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When handicapping baseball games, we often dig deep into splits such as home/road records and how teams perform vs right- and left-handed pitching. But something you should add to your list is how teams perform in series openers and in the last game of a series.
For whatever reason, this trend sticks. Maybe they’re just damn good, they’re motivated to start or finish strong, or they mentally check out when a series is coming to an end — a handful of teams stand out as excellent or awful bets at different spots in a series.
As we navigate the 2022 season, we’re equipping you with all the betting information you need to win your MLB bets. Below, we have 2022 series opening and closing betting trends so far, and we’ll update these records with 2022 MLB betting trends throughout the season. You can use these betting nuggets over at BetUS to help nail your baseball wagers:
If you’re looking for other tools to inform your MLB bets, check out our free MLB computer picks page, MLB futures breakdown or our best baseball betting sites.
Team Records When Opening A Series
- Dodgers 9-2 (81.8%)
- Yankees 7-2 (77.8%)
- Mets 8-3 (72.7%)
- Padres 8-3 (72.7%)
- Astros 8-3 (72.7%)
- Brewers 7-4 (63.6%)
- Cardinals 6-4 (60.0%)
- Rockies 3-8 (27.3%)
- Athletics 3-8 (27.3%)
- Pirates 3-8 (27.3%)
- Marlins 3-8 (27.3%)
- Reds 4-7 (36.4%)
- Nationals 4-7 (36.4%)
- Braves 4-7 (36.4%)
Last year, the best teams in baseball, like the Giants and Rays, unsurprisingly dominated series openers. This year the trend is continuing with three top teams – the division-leading Dodgers, Mets and Yankees – all dominating series openers.
On the flip side, a few weeks into the season, the basement-dwelling Rockies, Athletics and Reds haven’t started many series with a win.
Team Records When Closing A Series
- Brewers 8-3 (72.7%)
- Rays 8-3 (72.7%)
- Twins 8-3 (72.7%)
- Dodgers 8-3 (72.7%)
- Angels 8-3 (72.7%)
- Astros 7-4 (63.6%)
- Mets 7-4 (63.6%)
- Tigers 2-9 (18.2%)
- Red Sox 2-9 (18.2%)
- Nationals 3-8 (27.3%)
- Phillies 3-8 (27.3%)
- Royals 3-7 (30.0%)
- Cubs 4-7 (36.4%)
- Reds 4-7 (36.4%)
Last year, the Cleveland Guardians were a below-.500 team, but they were the best team in baseball in the final game of a series. Early this year, there doesn’t seem to be the same money-maker on the winning side, but there are some good teams to fade.
The Phillies are hovering around .500, but they’ve struggled mightily in series finales. Fading the Phils to end a series has been a money-making play so far.
Lock in your MLB bets to start or close series over at BetUS:
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