Steve Starr
- BetOnline has set the odds on which teams will win each Major League Baseball division
- The Bryce Harper signing makes the Phillies the favorite to win the NL East
- The Yankees are slight favorites to capture the AL East over the defending champion Red Sox
Our long national nightmare is over. Now that the Phillies have handed Bryce Harper the richest deal in baseball history, we finally have a full page of MLB division futures to bet on.
While we still don’t know if Harper swings as big a stick as Philly sports hero Nick Foles, we do know that the Phillies are the NL East favorites after adding Big Bat Bryce, outfielder Andrew McCutchen, reliever David Robertson, and catcher JT Realmuto. Let’s take a look at the divisional odds available at BetOnline.
2019 NL East Odds
| Teams | Odds to Win NL East |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia Phillies | +125 |
| Washington Nationals | +300 |
| New York Mets | +350 |
| Atlanta Braves | +500 |
| Miami Marlins | +5000 |
*All Odds taken on 02/28/19
Best Bet: Washington Nationals
Since I already wrote about why I like Bryce’s former team to win the division, I want to use this space to inform you on one little-known fact about Harper’s record-breaking 13-year, $330 million deal.
When Bryce Harper gets his final paycheck from the Phillies in 2031, Bobby Bonilla will still be four years away from his final paycheck from the Mets.
— Rian Watt (@rianwatt) February 28, 2019
2019 NL Central Odds
| Teams | Odds to Win NL Central |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | +200 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +225 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +325 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +700 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +700 |
Best Bet: St. Louis Cardinals
In what looks like baseball’s strongest division, I like the Cardinals to end their three-year playoff drought. After replacing the worst St. Louis area coach since Jeff Fisher (Mike Matheny) with Mike Shildt last July, St. Louis played at a 96-win pace. They did this without three of their best starting pitchers (Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha and top prospect Alex Reyes). With those guys back from injury and All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt now in the fold, the Cardinals should once again rule the NL Central.
2019 NL West Odds
| Teams | Odds to Win NL West |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -325 |
| Colorado Rockies | +550 |
| San Diego Padres | +800 |
| San Francisco Giants | +2000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +2500 |
Best Bet: Los Angeles Dodgers
While the Dodgers and Giants both missed out on Bryce Harper, the Padres pulled the surprise of the offseason when they signed four-time All-Star Manny Machado to a 10-year, $300 million deal. Still, San Diego lost 96 games last season. San Francisco dropped 89 games in 2018 and somehow got worse. And the Diamondbacks traded Goldschmidt to the Cards, so it’s entirely possible the Chase Field humidor gets more media coverage than the team this year.
After re-signing star third baseman Nolan Arenado to an eight-year, $260 million extension, the Rockies look like the only team that could end the Dodgers’ streak of six-consecutive division championships, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Dodgers blink, and Harper is gone https://t.co/ovKLvYLST0
— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) February 28, 2019
2019 AL East Odds
| Teams | Odds to Win AL East |
|---|---|
| New York Yankees | +100 |
| Boston Red Sox | +125 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +800 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +2500 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +10000 |
Best Bet: New York Yankees
George Steinbrenner would be rolling in his grave. I mean, first, the Yankees lose the ALDS to the Red Sox, then their blood rivals go on to win a fourth World Series title in 15 seasons, and then New York still doesn’t pony up for Bryce Harper? With not even a World Series appearance in the nine seasons since the franchise’s last championship, times certainly have changed.
But, the Yankees are favored to win the AL East for a reason. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge combined for 57 dingers in their first year together and I’d bet the heavy over on them topping that number this season. The Big Maple is also moving to the Big Apple after New York added Canadian left-handed James Paxton to form a devastating one-two punch with Luis Severino.
2019 AL Central Odds
| Teams | Odds to Win AL Central |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Indians | -350 |
| Minnesota Twins | +400 |
| Chicago White Sox | +1400 |
| Detroit Tigers | +3300 |
| Kansas City Royals | +3300 |
Best Bet: Cleveland Indians
After mentioning Canadian pitcher James Paxton in the last paragraph, I’m bitterly disappointed to inform you that Indians’ rising pitching star Shane Bieber is of no relation to Justin.
On the bright side, Cleveland didn’t end up trading two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber (despite rampant offseason speculation), and Trevor Bauer is one of the game’s best pitchers despite being the world’s worst boyfriend. In a rather mediocre division, the Indians will win their fourth straight division title and give Bauer another “date” with the postseason.
Indians’ Trevor Bauer is world’s worst boyfriend: ‘I have three rules’ https://t.co/n5fY8xRRWc pic.twitter.com/FJVFr8CIuT
— New York Post (@nypost) February 19, 2019
2019 AL West Odds
| Teams | Odds to Win AL West |
|---|---|
| Houston Astros | -400 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +700 |
| Oakland Athletics | +700 |
| Seattle Mariners | +2500 |
| Texas Rangers | +3300 |
Best Bet: Los Angeles Angels
Considering the Astros have the best odds (-400) to win their division in all of Major League Baseball, I wouldn’t bet your house, dog, or small child on this one, but I think the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Long Beach (see below) will make the postseason for only the second time in Mike Trout’s career.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Long Beach https://t.co/0okJ3ENLXE
— Dan Hanzus (@DanHanzus) February 26, 2019
The Halos shored up their starting pitching with Trevor Cahill and Matt Harvey, who at the very least should be able to offer Japanese star Shohei Ohtani some Tommy John recovery tips. This bet is certainly a long shot, but sometimes you gotta swing for the fences.
