Early Look at MLB Betting: AL East Futures
First off, massive props to anyone who had bet the Baltimore Orioles to win the American League East last season. I don’t mean people who wagered a half-unit on an underdog. Instead, anyone who did the work, saw the Orioles, had a legitimate chance and played a sizable bet online.
As a lifelong fan of the AL East, I was stunned that the Orioles beat the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox to take the division for the first time since 2014.
The O’s finish last season begs the question. Are the Orioles among the best teams in the MLB?
To answer that, let’s first look at the AL East in 2024, which teams the odds favor, and make some early predictions on how the divisions will play out.
2024 MLB Odds to Win American League East
1. New York Yankees +150
2. Baltimore Orioles +280
3. Toronto Blue Jays +350
4. Tampa Bay Rays +700
5. Boston Red Sox +1000
New York Yankees +150
The Yankees fell short again last season despite their gargantuan payroll, but find themselves as MLB betting favorites to win the AL East in 2024. The reason for this is simple. As is the case in most seasons, the Yankees’ lineup is stacked. Here is just a projection of their lineup for 2024:
- DJ LeMahieu, 3B
- Aaron Judge, CF
- Juan Soto, RF
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Alex Verdugo, LF
- Jose Trevino, C
- Anthony Volpe, SS
That is gross, no matter how you slice it, and is one of the only rosters in baseball to rival the spend-happy Los Angeles Dodgers.
The addition of Soto is huge as he provides one of the most abusive power hitters in the league. He might not stick around past this season, but winning a World Series only takes one year.
The Yankees have been in this spot many times before and have fallen short. But 2024 feels like a good year to be a Yankee fan and bettor. The odds might improve closer to Opening Day, but New York at +150 to lead the AL East is worth considering.
I was just as shocked as most of you when the Orioles won the AL East and led the entire American League with 101 wins. The youth movement in the MLB is in full effect, and nowhere is it more evident than Camden Yards.
Heading into 2024, the Orioles are expected to take another step forward, even after winning 100+ games. Their best players are still so young that it makes sense that the team will only get better as their stars develop into superstars. But growth takes time, and the team took a major step last season.
Another trip to the playoffs is probably in the cards, but with the AL East as stacked as it’s been in a long time, consecutive division wins are a big ask.
With Gunnar Henderson, Adley Ruthchman and other young talents on tap, the future is as bright as the sun for Baltimore, but its next big step comes in 2025.
Toronto Blue Jays +350
The Blue Jays are the most intriguing team on this list, with good odds to ignore their few nagging shortcomings. If you want a value MLB bet to win the AL East, the Jays might be your best choice.
I don’t think we’ve yet seen the best of Bo Bichette, and the second-generation star could take a step into superstardom in 2024. The guy is a .300+ hitter who fills up the stat sheet most nights. If he can play 162 games, watch out. Bichette is also a tempting MVP pick, though we will cover that in a different article.
Tampa Bay Rays +700
Is 2024 the year when the Tampa Bay Rays’ playoff losing streak finally ends? The first thing this team has to do is make the playoffs, and that is easier said than done in what should be another brutal race to the AL East title.
The Rays have made the postseason in six straight years but were knocked out in their first matchup in each of the past three. Their last playoff win came in Game 1 of the ALDS in 2021. Since then, the Rays are 0-7 in postseason play.
At +700, the Rays are a borderline longshot to win the AL East. They are best overlooked in the divisional futures betting market until they prove they can win games when the pressure is on.
Boston Red Sox +1000
One positive thing about the Boston Red Sox heading into 2024 is that they will win more games than in 2023. After going 78-84 and setting the bar really low, an improvement isn’t exactly a massive prediction. But Boston fans will take what they can get at this point.
The Red Sox have a shot to finish above .500 if they can get themselves some depth in the bullpen and rotation, and if Trevor Story finally gives them a solid shortstop.
Boston also needs to reduce injuries. While this is difficult, the Red Sox were rarely healthy last season, ruining a campaign with great potential. They may need to change how and when they rest certain players.
Even with a potential upside in the books, the Red Sox are not worth betting to win the AL East anytime soon.
Questions Of The Day
Which MLB team is favored to win the World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored to win the World Series at +375, with the Atlanta Braves at +550 and New York Yankees at +1000, rounding out the top three.
Who is favored to lead the league in hits?
Luis Arraez, at +700, is favored to lead the league in hits, while Ronald Acuna Jr and Freddie Freeman are close competitors at +900 and +950, respectively.
