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Boxing MLB American League Futures Betting: Three Division Winners To Consider
It’s time to look into the future, so our resident baseball expert Ej Garr is breaking out his crystal ball and predicting how the rest of the season will play out. With Division titles at stake and MVP voting to come, futures betting brings us great opportunities to cash in a few tickets. Let’s see what EJ has in mind so you can hopefully bank a few more bucks when the MLB regular season ends!
In this article:
- American League AL East Division Winner
- American League AL Central Division Winner
- American League AL West Division Winner
American League East Division Futures Betting
The Tampa Bay Rays came out of the gate so hot that no one thought they would be able to be caught in regards to winning the AL East Division crown. Much has changed since April, and now the Orioles have the Rays in their sights, while just a couple of games separating the two organisations at the top.
While the Rays certainly started the campaign strong, they have fallen back to earth, and now the Orioles are the team playing as well as anyone else.
As we look over the lines for the AL Division title Futures options, the Rays are still the odds-on favourite to go on and finish the job. At 1.40, the line setters are trying to convince us that the Rays are a sinch to clinch the AL East crown, but I am not convinced.
Firstly, there is zero value in the Rays at that price. Tying up your money for the next three months only to get that value is pointless.
Secondly, seeing the Orioles given no chance to win this AL East crown is just as absurd. FanDuel here in the United States has odds as high as 5.80 for the Orioles to pull off the comeback and end up on top of the Rays when the regular season comes to a close.
Offensively, the Rays are one of the best teams in baseball when it comes to producing runs, but that can all change on a dime. As I compose this article, the All-Star Game was just played this week, and the Orioles are the team that is 8-2 over their last ten games, with the Rays only 3-7 over the same period.
I see the issues with the Rays on the road, which is another big concern for me regarding which team can withstand the back half of the campaign. The Orioles are an impressive 28-17 on the road this year, and that will help down the stretch to give the Orioles the path to catch, and pass, the Rays.
American League East Division Futures Betting
The Baltimore Orioles will prove to be the best team in this division and the price behind the offer is right up my alley!
- Selection: Baltimore Orioles to Win AL East Division
- Best odds: FanDuel (5.80)
- Stakes: 3/10
American League Central Division Futures Betting
It is a wide-open race in the AL Central Division, and yes, even the Tigers might get some attention from those extreme value-seekers out there. The Tigers are only five games behind the current division leaders, Minnesota, and sandwiched in between them is the Cleveland Guardians.
Minnesota and Cleveland have been neck-and-neck most of the campaign, and they are currently just a couple of games apart for the lead in the AL Central division.
Can anyone pull the trigger on Detroit to catch and pass both the Guardians and Twins? Well, I can envision the value of 26.00 sure makes someone out there want to take a flyer on the Tigers, but that is not going to happen. Despite this division playing some bad baseball this year, I believe the best value we can find with a realistic Futures bet is with the Guardians.
Cleveland and Minnesota are both barely over .500 as the second half of the season gets underway, and I believe one of the two teams will eventually pull away. It is not the easiest proposition bet to offer because the Cleveland pitching staff has had many issues this year. The run-differential at -17 has the Tribe battling every night to stay in the games because their offense hasn’t exactly been consistent, to say the least.
Cleveland will make the big move before the trade deadline that sends them into a good place, and although no one can predict what big names they’ll attract, being in the race is motivation enough for a player who might want a change of scenery.
The best lines that I can find show a 3.00 offer for the Guardians to win the AL Central crown, and Minnesota being so strongly favoured at 1.50 also holds no value to me. Out of principle alone, I am suggesting that the Cleveland Guardians find a way to overtake the Twins in September and eventually go on to win the division title.
AL Central Division Winner Best Bet
The Cleveland Guardians may not be playing full of confidence, yet they have Terry Francona’s experience to rely on. Francona can certainly find whatever motivation he can use to lift his team down the stretch and he will find the big name or two to come and provide a spark for the run to the finish.
- Selection: Cleveland Guardians to Win AL Central Division
- Best odds: 3.00 (Betonline)
- Stakes: 3/10
American League West Division Futures Betting
I was considering an MVP Futures bet in this spot, but there is no play to make. Shohei Ohtani is the favourite to win the 2023 AL MVP, and there is no other name to suggest in that race.
So, let’s stay in the AL West and discuss which team has the goods to win the division this season. Houston is still the favourite to win the AL West despite being a few games in back of the first-place Texas Rangers. Texas is hitting the laces off of the baseball this season to the tune of over 550 runs scored as we reach the midway point of July, but as I said with Tampa, that can all change quickly.
The +158 run differential for the Rangers is undoubtedly impressive, but pitching will ultimately decide the fate of both Houston and Texas. I give that edge to Houston and the obvious experience that the Astros have when it comes to finishing the job.
I think the Rangers will ultimately be caught, and the Stros will be in the normal position they are used to being in of late, and that’s on top! The Astros have the best record within the division, something that will help improve the Astros’ chances to go on and take the AL West title.
AL West Division Winner Best Bet
Texas is not even remotely used to being in the position they are in at the moment, and we all know that Astros have what it takes to find ways to win games. I would rather invest my money in the team that has proven they can handle the pressure of mourning a comeback, and the line setters believe it too. (Not that it means a ton, but I understand why that’s the case).
- Selection: Houston Astros
- Best odds: 2.05 (Betonline)
- Stakes: 3/10
Odds as of 9:00 am July 17, 2023. Odds may now differ.
