The Chicago Cubs enter the upcoming season as defending NL Central champions. They finished 34-26 last year and made the postseason for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Below, we look at the Chicago Cubs’ MLB futures odds, including their projected 2021 win total and World Series odds at BetMGM.
Unfortunately, Chicago was swept out of an NL Wild Card Series last season by the Miami Marlins, scoring just one run in two games.
The rotation will look very different. RHP Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 2.88 ERA last season) likely will be the Opening Day starter, but gone are RHP Yu Darvish (now with the San Diego Padres), LHP Jon Lester (Washington Nationals) and RHP Tyler Chatwood (Toronto Blue Jays).
RHP Jake Arrieta, who won two World Series games for the Cubs in 2016 following his 2015 NL Cy Young campaign, returns to the North Side after three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Also new are RHP Zach Davies (7-4, 2.73 ERA with the Padres last season), acquired as part of the Darvish trade, and RHP Trevor Williams (2-8, 6.18 ERA with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020).
Offensively, the Cubs added former Los Angeles Dodgers OF Joc Pederson, who hit 36 homers in 2019 but will need to improve on last season’s .190 batting average. The World Series champ replaces Cubs fan favorite LF Kyle Schwarber, who signed with the Nationals.
Chicago Cubs’ 2021 World Series odds
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 11 at 12:57 a.m. ET.
Odds: +4000 (bet $100 to win $4,000)
The Dodgers (+350) are the favorites, followed by the New York Yankees (+550), Chicago White Sox (+900) and Padres (+900). The shortest odds out of the NL Central belong to the St. Louis Cardinals (+2200).
At +4000, the Cubs are in the middle of the field with an implied probability of winning the World Series at 2.44% or 40/1 fractional odds. With a nucleus of 1B Anthony Rizzo, SS Javier Baez and 3B Kris Bryant, a small bet on the CUBS (+4000) is worth the risk.
The Pirates are the biggest long shots at +20000, which is an implied probability of 0.50% or 200/1. The Texas Rangers are next at +15000. That’s an implied probability of 0.66% or 150/1.
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Chicago Cubs’ 2021 win total
Over/Under: 78.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
The Cubs finished the last six seasons above .500. I’ll stick with that trend and back OVER 78.5 (-110).
Odds to win the NL Central Division
- Cardinals: +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Cincinnati Reds +333 (bet $100 to win $333)
- Milwaukee Brewers: +375 (bet $100 to win $375)
- Cubs: +500 (bet $100 to win $500)
- Pirates: +6600 (bet $100 to win $6,600)
The Cubs’ implied probability of winning the division is 16.67% or 5/1 fractional odds. With a 5-to-1 payoff, a small wager on the CUBS (+500) is a decent play – especially in this division.
Odds to win the National League
Odds: +2200 (bet $100 to win $2,200)
Eight teams have shorter odds than the Cubs. The Dodgers (+180) are the favorites, and the Pirates (+10000) are the longest shots.
At +2200, the Cubs’ implied probability of winning the NL pennant is 4.35% or 22/1 fractional odds.
Again, in this division, the CUBS (+2200) are not a bad bet.
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