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MLB Best Bets For Every Team 2024
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Best Bets For Every MLB Team 2024: Award Long-Shots & Player Props

Mitch Bannon & Ethan Diamandas Published on: Mar 26, 2024 3:09 PM ET

The 2024 MLB season is upon us.

Those meaningless spring training games are done and Opening Day is here. So, it's time to lock in a best bet for every MLB team this season.

Mitch Bannon handled our AL best bets while Ethan Diamandas took on the NL picks:

Best Bets For Every MLB Team: AL East

Baltimore Orioles: To Win AL East (+200)

The Orioles won the AL East last season with 101 wins. Then they added Corbin Burnes and have a few top prospects who will make immediate impacts this year, too. Getting the Os at +200 to repeat seems like good business. Not like it really matters, but the Orioles also posted the best spring training record of any team, underscoring the depth of talent they have.

Toronto Blue Jays: Bo Bichette MLB Hits Leader (+1000)

Before he got hurt down the stretch last year, Bo Bichette was actually on pace for the best hitting season of his career. The Blue Jays shortstop finished with 175 hits in 135 games, and that pace stretched over 162 would’ve been 215 — just two behind Ronald Acuna Jr for MLB lead. If Bo stays healthy, he’ll be real close to the top of this category and might just win it.

Tampa Bay Rays: Over 84.5 Wins (-115)

In this house, we do not doubt the Tampa Bay Rays. I’ve made this mistake before, and I won’t do it again.

The Rays haven’t won under 85 games in a full season since 2017. This version of Rays baseball doesn’t care who the players are or how many pitchers they have hurt, they’re an 85+ win factory. Betting on anything less would be dumb.

Boston Red Sox: Triston Casas + Rafael Devers Over 30 HRs (+230)

I love power lefties in Fenway Park, and the Red Sox have a few of them this season. Devers has averaged 33 homers in his last four full seasons, so this is really a bet on if Casas can leap up to join him.

In his first full MLB season Casas posted an amazing .856 OPS and 23 homers in 132 games. Give him another year and a full 162 games and I think we’re gonna be talking about Casas as the next big power threat in the AL.

New york Yankees: Juan Soto AL MVP (+500)

Aaron Judge has a sore abdomen and Gerrit Cole is out to start the year. So, Juan Soto will step up and be the hero we know he can be.

I think Soto is going to put together one hell of a free agent walk year and carry the Yankees to a great season. He’s gonna grab his AL MVP award on the way out the door and then go get absolutely paid this offseason.

Best Bets For Every MLB Team: AL Central

Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr. UNDER 41.5 Stolen Bases (-106)

Let’s start with the obvious here. Bobby Witt Jr. stole 49 bases last year but also led all of baseball with 15 caught stealings. That lone should be enough for the Royals to ask him to ease off on the attempts.

Add in the fact that Kansas City just invested almost $300 million in the young shortstop, and I expect they’ll want him to be as safe as possible this season. With the value he brings defensively and at the plate, they don’t need him to steal 40 bags to be worth the contract.

Minnesota Twins: UNDER 87.5 Wins (-120)

This one’s pretty simple for me: the Twins won 87 games last year and got worse. They lost Kenta Mazda, Sonny Gray, Michael A. Taylor, and a few other regular pieces in free agency this year, and didn’t really replace them. The lineup is solid, but this rotation seems destined to take a step back. Maybe the Twins still win the division or make the playoffs, but they ain’t winning 88 games.

Chicago White Sox: UNDER 60.5 Wins (-105)

The White Sox might well challenge the Athletics or Rockies for worst team in baseball last year, and I expect that win mark to be below 60. Beyond Luis Robert Jr. this Chicago team doesn’t have much talent at all and anyone who flashes anything is going to be gone at the deadline.

Cleveland Guardians: To Make Playoffs (+175)

Where I’m selling the Twins, I’m buying up all the Guardians stock. We know this Cleveland lineup can’t hit many homers, but they put the ball in play and can pitch with anyone. I think Cleveland has closer to 50/50 chances to make the playoffs this year, so +175 is an easy bet.

Detroit Tigers: Spencer Torkelson Over 28.5 Homers (-113)

You may have missed it, but Spencer Torkelson finally broke out last year. He finished the season with an unspectacular 31 homers and .758 OPS, but he really figured something out in the second half.

After the All-Star break last year, Torkelson posted a .816 OPS with 19 homers in the final 72 games (a 43 homer pace). If he keeps that going for all of 2024, the Tigers slugger will maybe lead the league in homers, and certainly beat 28.5.

Best Bets For Every MLB Team: AL West

Houston Astros: World Series Champs (+700)

The Astros have made the ALCS every year since like 1947. So, getting this dominant team at +700 to win the whole World Series seems like cake? Sure there are questions about rotation health this year, but I’ve learned to not bet against Houston.

Texas Rangers: To Miss Playoffs (+142)

Everyone’s going to be riding high on the Rangers after they won the World Series last year. But, I think we’re forgetting just how close they came to not even making the playoffs. Add in the fact that Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tyler Mahle are all going to start the year on the injured list, and I think Texas could fall just short.

Seattle Mariners: Andres Munoz MLB Saves Leader (+1500)

Andres Munoz has quietly been one of the best relievers in baseball over the last two seasons, and now he gets to be the closer. The flame-throwing righty has only 17 saves in the last two seasons, but 12 of those came after the Mariners traded Paul Sewald at the 2023 trade deadline. Munoz will step in to the closer position for the Ms, and he’s on track for an easy 30+ saves if he stays in the role.

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout AL MVP (+2000)

Maybe all Mike Trout needed was for Shohei Ohtani to get out of the way and let him get back to winning AL MVPs for 75-win Angels teams? Trout has battled health the last three seasons, but he still puts up some of the best per-game stats in baseball. If he can stay healthy for 145 or more games, he could snag the MVP in a pretty shallow American League talent pool.

Oakland Athletics: Esteury Ruiz OVER 49.5 Stolen Bases (-122)

Esty to lead baseball in stolen bases was almost my best bet of the entire 2023 season, but Ronald Acuna Jr. ruined it for me. Ruiz finished the season with 67 swiped bags in 132 games last year. He doesn’t even need to play close to a full season to best 50 in 2024. Easy bet. 

Best Bets For Every MLB Team: NL East

Atlanta Braves: Matt Olson OVER 42.5 Home Runs (+130)

Olson swatted an MLB-best 54 homers a season ago off the back of a .604 SLG. A deeper dig reveals even juicier stats: 48% of Olson’s bombs were considered no-doubters, per Baseball Savant, and his 54 actual homers translated to 50 expected homers, indicating only a small amount of luck. 

The 29-year-old will be hitting in the heart of one of baseball’s best orders again this year. Don’t doubt him. 

Miami Marlins: UNDER 78.5 Wins (-120)

The M’s might flex a little more roster talent after adding Josh Bell and Tim Anderson, but at the end of the day, Marlins gonna Marlin. The club’s rotation is decimated, the bullpen is weak, and the NL East, including the Mets and Nationals even, will likely pound on Miami on a regular basis. Go UNDER on win totals.

New York Mets: To Make Playoffs (+190)

I’m quietly in on the Amazins as an underdog. The club’s starting pitching is a mess, but the baseline is there with a lineup loaded with veterans like Franciso Lindor and Pete Alonso, plus the best closer in baseball working the ninth. If the Mets hang around .500 by the trade deadline, a few big moves could send them on a run.

Philadelphia Phillies: To Win World Series (+1400)

The Phils might not best the Braves for the NL East title, but they sure as hell are bound for the playoffs. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler will guide the rotation, while Bryce Harper and the boys handle the offense. Oh, the club also has arguably the best ‘pen in the NL. 

Washington Nationals: OVER 65.5 Wins (-110)

It’s never a fine idea to bet on bad teams. That said, the Nats aren’t as bad as the sportsbooks would have you believe. After winning 71 games, the core built around CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas has another year to develop. And, in my mind, there’s more than a 50% chance Washington finishes fourth in the division above Miami.

Best Bets For Every MLB Team: NL Central

Chicago Cubs: Cody Bellinger to win NL MVP (+5000)

This is a long-shot pick, but Bellinger has a far greater chance to win the NL hardware than his odds suggest. The 28-year-old has an NL MVP under his belt already, he rediscovered his swing in ’23, and a return to the Cubs will breed some comfort and continuity to his game.

Don’t sell the farm for this wager, but you’d be challenged to find a better value pick.

Cincinnati Reds: To Miss Playoffs (-185)

Let’s follow our mega-long-shot with a safer pick. The Reds are flashy, sure, featuring young studs like Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene, but key injuries will loom large over Cincy’s season. Matt McLain is already battling a shoulder injury, and TJ Friedl has a broken wrist.

Watch for the Reds to dig an early hole and never crawl out. 

Milwaukee Brewers: To Win Division (+750)

Hear me out: the Crew has won the division in two of the last three seasons. Corbin Burnes is gone, and the rotation looks weaker. The bullpen is a mess. But this lineup can still crack, and the Brewers added Rhys Hoskins to the heart of the order.

The NL Central is volatile. Why not take a dark horse?

Pittsburgh Pirates: David Bednar To Lead MLB In Saves (+1500)

It’s time Bednar get his roses. The stout right-hander led the NL with 39 saves a season ago, leading to a second consecutive All-Star appearance. With the Pirates closer to contention, Bednar’s opportunities are bound to increase, and he’s done nothing but perform for three straight seasons.

St. Louis Cardinals: Nolan Arenado OVER 26.5 Home Runs (-110)

This one is too easy. Arenado, along with the rest of the Cardinals, hit a wall in 2023. Still, it’s wild to assume he won’t eclipse his lowly 26-homer total. Even at 32 years old, “Nado” can still bang. Take advantage of this too-low total.

Best Bets For Every MLB Team: NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers: To Finish As NL No. 1 Seed (+125)

This bet was made for the Dodgers. On paper, there’s no other club in baseball that can contend with the almighty behemoth that occupies Dodger Stadium. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman will terrorize hitters all season long as L.A. cruises to 100+ wins.

But the Dodgers choke in the playoffs. They’ve been eliminated in the NLCS or sooner in three straight seasons. That’s why a bet on them to lead the NL in the regular season is the perfect sweet spot.

San Diego Padres: To Make Playoffs (+155)

The Padres might finally see some luck. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado slumped a bit last year, so if a bit of positive regression slaps them over the head, things will look up for San Diego. A new rotation piece in Dylan Cease can’t hurt either. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: To Win The World Series (+4000)

Here’s our second big value bet. The Diamondbacks have a magical core centered around Corbin Caroll, plus the club got better this offseason. Eduardo Rodriguez and Eugenio Suarez have joined the roster, positioning them for a second consecutive Cinderella season. 

At +4000, it’s worth a sprinkle.

Colorado Rockies: UNDER 60.5 Wins (-120)

This seems impossible. I’ve racked my brain with reasons for the Rockies to finish OVER 60.5 wins. Nothing doing. Colorado was awful last year and finished with 58 wins, the second-lowest tally in franchise history. 

The air in The Mile High City is choking out all the wins.

San Francisco Giants: Kyle Harrison to win NL ROTY (+1400)

Harrison is an intriguing piece in the Giants rotation. The lefty was average in seven starts with the G-Men last season, a cap that allows him to maintain his rookie eligibility in 2024. Expect the rookie to take a big step forward as he hones his stuff and dodges hard contact. 

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