There are about 50 games remaining in the MLB regular season, which means the division winner races are heating up. As you know in the MLB each division winner makes the playoffs and then the best two non-division winners from each Conference battle it out in one game playoff for the final playoff spot in each Conference. This shows just how important it is to win your division if you hope to make the playoffs and ultimately the World Series.
Below I will look at the current odds (August 13th) for each division in the MLB and give my pick based on these odds. The odds are all found at the BetOnline sportsbook. You can find the updated odds for yourself by visiting BetOnline.ag, clicking on the ‘Futures & Props’ section of the sportsbook and following that up by clicking on ‘MLB Futures’.
National League Central
St. Louis Cardinals +150- Milwaukee Brewers +175
- Pittsburgh Pirates +275
- Cincinnati Reds +1200
These odds are a little bit funny because the Brewers are actually leading the division at this moment and the Pirates are 1.5 games back, while the Cards are 3 games back. That said St. Louis is widely considered the best team in this division so they are still the favourites to finish the season with the division lead according to the oddsmakers. That said, I would take the Pirates. They have been playing well lately and if they can keep making a push the +275 odds look very good. According to Sports Club Stats they are also second with a 69.5% chance of making the playoffs.
National League West
LA Dodgers -700- San Francisco Giants +450
The National League West is pretty much wrapped up by the Dodgers. They are 6 games up on the Giants and that will be extremely difficult to overcome. I think it’s safe to bet on the Dodgers here.
National League East
Washington Nationals -550- Atlanta Braves +375
- Miami Marlins +2800
The Nationals are 5 games up on the Braves and 5 games up on the Marlins at the moment. I think betting on the Nationals here is also a fairly safe bet. The Braves and Marlins aren’t overly promising teams for a late season run.
American League Central
Detroit Tigers -250- Kansas City Royals +200
- Cleveland Indians +1600
Kansas City actually took a 0.5 game lead on the Tigers recently for this division lead. The Royals are also on a huge run going 8-2 in their last ten, while the Tigers have struggled to a 3-7 last ten record and have lost their last 4. I like the Royals at +200 odds to continue their momentum to the top spot in the AL Central division.
American League West
Oakland Athletics -300- LA Angels +230
- Seattle Mariners +3300
The Athletics always manage to perform well without a large payroll and this year is no different. I fully expect them to hold off any Angels surge and to keep the top spot in the AL West.
American League East
Baltimore Orioles -300- Toronto Blue Jays +425
- New York Yankees +450
Here the Orioles are up 6.5 games on the Blue Jays and 7 games on the Yankees. That said the Blue Jays and Yankees are very good on paper and I think this is why the Orioles aren’t bigger favourites. I think Baltimore has the resolve to keep their lead in this division though as both the Blue Jays and Yankees continue to falter.
**Remember that these odds are from August 13th. You’ll have to visit BetOnline.ag to find the up to date odds because they can change daily.