MLB 2023 Futures Bets
Spring is here and Opening Day 2023 is upon us! Freshly cut green outfields, tasty hot dogs and an ice-cold beverage. Personally, I’m ready for all of that and more. Especially this season. My San Diego Padres are front-runners in the National League West, stacked with a lineup that resembles an All-Star team, and prepared to move past last year’s NLCS into the World Series. But even with the best intentions and expectations, they have to actually play the games.
I spent the last 10 hours pouring over the 2022 results, the 2023 offseason changes, and this spring’s statistics. In those 10 hours I’ve eaten two chicken sandwiches, listened to Machine Gun Kelly’s entire discography (a few times) and have come to the conclusion that Juan Soto (barring injury) will have a season to remember forever. But that’s not my only prediction.
To give perspective on where I’m seeing teams to overachieve or underachieve, included is the current (as of 03/27/23 4:27 pm central) betting odds courtesy of Betfred Sportsbook. Make sure to download the Betfred Sportsbook app to place all of your bets responsibly.
Here is my Major League Baseball 2023 regular season Predictions: STANDINGS (projected record for Division winner)
NL East – Odds to Win Division
Atlanta Braves (101-61) +105
New York Mets (Wild Card) +170
Philadelphia Phillies +295
Miami Marlins +4000
Washington Nationals +20000
The Atlanta Braves will win over 100 games this season, but the NL East division championship will come down to the final month. The New York Mets will perform much like last season, with confidence, but age and lack of depth in their rotation will catch up to them down the stretch. Injuries will pile up for the defending NL champion Phillies.
NL Central – Odds to Win Division
St. Louis Cardinals (88-74) -130
Milwaukee Brewers (Wild Card) +170
Cincinnati Reds +6500
Chicago Cubs +600
Pittsburgh Pirates +6000
The least amount of total wins in the National League will come from the NL Central in 2023. Doesn’t mean the Cardinals and Brewers can’t make a run, but both teams will be looking to the trade deadline to determine their chances for a championship run. Milwaukee will have no room for error this season to earn the NL Wild Card.
NL West – Odds to Win Division
San Diego Padres (101-61) +130
Los Angeles Dodgers (Wild Card) -125
San Francisco Giants +1000
Arizona Diamondbacks +5000
Colorado Rockies +17500
The San Diego Padres will live up to the hype and win the NL West by nine games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Another playoff meeting between the two teams is likely, but will baseball’s best player be on Los Angeles’ roster by then? A potential trade for Shohei Ohtani in late July could put the Padres on notice.
AL East – Odds to Win Division
Toronto Blue Jays (100-62) +185
New York Yankees (Wild Card) +115
Boston Red Sox +1800
Tampa Bay Rays +360
Baltimore Orioles +2500
Toronto has a winner on paper, but will it have the depth to advance in the playoffs? The New York Yankees will return to playoff baseball, but it won’t be due to a historic season from Aaron Judge. Judge will see a significant drop in production in 2023. Look for Judge to be sub 40 in home runs.
AL Central – Odds to Win Division
Minnesota Twins (87-75) +220
Cleveland Guardians +135
Chicago White Sox +205
Detroit Tigers +2500
Kansas City Royals +4000
The underdog division in the American League and will only have one team representing in the 2023 playoffs. A potential Twins vs. Yankees first round playoff matchup will be a fitting ending to what will be a trying season for the AL Central.
AL West – Odds to Win Division
Houston Astros (98-64) -185
Seattle Mariners (Wild Card) +360
Texas Rangers (Wild Card) +1000
Los Angeles Angels +550
Oakland Athletics +25000
The AL West could see three playoff teams, and don’t count out the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim! If, and that’s a big IF, the Angels can get to the break within eight or fewer games of the Astros, then look for a run at the playoffs. Anything less than that will mean the end of Ohtani in Anaheim.
BREAKOUT PLAYERS
Six players that WILL have career years (one from each division). Will they be the BEST players from their division? No, but these six WILL be stand-outs that help their teams on a daily basis. Look for career years statistically:
NL:
Pete Alonso +1000 to win NL MVP
Willy Adames +10000 to win NL MVP
Jake Cronenworth
AL –
Anthony Rizzo +10000 to win AL MVP
Max Kepler
Hunter Renfroe
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