The inaugural pitch of the MLB season is almost upon us.
Despite the feeling that player lockouts by owners might postpone this day, opening day has arrived and it’s time to revel in America’s Favorite Pastime.
The Atlanta Braves’ victory over the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series feels as if it happened just yesterday. They triumphed in Game Six, held in Houston, and returned to Atlanta with the World Series trophy, ready to celebrate.
Despite losing key players in the off-season, both teams remain among the favorites to win their respective leagues.
Freddie Freeman departed from the Braves to sign a long-term contract with the strong team of Los Angeles Dodgers.
Carlos Correa, the shortstop for the Astros, has signed a shorter contract with the Minnesota Twins, which could potentially see him moving to another team in the near future.
The BetMGM Nevada Sportsbook states that the odds are +475 for the Astros to win the American League pennant.
The Braves, with odds of +600, are ranked second behind the Dodgers, who have odds of +250, in the race for the National League title.
Odds To Win The 2022 World Series
The two teams that participated in last year’s MLB championship series are among the top 10 teams most likely to win this year’s World Series.
The odds for the Astros to win the World Series are +1000, while for the Braves they stand at +1200.
BetMGM operates as a national sportsbook, but occasionally, the odds offered by BetMGM Nevada sportsbooks may vary from those presented nationwide.
Here are the odds for each MLB team to win the World Series, as provided by BetMGM Nevada:
Dodgers from Los Angeles: +500 <br>Blue Jays from Toronto: +900 <br>Astros from Houston: +1000 <br>Mets from New York: +1000 <br>Yankees from New York: +1100 <br>White Sox from Chicago: +1100 <br>Braves from Atlanta: +1200 <br>Rays from Tampa Bay: +1400 <br>Brewers from Milwaukee: +1600 <br>Padres from San Diego: +1600 <br>Red Sox from Boston: +1800 <br>Cardinals from St. Louis: +2000 <br>Giants from San Francisco: +2500 <br>Mariners from Seattle: +2500 <br>Angels from Los Angeles: +2500 <br>Phillies from Philadelphia: +2500 <br>Tigers from Detroit: +3500 <br>Twins from Minnesota: +5000 <br>Marlins from Miami: +6600 <br>Rangers from Texas: +8000 <br>Reds from Cincinnati: +10000 <br>Guardians from Cleveland: +10000 <br>Royals from Kansas City: +10000 <br>Athletics from Oakland: +10000 <br>Cubs from Chicago: +10000 <br>Nationals from Washington: +10000 <br>Rockies from Colorado: +20000 <br>Diamondbacks from Arizona: +25000 <br>Pirates from Pittsburgh: +25000 <br>Orioles from Baltimore: +25000
In contrast to many other sports, the MLB futures odds at BetMGM align with those across the rest of the country. The top three teams wagered on at BetMGM sportsbooks nationwide are:
- 11.2% of the bets are placed on the Mets to win the World Series.
- Dodgers 11.0%
- Blue Jays 8.7%
If any of these teams win the World Series, BetMGM will bear the greatest liability:
- Mets
- Phillies
- Blue Jays
MLB Player Awards Betting
Before the nationwide expansion of sports betting, futures and individual player props were a minor market. This is changing as many national media outlets are now incorporating player odds into discussions about potential award winners.
BetMGM and other sportsbooks in Nevada now provide a plethora of individual player bets both before and throughout the season. Here are the three players with the lowest futures odds according to BetMGM Nevada.
2022 MVP Odds
AL MVP
- Shohei Otani: +350
- Mike Trout: +450
- Vladamir Guerrero Jr.: +500
Interesting observation: Despite receiving the highest number of wagers on BetMGM to win the AL MVP, the odds for Louis Roberts are still +3000.
NL MVP
- Juan Soto: +300
- Ronald Acuna Jr.: +700
- Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts have odds of +1000.
Rewritten: It’s noteworthy that Fernando Tatis’ odds dropped to +2000 after he was ruled out of the season’s start because of an injury.
Harper has the highest number of tickets on BetMGM to win the NL MVP than any other player. However, Marcell Ozuna (+8000) has attracted more betting money for the same award.
2022 Cy Young Odds
AL Cy Young
- Gerrit Cole: +425
- Shane Beiber: +800
- Lucas Giolito: +1100
Shohei Ohtani (+2000) has the highest number of wagers to win the AL Cy Young compared to any other player. However, more money has been placed on Giolito to win the AL Cy Young than on any other player.
NL Cy Young
- Max Sherzer: +600
- Corbin Burnes: +800
- Walker Beuhler: +900
Regrettably, Jacob deGrom’s odds have fallen to +1200 following his recent injury revelation. Before the injury, deGrom attracted the most bets and money. Currently, BetMGM has the highest liability on Ranger Suarez of the Philadelphia Phillies.
2022 Rookie Of The Year Odds
Tracking the odds for Rookie of the Year is one of the most enjoyable aspects. Just like odds for other players, these can greatly vary throughout the year based on the players’ performances.
New players tend to have more volatility compared to those with a proven track record. The odds for Rookie Of The Year experience some of the most significant and frequent fluctuations throughout the year. This allows ample opportunity to identify players at attractive prices that could yield significant returns by the season’s end.
AL Rookie Of The Year
- Bobby Witt Jr.: +300
- Julio Rodriguez: +400
- Spencer Torkelson: +500
The AL Rookie of The Year candidate, Julio Rodriguez, is unquestionably the most favored. More bets and funds were staked on this Mariners rookie than any other, making him the greatest liability for BetMGM.
NL Rookie Of The Year
- Seiya Suzuki: +350
- Oneil Cruz: +425
- Hunter Green: +700
Helpful hint: Cruz will begin the season in the minor leagues.
With Fernando Tatis Jr. not starting the season with the San Diego Padres, attention is now focused on the new shortstop, C.J. Abrams. Currently at +1000, Abrams has more money and bets placed on him than any other player vying for the NL Rookie Of The Year title.
2022 MLB Rules Changes
This year, MLB has implemented a few changes to its rules.
These might have a greater impact on regular-season games than futures odds. The most significant modification is that all teams will now have the privilege to use a designated hitter. While pitchers are still permitted to hit, this generally implies fewer of them will be doing so.
Although the majority of pitchers won’t bat, those who do have the potential to remain in the game post-pitching. This is facilitated by the “Ohtani Rule”, which permits pitchers who also bat during a match, such as Shohei Ohtani, the 2021 AL MVP, to continue in the game for hitting even after they’ve finished pitching.
This regulation could lead to intriguing possibilities for Opener/DH roles. Although Ohtani uniquely excels at pitching extensively and hitting, numerous batters may excel when pitching just one or two innings.
During the MLB season, the number of active players on rosters varies. Up to May 1st, teams are allowed to have 28 players, with an allowance of an extra player for doubleheaders, making it 29. However, after the opening month, this number is cut down to 26.
Starting from May 2, each MLB roster will only be permitted to have 13 pitchers. Furthermore, only pitchers and two-way players will be permitted on the 15-day Injured List. This may lead to a decrease in the shifting of pitchers between major and minor league franchises.