The O’s had the longest World Series odds at the start of June. Not anymore.
The more teams keep losing to the Baltimore Orioles, the more likely it is sportsbooks end up as massive losers too.
Once thought to be among the worst teams in baseball, Baltimore has surged up the standings in recent weeks. And they caught the attention of bettors on the way—becoming the most profitable team to wager on.
At the start of June, the Orioles had 500-1 odds to win the World Series at Tipico Sportsbook, tied for the longest in all of baseball. On Wednesday, those odds were down to 200-1 — still long, but now tied with two teams ahead of 10 others. That movement coincides with a push from nine games under .500 on July 2 to a 46-46 record entering the All-Star break, including a 10-game winning streak. It’s made them a seven-figure liability for sportsbooks, according to a report from ESPN’s David Purdham.
After already taking bets on the Orioles at odds as long as 2,000-1, Caesars Sportsbook took a $1,000 bet in July on the Orioles at 500-1 to win the World Series and a separate $1,000 bet on them to win the AL at 250-1. The public is backing the Orioles on a game-by-game basis too after previously betting their opponents about 90% of the time in April and May, the report cited from DraftKings.
“In April and May, along with the A’s and Reds, [the Orioles] were one of the teams that we were just rooting for on a daily basis,” Caesars lead baseball trader Eric Biggio said in the report. “We knew we were going to need that team to win in order to have a decent day. Now, it’s flipped.”
We have a new title favorite in Major League Baseball.
The Dodgers have officially been passed as the betting favorites to win the World Series as we enter July, with the red-hot Yankees now leading the pack at +380 odds. Even the Houston Astros moved up from +900 to +550 over the last month, nearing the Dodgers’ second-shortest odds at +425.
The biggest MLB movement since the beginning of June, however, is in the AL MVP race where Aaron Judge went from plus money and second-shortest odds to the unquestioned favorite to win the award at -110. He passed last year’s winner, Shohei Ohtani, who remains top-two, albeit a distant second at +300.
In the W, the Las Vegas Aces are the favorites to claim that league’s title at +125, with star forward A’ja Wilson far and away the favorite to win MVP. And LAFC holds the edge in Major League Soccer.
Below is a full picture of title and award odds from each league, via Tipico Sportsbook.
Don’t look now, but here come the New York Yankees. As we enter the third month of the baseball season, the Bronx Bombers have jumped ahead of their AL East rivals in Toronto for the second-shortest World Series odds. The only team ahead of New York are the Los Angeles Dodgers, who continue to roll.
The Yankees’ rise is accompanied by improved MVP odds for slugger Aaron Judge. They’ve gone from +2000 entering May to +350 entering June, the second-shortest of any AL player. Shohei Ohtani remains the favorite.
Below is a full picture of those award and World Series odds, via Tipico Sportsbook.
Whether you’re in to betting or not, futures odds are a good way to gauge how a team or player is expected to perform based on recent trends and available information. Now that the first month of the Major League Baseball season is nearing an end, below is a look at the teams and players who’ve stayed firm as championship or award favorites, or emerged from longer odds at the start of the season.
Looking at all MLB futures bets being placed at BetMGM ahead of the 2020 season. Yankees, Dodgers dominate World Series market.
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Ahead of MLB Opening Day 2020, SportsbookWire.com obtained some betting data from BetMGM pertaining to the most popular MLB futures markets. Below, we round up the MLB futures bets placed ahead of the first pitch of the 60-game season and look at some of the most interesting betting trends.
MLB futures: Dodgers being heavily bet for World Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees enter the season as 2020 World Series co-favorites at +375, as they’ve remained for much of the offseason despite neither team making it to last year’s World Series. A $10 bet at those odds would return a profit of $37.50.
Despite the relatively small return on investment and the unprecedented shortened season, the two have controlled the World Series betting market. Per BetMGM, 19.98% of the betting handle (dollars bet) has been placed on the Dodgers.
The Yankees have drawn 13.08% of the handle but a league-high 12.41% of the total bets placed. The Dodgers come in third with 8.73% of the total bets. The New York Mets (+2000) have been on 9.07% of World Series futures tickets, but they’ve received a more modest 7.98% of the money share.
Here are some of the other teams of note with their 2020 World Series odds, bet count and their share of the betting handle.
TEAM
WORLD SERIES ODDS
BET COUNT
BETTING HANDLE
Houston Astros
+800
1.93%
1.75%
Washington Nationals
+2000
1.86%
1.82%
Minnesota Twins
+1600
6.17%
8.25%
Tampa Bay Rays
+2000
2.93%
5.79%
Chicago White Sox
+2500
4.88%
4.77%
Chicago Cubs
+2500
5.51%
4.13%
Los Angeles Angels
+4000
3.58%
3.95%
Boston Red Sox
+3500
2.47%
1.74%
Seattle Mariners
+50000
2.84%
1.39%
The Seattle Mariners, who finished 68-94 a year ago, seem to be the team of choice for bettors seeking a big payday in the wildly unpredictable 2020 season. A $10 bet at +50000 would return a profit of $5,000.
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MLB futures: Expectations high for White Sox
The Chicago White Sox (+2500) have been widely billed as a 2020 darkhorse in the AL Central and their World Series odds have been on a steady decline through the offseason as a result. While drawing the sixth-highest share of the betting handle there, bettors have also been all over their projected win total of 31.5 games.
As reported by BetMGM to SportsbookWire.com, 100% of wagers placed on the White Sox’s 2020 win total have been on the OVER 31.5 (-110).
Expectations are also high for the rival Kansas City Royals. Their projected win total has jumped from an opening line of 23.5 to 24.5 with 100% of wagers on the OVER (-110).
In the NL Central, 95% of wagers on the Cincinnati Reds’ projected win total of 32.5 have been on the OVER (+100).
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Making the best MLB prop bet picks to lead baseball in hits in the 60-game 2020 MLB season.
The small sample size of the 60-game 2020 MLB season means one hot streak by any player could have them in the running in the end-of-year awards and statistical-leader races. We continue looking at the top contenders at SportsbookWire.com and below, we’ll make our picks and best bets to lead MLB in hits in 2020, based on the MLB player futures odds at BetMGM.
Albies comes off a 2019 season in which he slashed .295/.352/.500 with 24 home runs and 15 stolen bases. He recorded an NL-best 189 hits across 160 games in just his second full season.
He’s expected to hit second in the powerful Braves lineup with OF Ronald Acuna Jr. controlling the leadoff spot. Albies walked more often and struck out less from 2018 to 2019 and should continue to improve his pitch selectivity.
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2020 MLB hits leader best bets: Contender
Toronto Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette (+4000)
Bichette will lead off for what should be a strong Blue Jays batting order. He slashed .311/.358/.571 with 11 homers over 212 plate appearances and 46 games played after being called up to the bigs last season. His 23.6% strikeout rate and 6.6% walk rate will need to improve greatly this season, but he makes hard contact and doesn’t give up easy outs.
He should get plenty of at-bats on a team likely to put up a lot of runs and surprise many this season.
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2020 MLB hits leader best bets: Long shot
Houston Astros OF George Springer (+10000)
If you’ve been following along with our MLB prop bet and awards pieces ahead of the 2020 MLB season, you’ll know the play is to target those with the longest odds on the board. Few players can be fully ruled out of contention over just a 60-game season, especially to lead the league in hits.
Regardless of the sign-stealing scandal, the Astros lineup is one of the best and most talented in all of baseball. Houston ranks third with 4,066 runs scored since the start of the 2015 season when Springer became an every-game player. He’ll hit atop that lineup once again after setting career highs with a .292/.383/.591 slash line and 12.1% walk rate and 39 home runs in 2019.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Springer to lead MLB in hits would return a profit of $1,000.
Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Looking at the odds for which player will lead MLB in home runs at the end of the 60-game 2020 season.
Statistics in 2020 will look vastly different than they do in a typical year, all because the 2020 MLB season has been shortened to only 60 games. Below, we look at the BetMGM odds and make our MLB futures picks and best bets to lead MLB in home runs in 2020.
We won’t have anyone hitting 50 home runs or driving in 100 runs this season, but we could have someone hit .400, or close to it. In the home run department, it’ll be a mad dash to the power crown.
Gallo is tied with Chicago White Sox rookie OF Luis Robert to lead the majors in home runs, but Robert comes with much more uncertainty than the Rangers slugger. Gallo was an All-Star in 2019 after a strong first half of the season. He finished with 22 home runs and a career-high .253 batting average in 70 games.
If he can hit 20-something home runs again in a 60-game season, he’ll be right there among the leaders. He’ll benefit from the universal designated hitter rule, too, allowing him to play more often against National League teams.
New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso (+1000)
Alonso is my pick to lead the majors in home runs, which would mark the second season in a row he’d do so. He plays in a hitter-friendly park and showed incredible durability last season by playing 161 games. He’s a budding star in baseball and it’s hard to imagine him regressing much at all in Year 2. He does need to cut down on the strikeouts, though, after going down 183 times as a rookie.
2020 MLB home runs leader best bets: Contenders
New York Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton (+1400)
How quickly we forget Stanton’s raw power after two somewhat disappointing seasons with the Yankees. He’s led the league in home runs twice (2014 and 2017) with the Miami Marlins, slugging 59 long balls three years ago. If healthy, he should be pumping homers over the short porches at Yankee Stadium often and given his streakiness, he could go on a tear and win the home run crown with one hot stretch this season.
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Colorado Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado (+2500)
The Rockies wound up keeping Arenado in Colorado after trade rumors swirled this offseason, which benefits the third baseman. He’s finished in the top eight of MVP voting in each of the last five years and led the league in homers three times, playing at least 155 games in each of those seasons. His combination of durability, power and playing at Coors Field makes him a no-brainer at +2500.
Oakland Athletics 1B Matt Olson (+2500)
Olson hit 24 home runs in 59 games as a rookie in 2017 and has improved his totals in that category in each of the two seasons since. He clubbed 36 home runs in only 127 games last season, while still hitting .267. If he can continue to improve as a hitter like he has in the last couple of years, he’ll be right there at the top of the league in home runs.
2020 MLB home runs leader best bets: Long shots
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Chicago White Sox OF Eloy Jimenez (+6600)
My lone long-shot pick is Jimenez, an exciting young player who lived up to the hype as a rookie in 2019. He hit 31 home runs and batted .267 in 122 games last season, finishing fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. At +6600, he comes with incredible upside, still with a good chance to finish at the top of the majors in home runs. He’ll need to hit long balls at a much higher rate than he did last season, but he has the potential to do it.
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Analyzing the top 10 MLB season prop bets that should be exploited for easy wins.
The 60-game MLB season begins Thursday, July 23. The truncated season means player stats will look different. Nonetheless, there is action to be had with prop bets for the coming season. Below, we look at BetMGM futures odds, making our picks and best bets for the top 10 MLB season props to bank on.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Paul Goldschmidt has become a slow starter, struggling the last two seasons in March, April and May. But this 2020 MLB season is July, August and September. He batted .274 from March to May in 2019 and .209 in 2018 during the same months. Take the UNDER .275 (-115) for his batting average this season.
2. Gerrit Cole’s strikeouts: 104.5
(Over -115/Under -115)
Gerrit Cole should get 12 starts for his new team, the New York Yankees, this season. He had 112 strikeouts in his first 12 starts last season and 116 in his first 12 starts of 2018. Take the OVER 104.5 (-115).
Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!
3. Gerrit Cole’s wins: 6.5
(Over -130/Under +100)
Cole has had more than six wins in his first 12 starts of a season only once in the last four years – and that was 2015. He’ll have the quality Yankees lineup to give him support, but it’s smart to go with history. Go UNDER 6.5 (+100).
4. Arizona Diamondbacks’ runs: 299.5
(Over -125/Under -105)
The Diamondbacks averaged 5.01 runs per game last season. They upgraded two bats in the lineup with CF Starling Marte and RF Kole Calhoun. That, combined with a likely scenario in which batters are better than pitchers early in the season, means the Diamondbacks will not struggle to score runs. Go OVER 299.5 (-125).
5. J.D. Martinez’s home runs: 14.5
(Over -110/Under -120)
To hit 15 home runs in 2020, Boston Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez will need to average one every four games he plays – and that’s playing every game. He has averaged fewer than four games per homer only once in the last three seasons. Go UNDER 14.5 (-110).
Jul 12, 2020; Boston; J.D. Martinez during practice at Fenway Park. (Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty – USA TODAY Sports)
6. J.D. Martinez’s hits: 62.5
(Over -115/Under -115)
In his last two seasons, Martinez averaged 1.23 hits per game, while appearing in 91.3% of Boston’s games. In a 60-game season, that means playing in 55 games and getting 67-68 hits. Take OVER 62.5 (-115).
7. Jose Altuve’s batting average: .300
(Over -115/Under -115)
Houston Astros 2B Jose Altuve only batted .298 in 2019, snapping five consecutive seasons of .313 or higher. Take OVER .300 (-115).
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8. Clayton Kershaw’s strikeouts: 70.5
(Over -115/Under -115)
If Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw makes all 12 of his starts this season and averages only six innings per outing, he will pitch 72 innings. He has averaged at least nine strikeouts every nine innings in four of the last five seasons. In his career, the future Hall of Famer averages 1.08 strikeouts per inning. Using his career rate, he would have 71 strikeouts if he made only 11 starts and averaged only six innings per start. Take the OVER 70.5 (-115).
9. Freddie Freeman’s batting average: .295
(Over -115/Under -115)
Atlanta Braves 1B Freddie Freeman has batted at least .295 four seasons in a row. Go OVER .295 (-115).
10. Aaron Judge’s home runs: 15.5
(Over -110/Under -120)
Based on Aaron Judge’s last two seasons, the Yankees slugger averaged a home run every 3.96 games. At that rate, he would have 15 if he played in every single game. Take the UNDER 15.5 (-120).
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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Making the best MLB prop bet picks to lead baseball in runs scored in the 2020 season.
The 2020 MLB season is rapidly approaching after months of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players are gearing up for a shortened 60-game season, which will feature lower statistical totals across the board. Below, we look at the BetMGM futures odds to lead MLB in runs scored in 2020 and make our picks and best bets.
Betts is in a perfect spot to lead the majors in runs. He’s durable and will likely be at the top of one of the league’s most potent lineup. He was tops in MLB last season with the Boston Red Sox, touching home 135 times over 150 games. His combination of getting on base, speed and power makes him an excellent candidate to finish as the league-leader in runs scored.
2020 MLB runs leader best bets: Contenders
Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor (+1100)
Lindor finished 26th in runs scored last season despite playing just 143 games. His speed and power, as well as the frequency with which he hits doubles, will put him in great spots to score runs in this Indians offense. He may not get on base as often as some other guys, but he makes up for it by often getting in scoring position. Lindor and Betts led the majors in runs scored with 129 in 2018.
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Houston Astros OF George Springer (+2000)
In this shortened season, Springer has to find a way to stay healthy because if he does, he’s a contender to lead the league in home runs and runs scored. Hitting at the top of an order that features 2B Jose Altuve and 3B Alex Bregman is a batter’s dream. Springer has the power and on-base percentage to cross home plate often in 2020.
2020 MLB runs leader best bets: Long shots
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Boston Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts (+3300)
Bogaerts scored 110 runs last season to finish 12th in that department, partly thanks to a power surge that included 33 home runs and 52 doubles. Fenway is a hitter’s park, too, so getting to play 30 games there is a benefit for all Red Sox batters. Bogaerts gets on base plenty and was in contention as the league-leader in hits last season with 190 over 150 games. With Betts gone, Bogaerts should hit closer to the top of the lineup.
Oakland Athletics SS Marcus Semien (+3300)
Semien has plenty of pop in his bat after clubbing 33 home runs last season, while also scoring 123 runs to finish fourth in the majors. His seven triples helped put him in great spots to score, as did his 43 doubles. Semien should round the bases often with 3B Matt Chapman, 1B Matt Olson and OF Khris Davis behind him in the lineup.
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Making our picks and best bets to win the NL Rookie of the Year in the shortened 2020 MLB season.
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The 2020 National League Rookie of the Year award, like most NL awards, will be going through the Los Angeles Dodgers and 2B Gavin Lux. Lux is a big favorite entering the year, while centering the infield for the 2020 World Series favorites. Below, we make our best bets and picks to win the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year award.
Players will accrue a pro-rated 2.8 days of service time for every day they spend on the 30-, 28- or 26-man rosters in 2020. Being included in the 30-man taxi squad will not count against MLB service time.
Lux is well worth a hefty bet even as the favorite. He enters the 60-game season as the starter at a premium position for the team expected to win the NL pennant. Lux should have plenty of opportunities to produce runs from the eighth spot in the batting order.
He slashed .240/.305/.400 with two home runs and two stolen bases across 23 games and 82 plate appearances in the majors in 2019. He hit 26 homers across 113 games at Double A and Triple A before being called up. There will be few guarantees with young players in 2020, but Lux is the safest bet.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Lux to be named the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year would return a profit of $25.
Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!
2020 NL Rookie of the Year best bets: Contender
San Francisco Giants C Joey Bart (+2000)
Bart’s window of opportunity swung wide open when C Buster Posey announced he’ll sit out the 2020 season amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Bart is now set to enter the season as the No. 2 option to C Rob Brantly behind the plate.
The 23-year-old Bart hasn’t played above his 22-game sample at Double A last season, where he slashed .316/.368/.544. Brantly has played just one game at any level since 2017 and could quickly be replaced this season.
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2020 NL Rookie of the Year best bets: Long shot
Philadelphia Phillies SP Spencer Howard (+6000)
Howard could have an opportunity to be a big piece of the Phillies’ starting rotation to start the year with SP Aaron Nola in jeopardy for the start of the season after being exposed to COVID-19. Plus, SP Zack Wheeler may miss at least a chunk of the season with his wife expected to give birth later this month. Howard would then enter the mix with Jake Arrieta, Vince Velasquez, Zach Eflin, Nick Pivetta and Francisco Liriano for key starts.
Howard pitched to a 2.35 ERA with 11.15 strikeouts per nine innings against 2.64 walks across 30 2/3 innings at Double A last season. He may be forced into the MLB rotation way earlier than the Phillies originally planned, but has the raw talent to be worth a bet at these long odds given the current circumstances.
Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
