Jose Altuve (27) and Yuri Gurriel (10) will be key members of the Atros' quest to repeat as World Series champions. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC License</a>].
Now mere days away from the start of the 2018 MLB season, we are starting to get a clearer picture of opening-day rosters and where the balance of power will lie.
Below, we cover everything from the Fall Classic to the MVPs, from managers on the hot seat to free-agent signings. We also dive into the most trendy team (surprise, it’s the Yankees!) and player (Japanese import Shohei Otani).
If you disagree with any of our numbers, or would just like to know the rationale behind our calculations, hit us up in the comments section or reach out on Facebook or Twitter. Let’s get to it.
2018 World Series Odds
Can anyone dethrone the Astros and Dodgers in their respective leagues? The Nationals have arguably the best starting rotation in the majors, plus a line-up led by MVP favorite Bryce Harper (see below for more on that). In the AL, the still up-and-coming Yankees made several nice additions, including reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton. Very few baseballs in the Bronx will still have covers by season’s end.
Team
2018 World Series Odds
Houston Astros
7/1
LA Dodgers
8/1
New York Yankees
9/1
Chicago Cubs
12/1
Cleveland Indians
14/1
Washington Nationals
15/1
Boston Red Sox
17/1
St Louis Cardinals
20/1
San Francisco Giants
20/1
Arizona Diamondbacks
25/1
Los Angeles Angels
27/1
Milwaukee Brewers
30/1
New York Mets
33/1
Minnesota Twins
35/1
Seattle Mariners
40/1
Colorado Rockies
40/1
Toronto Blue Jays
40/1
Texas Rangers
100/1
Tampa Bay Rays
100/1
Baltimore Orioles
100/1
Pittsburgh Pirates
100/1
Philadelphia Phillies
100/1
Chicago White Sox
150/1
Kansas City Royals
150/1
Atlanta Braves
150/1
San Diego Padres
150/1
Oakland Athletics
200/1
Cincinnati Reds
300/1
Detroit Tigers
500/1
Miami Marlins
1000/1
2018 World Series Matchup Odds
It’s not quite as likely as the three straight Warriors/Cavaliers matchups we’ve witnessed in the NBA, but a rematch of the 2017 World Series is still the most likely outcome.
Team
2018 World Series Odds
Dodgers vs Astros
17/1
Dodgers vs Yankees
21/1
Astros vs Cubs
25/1
Nationals vs Astros
31/1
Yankees vs Cubs
32/1
Dodgers vs Indians
33/1
Nationals vs Yankees
39/1
Cubs vs Indians
47/1
All Los Angeles Series: Dodgers vs Angels
62/1
All New York Series: Mets vs Yankees
85/1
All DC/Maryland Series: Nationals vs Orioles
400/1
All Chicago Series: Cubs vs White Sox
450/1
All Missouri Series: Cardinals vs Royals
750/1
All Bay Area Series: Giants vs Athletics
1,050/1
All Ohio Series: Indians vs Reds
1,240/1
All Florida Series: Marlins vs Rays
99,999/1
2018 NL MVP Odds
Can Washington center fielder Bryce Harper win his second NL MVP award and first since 2015? Photo by Johnmaxmena2 [CC License]
Player (Team)
MVP Odds
Bryce Harper (Nationals)
9/2
Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks)
5/1
Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
6/1
Kris Bryant (Cubs)
8/1
Joey Votto (Reds)
9/1
Corey Seager (Dodgers)
14/1
Cody Bellinger (Dodgers)
20/1
Anthony Rizzo (Cubs)
22/1
Freddie Freeman (Braves)
30/1
FIELD
15/2
2018 AL MVP Odds
The Angels’ Mike Trout has already won two AL MVP awards (2014, 2016) and finished second three more times in his seven-year career. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [CC License].
Player (Team)
MVP Odds
Mike Trout (Angels)
4/1
Jose Altuve (Astros)
5/1
Giancarlo Stanton (Yankees)
7/1
Jose Ramirez (Indians)
8/1
Aaron Judge (Yankees)
10/1
Carlos Correa (Astros)
12/1
Mookie Betts (Red Sox)
15/1
Francisco Lindor (Indians)
20/1
Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays)
25/1
Manny Machado (Orioles)
30/1
FIELD
20/1
2018 NL Rookie of the Year Odds
Will rookie SS Lewis Brinson bring a silver lining to what will surely be a disastrous year for the Marlins? Photo by EricEnfermero (wikipedia) [CC License].
Player (Team)
ROY Odds
Ronald Acuna (Braves)
3/1
Lewis Brinson (Marlins)
6/1
Victor Robles (Nationals)
7/1
FIELD
15/14
2018 AL Rookie of the Year Odds
Can 2017 winner Aaron Judge repeat as AL Rookie of the Year? If you don’t get that joke, you should probably read our beginner’s guide to MLB betting. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [CC License].
Player (Team)
ROY Odds
Willie Calhoun (Rangers)
5/1
Willy Adames (Rays)
6/1
Franklin Barreto (A’s)
15/2
Shohei Ohtani (Angels)
9/1
FIELD
11/10
2018 NL Cy Young Odds
Clayton Kershaw (pictured) and Max Scherzer have each won three Cy Young awards. Will either become the fifth pitcher ever to win four? Photo by Arturo Pardavila III (flickr) [CC License].
Player (Team)
Cy Young Odds
Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
2/1
Max Scherzer (Nationals)
4/1
Stephen Strasburg (Nationals)
5/1
Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks)
8/1
Yu Darvish (Cubs)
10/1
FIELD
9/1
2018 AL Cy Young Odds
Cleveland’s Corey Kluber (pictured) used a strong second half to scoop the 2017 Cy Young award from Chris Sale. Photo by Arturo Pardavila III (flickr) [CC License].
Player (Team)
Cy Young Odds
Chris Sale (Red Sox)
3/1
Corey Kluber (Indians)
7/2
Luis Severino (Yankees)
9/2
Dallas Keuchel (Astros)
7/1
Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays)
11/1
FIELD
6/1
First Manager Fired
He’s not being given much to work with, but Tampa manager Kevin Cash still might take the heat if the Rays start slowly. Photo by Arturo Pardavila III (flickr) [CC License].
Manager (Team)
Odds
Kevin Cash (Rays)
2/1
Don Mattingly (Marlins)
7/2
Bob Melvin (A’s)
9/2
Clint Hurdle (Pirates)
7/1
Scott Servais (Mariners)
11/1
Ned Yost (Royals)
11/1
Andy Green (Padres)
13/1
Bryan Price (Reds):
13/1
Buck Showalter (Orioles)
15/1
Josh Gibbons (Blue Jays)
15/1
Odds To Remain Unsigned As Of May 1, 2018
There’s no way Jake Arrieta doesn’t find a home before the season, right? Photo by Arturo Pardavila III (Flickr) [CC License].
Free Agent
Odds
Jonathan Lucroy
10/1
Greg Holland
18/1
Carlos Gonzalez
20/1
Lance Lynn
50/1
Alex Cobb
50/1
Mike Moustakas
75/1
Jake Arrieta
100/1
Odds To Be Traded During 2018 Season
If the Mets aren’t winning, will they try to deal Matt Harvey and start a rebuild? Photo by Arturo Pardavila III (Wikimedia Commons).
Player (Team)
Odds
Zach Britton (Orioles)
1/1
Matt Harvey (Mets)
5/2
Manny Machado (Orioles)
7/1
Adam Jones (Orioles)
11/1
Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays)
22/1
Bryce Harper (Nationals)
30/1
Team Props
There were no 100-loss teams in the MLB in 2017, but Rick Renteria’s White Sox will give that number a run this year, along with the Marlins and Tigers. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [CC License].
Proposition
Odds
Over/Under: number of 100-win teams
1.5
Over/Under: number of 100-loss teams
2.5
Yankees break single-season home-run record (264 by 1997 Mariners)
3/2
Marlins break single-season record for losses in modern era (120 by 1962 Mets)
11/1
A team goes from worst to first in its division
75/1
Average game-length gets shorter in 2018 vs 2017
1/3
Player/Manager Props
Albert Pujols will become the latest member of the 3,000-hit club this season, barring injury. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/].
Proposition
Odds
At least one first-year manager is fired before end of 2018 season
75/1
Over/Under: when Albert Pujols joins 3,000-hit club
May 10
Over/Under: number of 50-homer players
3.5
Over/Under: combined Stanton/Judge home runs
95.5
Over/Under: combined Stanton/Judge strikeouts
355.5
Over/Under: number of MLB at bats for David Wright
0.5
CC Sabbathia reaches 3,000 strikeouts in 2018
15/1
Jason Hayward opts out of his contract
10,000/1
Odds To Lead Yankees In Home Runs
Newest Yankee Giancarlo Stanton (pictured) and 2017 Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge will form the most potent 1-2 punch in the bigs. By Arturo Pardavila III (Wiki Commons) CC License.
Player
Odds
Giancarlo Stanton
3/2
Aaron Judge
7/3
Gary Sanchez
4/1
Greg Bird
12/1
FIELD
49/1
Shohei Ohtani Odds
Proposition
Odds
Ohtani hits a home run before recording a win
3/2
Ohtani pitches a no-hitter in 2018
75/1
Ohtani hits a home run and records a win in the same game
18/1
Ohtani HRs + hits is greater than wins + innings pitches
3/1
A Little Levity
Of all the odds in this article, we’re least confident in our calculations on J-Lo’s and A-Rod’s relationship future. Photo by Ana Carolina Kley Vita (Wikimedia Commons) [CC License].
Proposition
Odds
Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez announce their engagement before the end of the 2018 season
1/2
Marlin Man and Derek Jeter have a public reconciliation
50/1
Home run sculpture at Marlins Park is removed during 2018 season
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
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