MLB futures betting picks: Expert predictions for the 2023 MLB season, plus over $4,000 in bonuses
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Opening Day arrives Thursday, and there are plenty of appealing World Series futures bets to take advantage of at the top online sportsbooks seen below, which cumulatively offer over $4,000 in signup bonuses.
- DraftKings: Bet $5, win $150 plus $1,050 more
- Caesars: Up to $1,250 back if first bet loses
- BetMGM $1,000 first-bet bonus
- FanDuel: $1,000 no sweat first bet
With so many futures betting options to siphon through, we look at four teams that offer particularly appealing odds, including a favorite, two contenders, and a long shot.
Most online sportsbooks have these five teams as the favorites to win the 2023 World Series: The Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, LA Dodgers, and New York Mets.
The defending champs’ status as odds-on preseason World Series favorites is justified, even with the Astros seeing more departures than arrivals during the offseason.
The one significant addition can potentially seismically impact an already fearsome lineup, as Jose Abreu brings Houston a career .292 average, .860 OPS, and 243 career homers over nine seasons.
Abreu is 36 but has proven highly durable throughout his career, and he offers one of the best combinations of power and plate discipline in baseball.
With returnees such as Alex Bregman, Jeremy Pena, Yordan Alvarez, and Kyle Tucker in the starting nine, Houston should again be a significant headache for opposing pitchers.
The loss of Justin Verlander is naturally less than ideal. Still, a deep, young rotation now helmed by Framber Valdez appears capable of pushing through and complementing what should once again be one of baseball’s best offenses.
The Braves once again wield an appealing combination of a high-end rotation and a well-balanced lineup. That recipe netted 101 wins in 2022 before a surprising Division Series ouster courtesy of the Phillies.
Brian Snitker’s club will potentially be even better offensively than in 2022. Not only is power-hitting backstop Sean Murphy in the fold, but Ronald Acuna, close to two years removed from ACL surgery, could be back to his old self.
Last year’s rookie standout Michael Harris should take another big step forward, while potent incumbent bats like Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley are around to help make Atlanta’s lineup one of the more fearsome top-to-bottom orders in baseball.
A rotation that returns Max Fried, Spencer Strider, and Charlie Morton as its top three will eventually see Michael Soroka return after two missed seasons, rounding out a squad with the potential to complete last year’s unfinished business.
Atlanta’s fellow 101-win NL East squad, the Mets, should again be a major player in 2023. New York returns most of the bats that played integral roles in last year’s success, with Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor leading the way.
However, the biggest story of the offseason for New York was the addition of Verlander. With the reigning AL Cy Young winner and Max Scherzer a nightmare of a 1-2 punch for opposing hitters and NPB import Kodai Senga right behind them at No. 3 in the rotation, New York could prove nearly impenetrable at times.
There will naturally be plenty of competition within the division, but that should leave Buck Showalter’s squad optimally battle-tested by the time the postseason rolls around.
When evaluating a long shot to invest some bankroll, focusing on a team with potentially premium pitching is never a bad idea.
Consequently, the team that snagged the former ace of the Mets’ staff, the Rangers, merits consideration.
With Jacob deGrom now in the fold, Texas is in line for its best rotation in years. The rest of the starting five includes fellow offseason addition Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Jon Gray, and Andrew Heaney.
Offensively, the Rangers certainly don’t lack for bats – Nathaniel Lowe, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Adolis Garcia – are among the names that will adorn Bruce Bochy’s lineup card on most days during his first season at the helm.
The bullpen also gained a critical component in Will Smith, who’ll serve as a left-handed closing complement to Jose Leclerc, forming what could be a highly effective ninth-inning combination.
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