Opening Day is coming on Thursday, as a slightly delayed MLB season begins on April 7. While a long lockout threatened to detail this year’s campaign, it will be business as usual for baseball this spring and summer, which means six months of non-stop MLB betting opportunities.
Over the past two weeks, OG has covered every angle of the MLB betting landscape. From divisional races to player props and the World Series race, you can bet on just about any aspect of the 2022 baseball season. Here’s an overview of everything we’ve written during spring training so you can be ready to place your bets in time for the first pitch.
Everyone’s chasing the Dodgers for World Series title
The truncated offseason forced every team to scramble in what was one of the more loaded free agent classes in recent memory. Seemingly everyone made moves, with even fringe contenders adding pieces for a playoff run. At the end of it all, however, the Los Angeles Dodgers remained the clear World Series favorites.
| MLB Betting: Odds to Win World Series (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | |
| Los Angeles Dodgers: +475 | Toronto Blue Jays: +900 |
| New York Yankees: +900 | Houston Astros: +1000 |
| Atlanta Braves: +1000 | New York Mets: +1100 |
| Chicago White Sox: +1200 | Milwaukee Brewers: +1600 |
| Tampa Bay Rays: +1700 | San Diego Padres: +1800 |
DraftKings lists the Dodgers as the +475 pick to win the World Series after Los Angeles added first baseman Freddie Freeman to an already deep lineup. That said, there are plenty of serious contenders behind the Dodgers, with the Toronto Blue Jays (+900) and New York Yankees (+900) leading the best of the rest. The Astros (+1000), Braves (+1000), and Mets (+1100) are also among the top picks to earn a title this year.
If you’re not sure who will win the World Series, you can also bet on who will win each pennant. Toronto and Houston comes in as the American League favorites, with both fetching +450 odds, while the Yankees (+475) and White Sox (+500) lurk close behind. Naturally, the Dodgers (+230) lead the National League pennant race ahead of the Braves (+500), Mets (+550), and Brewers (+650).
Awards betting: From MVP to Rookie of the Year
If you want to focus your MLB betting on individual players rather than teams, then awards betting is for you. Shohei Ohtani was the story of the 2021 season, easily picking up the AL MVP award. He’s the favorite to pick up another trophy this season at +350, with teammate Mike Trout (+450) and Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+500) the only other serious contenders at the start of the year.
In the National League, Braves youngster Juan Soto is the clear choice for MVP at +280. But there are far more candidates close behind him, including Ronald Acuna Jr. (+700), defending NL MVP Bryce Harper (+900), and Mookie Betts (+900).
Gerrit Cole (+425) starts the year as the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award. His Mets counterpart, Jacob deGrom, opened as the NL favorite, but an injury has dropped him to a +1200 choice. Instead, New York’s latest pitching addition, Max Scherzer, is now a +600 favorite over Corbin Burnes (+700) and Walker Buehler (+800) for the award.
Every year produces new stars, and some of the best young players in the league will be up for their respective Rookie of the Year awards as well. Bobby Witt Jr. (+310) leads the AL race, while Seiya Suzuki (+380) starts as the top pick in the National League.