The Milwaukee Brewers won 86 games last season, just missing out on a National League Wild Card to the Philadelphia Phillies by 1 game after the grueling regular-season schedule. The Brewers had made the postseason the previous 4 seasons.
Milwaukee certainly has the pitching to make noise in the NL Central Division, especially if RHP Freddy Peralta can bounce back and give the team a full season after being limited to 17 outings due to shoulder issues.
The Brewers are looking to break back into the playoffs in 2023. Let’s analyze the Milwaukee Brewers’ World Series odds, along with their projected win total, playoff, division and NL odds as we make our expert MLB picks and predictions.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
[betwidget_tipico]
Milwaukee Brewers World Series odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, March 22, at 10:28 p.m. ET.
Odds: +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)
Milwaukee is tied with 5 teams for the 7th-shortest odds to win it all. The Houston Astros (+600) are the favorites, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers (+700), New York Mets (+700) and New York Yankees (+750).
At +3000, Milwaukee has an implied probability of winning the World Series of 3.23% or 30/1 fractional odds.
The Oakland A’s have the longest odds at +40000 with the Washington Nationals next at +40000.
I like the pitching staff of the Brewers, but even for a chance to multiply your initial wager by 30 times, I think it’s tossing money away. The St. Louis Cardinals are going to be the class of the NL Central, and the Brew Crew will likely be behind the likes of the Atlanta Braves, Cards, LA Dodgers, New York Mets, Phillies and the new-look, high-spending San Diego Padres.
It will be another year of the Brewers being just on the outside looking in.
PASS.
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a Draft Prep or full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 4/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!
Milwaukee Brewers playoff odds
Will they make the playoffs: Yes -110 | No -110
It’s a coin-flip bet that the Brew Crew will make the playoffs, and there is no real value to be had either way.
The team will run it back with LHP Wade Miley, who was part of the team’s rotation and playoff run in 2018, while also adding RHP Bryse Wilson from the division rival Pittsburgh Pirates. That helps bolster the rotation after injuries hurt the pitching staff tremendously, and was among the biggest reasons the team just missed a playoff spot.
But looking around the league, all of the other playoff contenders either bolstered their lineup, or already have a much better collection of offensive talent than Milwaukee.
Former Reds OF Jesse Winker was added from the Seattle Mariners, as well as up-and-comer C William Contreras. But they’re not major pieces, and Winker’s health is an unknown, as he had knee and neck surgeries during the offseason.
The top of the lineup could be good with OF Christian Yelich, SS Willy Adames, 1B Rowdy Tellez, Contreras and Winker. But it falls off precipitously after that, and doesn’t hold a candle to teams like Atlanta, L.A., Philadelphia, San Diego or even St. Louis.
Remember, too, that the Brewers traded All-Star RP Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres last season, and RP Justin Wilson (Tommy John surgery) isn’t expected to be ready until at least July. So RP Devin Williams will get 1st crack at the job, but there is uncertainty there, too.
Again, PASS, as I think the Brewers are just on the outside looking in without a major move to improve the lineup.
Milwaukee Brewers win total
Over/Under: 86.5 (O: +100 | U: -125)
The Brewers won 86 games last season, but they added a little bit of depth to the pitching staff, while bringing in a touch more offense.
At plus-money, there is some value in playing the OVER 86.5 (+100) wins. This isn’t a bad team, and it’s hard to believe that injuries will befall the starting rotation as much as in 2022. And even if it does, there is now a lot more organizational and veteran depth.
Contreras and Winker aren’t superstars, but their addition could give the Brewers a couple of more wins. This is the best value among all of the futures bets for Milwaukee. But know this, expect to sweat this bet out until Games No. 160, 161 or 162. It will be that close.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
To win NL Central Division
- St. Louis Cardinals -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Milwaukee Brewers +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
- Chicago Cubs +650 (bet $100 to win $650)
- Cincinnati Reds +6000 (bet $100 to win $6,000)
- Pittsburgh Pirates +7000 (bet $100 to win $7,000)
Milwaukee’s implied probability of winning the NL Central is 39.22%, or 31/20 fractional odds.
Here is another value play. The Brewers were 7 games back of the division-winning Cardinals in 2022, so there isn’t a huge gap to close. And who’s to say perhaps St. Louis doesn’t experience the ugly injuries which crushed the Milwaukee pitching staff last season?
However, the Cardinals offense is still strong from top to bottom, with Japan’s WBC star Lars Nootbaar, C Willson Contreras, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 3B Nolan Arenado, etc. The gap between the 2 teams can be closed significantly by a major injury to one of those key players.
To win National League
Odds: +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500)
You have to make the playoffs to win the National League, and as mentioned above, I’m not feeling the Brewers to get into the postseason.
The outlook could change at the trade deadline this summer, if Milwaukee decides that it is a buyer and not a seller before July 31. However, with the current assortment of pitchers, Winker’s health uncertainty and a mediocre offense overall, there are better values to be had elsewhere.
AVOID.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]