Chris Boline
With the first week of Major League Baseball in the books, there’s excitement all over the place for people who enjoy sports betting in Washington State right now. We don’t have to tell you that there’s plenty of excitement with the local team, as Washington bettors are laying down money on the Mariners, which is awesome to see. This team hasn’t been to the playoffs in 21 years.
However, people all over the state think that the long streak can come to a close in the near future. According to a local report, there’s a large number of bets being placed across the state on the Mariners to make the playoffs. This would break the curse that’s been present with the team since 2001. That was a 116-win season for them.
Since then, things have gone downhill for the club. With that said, people think that the plan from Jerry Dipoto for the future will finally come to a head in 2022. What’s helped the Mariners here is that they were able to win two of the first three games of the season in the opening week going up against the Minnesota Twins. Not only that, those wins came on the road.
Following that strong start, even more wagers are coming in on the Mariners to make the playoffs. With the sports betting trend going in Seattle’s direction, it’s only going to add to the pressure for the team to deliver throughout the spring and then in the summer. While the Mariners have plenty of haters against them, that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to get the job done in this case.
It’s time. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/ebkhzu9Hpv
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 8, 2022
Bettors across the country don’t have strong belief in the Mariners
While there’s plenty of excitement around Seattle – and throughout Washington state for that matter – that doesn’t mean that everyone else is on the bandwagon. According to multiple reports, wagers continue to come in strong on the Houston Astros to win the AL West. That’s not a surprise, as bettors across the country don’t have strong belief in the Mariners whatsoever.
Per the best rated sportsbooks, Houston is No. 1 at -170, while the LA Angels are second at +380, and Seattle is third at +450. This has bettors throughout Washington furious with these odds, as they think that the Mariners could be in the division title hunt come this fall. However, people across the country think they won’t be able to be in that conversation.
It’s hard to blame those folks, as Seattle has gone more than 20 years without making the playoffs. Even if they don’t win the division, there’s still hope from the fanbase that this team will be able to land an AL Wild Card spot. If that were to happen, the entire state would probably be ready to throw a party in celebration.
The people of Seattle have suffered long enough, and they’re ready for the postseason drought to come to an end. While the Mariners might not be ready to push for a World Series title – something they’ve never been able to record – that doesn’t mean they don’t have the talent to make the postseason and make some noise. More bets from Washington will come in, but that may not be the case elsewhere.
Seattle fans are also betting on Julio Rodriguez Jr. to win Rookie of the Year
Elsewhere, Seattle fans are also betting on Julio Rodriguez Jr. to win Rookie of the Year in the American League. At just 21 years old, Rodriguez was named to the Opening Day roster and Ms fans everywhere were losing their minds. Since then, they’ve been racing to lay money down on him to be named the top rookie in the AL. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see him take home that honor.
Rodriguez is currently the No. 3 prospect per MLB.com and easily No. 1 for the Mariners. He’s an incredible talent and he’s seen as the long-term answer for the Mariners at center field. He signed with the Mariners from the Dominican Republic and people have been excited about his potential ever since. Now, it looks like he’s ready to live up to the hype.
Per the oddsmakers, Rodriguez holds +450 MLB odds to win AL Rookie of the Year. He’s only behind Bobby Witt Jr., who is at +280. Both of these players figure to have big years in the MLB this season. For Rodriguez, he’s such a strong talent both offensively and defensively. He was able to record his first hit in Game 2 against the Twins, roping a double late in the action.
Years from now, people think that Rodriguez will be able to have the kind of impact on the team that will make him a legend in the city. Fans think he’ll be in the same conversation as Gary Payton, Sue Bird and Russell Wilson when it comes to Seattle greats. The bets are coming in on him to win Rookie of the Year and that’s only going to keep going if he heats up at the dish for the Mariners.
You bet I will!😄 #W https://t.co/xge1XhTPrF
— Julio Rodriguez🇩🇴🦁 (@JRODshow44) April 9, 2022
