playoff berth this season. (AP)

2020 World Series Odds

Los Angeles Dodgers 15/4
San Diego Padres 40/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 40/1
Colorado Rockies 150/1
San Francisco Giants 150/1

The Dodgers are projected to win more games than any other team in MLB by the oddsmakers. The Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites to win the National League this season with odds of +170 to win the NL, and they have won two of the last three NLCS titles.

2020 NL West Win Totals Odds

Los Angeles 37.5
Arizona 31.5
San Diego 30.5
Colorado 26.5
San Francisco 25.5

2020 NL West Playoff Props

Los Angeles Dodgers Yes -2000 No +1100
Arizona Diamondbacks Yes +215 No -275
San Diego Padres Yes +350 No -480
Colorado Rockies Yes +800 No -1430
San Francisco Giants Yes +1000 No -2000

2020 NL West MVP Contenders

Mookie Betts (Los Angeles) 11/2
Cody Bellinger (Los Angeles) 7/1
Nolan Arenado (Colorado) 18/1
Fernando Tatis, Jr. (San Diego) 20/1
Manny Machado (San Diego) 25/1
Katel Marte (Arizona) 25/1
Corey Seager (Los Angeles) 40/1
Trevor Story (Colorado) 40/1
Max Muncy (Los Angeles) 50/1

2020 NL West Cy Young Contenders

Walker Buehler (Los Angeles) 8/1
Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles) 15/1
Dinelson Lamet (San Diego) 28/1
Chris Paddack (San Diego) 33/1
David Price (Los Angeles) 40/1
Robbie Ray (Arizona) 50/1

2020 NL West Rookie of the Year Contenders

Gavin Lux (Los Angeles) 5/2
Daulton Varsho (Arizona) 4/1
Dustin May (Los Angeles) 11/1
MacKenzie Gore (San Diego) 14/1
Brendan Rodgers (Colorado) 16/1
Joey Bart (San Francisco) 20/1
Jon Duplantier (Arizona) 25/1)

2020 National League West Predictions

Best Bet & Value on NL West Division Winner

Best Value: Los Angeles Dodgers (2/15)
Best Bet/Value on National League Pennant Winner
Best Value: Los Angeles Dodgers (17/10)
Best Bet/Value for World Series Winner
Best Value: Los Angeles Dodgers (15/4)
Best Bets/Value for NL West Win Totals
Best Over: San Diego
Best Under: San Francisco

In 2019, San Francisco went 77-85 to finish in third place in the NL West. The Giants finished six games ahead of the Colorado Rockies and seven games ahead of the San Diego Padres, but their Pythagorean Win-Loss record indicates that they were rather fortunate to win 77 games. Because the Giants were outscored by 95 runs, they were expected to finish with a record of 71-91.

Best Bets/Value for Yes/No in the 2020 MLB Playoffs

Best Value: San Diego - Yes (+350)
Best Bets/Value for Individual Awards
Best Bet MVP: Nolan Arenado, Rockies (18/1)
Best Bet Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (15/1)
Best Bet Rookie of Year: Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks (4/1)

Although the top two candidates for NL MVP come from Los Angeles, Arenado is coming off five consecutive seasons of driving in 110 runs or more. The Rockies' third baseman knocked out 41 home runs last season to go along with a career-high batting average of .315, making him a prime candidate for MVP.

Kershaw was 16-5 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 2019, but durability is a concern at this stage in his career. He has missed at least a few weeks due to injury in each of the last four seasons.

**Udog** · 07-15-2020, 02:18 PM

MLB
Dunkel

Thursday, July 23

NY Yankees @ Washington

Game 901-902
July 23, 2020 @ 7:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(Cole) 16.246
Washington
(Scherzer) 19.286
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 3
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Yankees
-135
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(+115); Under

San Francisco @ LA Dodgers

Game 903-904
July 23, 2020 @ 10:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Francisco
(Cueto) 13.889
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 17.828
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 4
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-290
8
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
(-290); Over

MLB
Long Sheet

Thursday, July 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES (0 - 0) at WASHINGTON (0 - 0) - 7:08 PM
GERRIT COLE (R) vs. MAX SCHERZER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLE is 30-9 (+17.0 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -175 since 1997. (Team's Record)
SCHERZER is 15-22 (-24.5 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

GERRIT COLE vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
COLE is 4-3 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 3.18 and a WHIP of 1.078.
His team's record is 5-3 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-6. (-4.7 units)

MAX SCHERZER vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
SCHERZER is 6-3 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 3.33 and a WHIP of 1.352.
His team's record is 6-3 (+4.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-6. (-3.6 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAN FRANCISCO (0 - 0) at LA DODGERS (0 - 0) - 10:08 PM
JOHNNY CUETO (R) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 42-39 (+19.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 16-10 (+13.5 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 19-6 (+18.1 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 23-16 (+17.2 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 52-48 (+14.6 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 986-837 (-94.0 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

JOHNNY CUETO vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
CUETO is 7-9 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.54 and a WHIP of 1.137.
His team's record is 9-11 (-0.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 10-10. (+0.0 units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
KERSHAW is 23-12 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 1.72 and a WHIP of 0.864.
His team's record is 29-18 (-2.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 30-14. (+14.4 units)

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**BettorsChat** · 07-21-2020, 10:08 PM

A DAY INSIDE MLB’S COVID PROTOCOLS

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/st...ovid-protocols

**BettorsChat** · 07-21-2020, 10:10 PM

WHO'S OPTED OUT, BY DATE
Players with preexisting conditions deemed to be high-risk can opt out of the season and still get paid and maintain their service time. Players without that designation will forgo pay and service if they opt out.

6/297/20 Mike Leake ARI
Ryan Zimmerman WSH
Joe Ross WSH
Ian Desmond COL
Welington Castillo WSH
David Price LAD
Felix Hernandez ATL
Nick Markakis ATL
Hector Noesi PIT
Buster Posey SF
Michael Kopech CWS
Jordan Hicks STL
Collin McHugh BOS

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