The Major League Baseball season kicks off with 2021 Opening Day on Thursday, April 1st. There’s still plenty of time to get all of your futures bets in for this season even if you miss the Opening Day window. And there are plenty of futures opportunities that pose lots of value and aren’t likely to change much until we get deeper into the season. If you want to lock in now, though, go ahead and take the futures below if you are willing to wait out a seven-month-long sweat before collecting what could be some very sizable winnings.
Set your alarms!
All the action begins at 1pm ET tomorrow. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/HMWeGuVLzb
— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2021
World Series Wagers
The favorite to win the World Series this season is the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers (+300). They are followed on the odds board by the Yankees (+550), Padres (+800), Mets (+1000), Braves (+1000), and White Sox (+1000). With the Padres playing in the same division as the Dodgers, it is likely that they’ll find themselves fighting off each other after securing high National League playoff seeding, and at 8-1, that is not worth a bet. Then again, if you are Dodgers or Padres fan and want an additional reason to root for your club all year long, a possible 8-1 return may will be worth the risk you’d be willing to take.
With perennial Cy Young candidate Jacob deGrom leading the rotation once again, they check the box of having an ace who can take over a postseason series. Expect Cohen to look for another blockbuster trade in the middle of the season for Chicago’s Kris Bryant or Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suarez if the Mets are leading the division. So, getting them at 10-1 while you still can is a must.
The next team worth a bet to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy as World Champions is the Houston Astros (+2500).
But they offer great value in the middle tier of the field.
Despite the loss of George Springer, this team still has lots of talent with Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve in the middle infield. The pitching staff added much-needed depth with the signing of Jake Odorizzi from Minnesota. Manager Dusty Baker has the ability to calm everyone down on the road despite the belief that the team will struggle away from home this season.
The next team down the odds board worth a bet is the Milwaukee Brewers (+3000). Milwaukee gets Lorenzo Cain back this season after he opted out of last season because of concerns over the world health crisis. The absence of Cain derailed the Brewers due to the lack of a leadoff hitter and a clubhouse leader. Kolten Wong and Jackie Bradley Jr. were the two biggest offseason acquisitions. Bradley makes Milwaukee one of the best outfields in baseball next to Cain and former MVP Christian Yelich.
Brandon Woodruff emerged as a true No. 1 in the rotation last season, which is huge with one of the best bullpens in baseball, anchored on the back end by left hander Josh Hader and hard-throwing Devin Williams coming back from injury.
Not to mention, there’s the dominant season of No. 2 starter Corbin Burnes, who boasted a 2.11 earned run average and 88 strikeouts over 59 ⅔ innings. The biggest concern for the Brewers is the division rival Cardinals (+2400) adding Nolan Arenado to go along with Paul Goldschimdt this year.
However, St. Louis’ pitching staff has lots of questions. And over the course of a 162-game season, depth is key. Milwaukee has the type of team that could make a run out of a wild card spot, so making a 30-1 bet on them to win the World Series is a worthwhile wager.
NL MVP Plays
The first player to look at to win the National League MVP is the best player on the best team in Mookie Betts of the Dodgers at +750. Betts has an American League MVP to his name; this is back when he played for the Red Sox.
The Dodgers are heavy favorites to carry the best record in the National League into the playoffs. While Betts is not the biggest power hitter in the NL, with the Dodgers lineup constantly placing guys in scoring position, he has a strong chance to lead the league in RBI. Betts also is a five-time Gold Glove winner. So, if it comes down to him and Washington’s Juan Soto—a fellow right fielder who is the co-favorite to bring home the hardware also at +750—it is likely the Dodgers’ superior record and Betts’ fielding ability that would put him over the top.
The next player to look at is a bit of a longshot in Philadelphia catcher JT Realmuto (+3000). But Realmuto has the ability to bring home the award. And if the Phillies are in playoff contention down the stretch, he will be a large reason for that. Realmuto hit 25 home runs in 2019 and tallied 83 RBI. If he can just slightly improve those numbers this season, his stats would be similar to those posted by fellow former-Marlin teammate Christian Yelich during his own run to the NL MVP with the Brewers in 2018.
AL MVP Plays
One guy sits in the AL at under 10-1 odds to win MVP, and that’s the likely winner Mike Trout (+225). Trout has one opponent for the award this season: himself. If he plays over 150 games, it is likely his award to lose. Trout is the best player in all of baseball right now but has fallen victim to being stuck on a team that has reached the playoffs once in the three-time MVP’s career. Trout finished fifth in AL MVP voting last season, marking the worst finish in his nine full years in the big leagues.
The next name worth a bet is from a team one might not expect—the Boston Red Sox. However, third baseman Rafael Devers (+3000) is the perfect longshot to counter your bet slip if you take Trout as your anchor. Devers had 32 home runs and 115 RBIs in his last full season back in 2019. Devers is an extra-base hitting machine who is going to produce well over 100 RBI if he stays healthy for the majority of the season. He is in the best shape of his career and with Betts and Benintendi no longer on the team, it is his time to lead the Red Sox.
Plus, a postseason appearance as a wild card team could be enough cause to hand their leader the MVP award (especially if Trout suffers an unexpectedly sub-par season or an injury that limits his time on the field). And if the Red Sox shock the world and win their division, Devers’ name will be thrown around a lot similar to the way Betts won the award over Trout in 2018.
NL Cy Young Picks
The first pitcher to bet to win the Cy Young award reigns from the NL East, but it is not who you might think. It is Philadelphia ace Aaron Nola (+1200), who has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past two years. He finished seventh in voting last season, but he fell victim to playing for a team that missed the playoffs in large part because it was a poor defensive team. The Phillies should be a team that flirts with playoff contention this season. If they end up playing meaningful October baseball, don’t be surprised to see Nola win the award.
Which leads you to the second arm worth a bet this time around in Corbin Burnes (+4000) of Milwaukee. Burns recorded 88 strikeouts over 59 ⅔ innings last year with a 2.11 ERA. With the Brewers adding two elite defenders to the outfield in the returning Lorenzo Cain and Jackie Bradley Jr., it will make it hard for opposing teams to score with Burnes on the mound. It is easy to play the chalk with Jacob deGrom (+250). But with the Cy Young, the chalky play can be derailed with one injury that costs the pitcher three starts.
AL Cy Young Picks
The best bet to win the AL Cy Young is not reigning winner Shane Bieber (+400) of the Indians or the favorite in the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (+300). The best bet is actually Jesus Luzardo for the Athletics (+2500). Luzardo is a left-handed arm who throws his fastball upwards of 95 mph and then drops a devastating slider on hitters to buckle their knees. Luzardo started last season in the bullpen and bounced in and out of the rotation, largely due to an innings limit following a torn rotator cuff injury he suffered in 2019.
This season should see a fully healthy Luzardo complete his first full season in the MLB at 23 years old, and he has arguably the best stuff in the league. The gamble is on Luzardo’s innings pitched, as he has had many outings cut short due to high pitch counts, even with the loads of strikeouts. If Luzardo can throw over 150 innings this season and master his changeup, he will be a name easily in the top three of Cy Young voting.
The AL Cy Young odds board starts to get really fun once you advance into the middle tier and the first name worth a bet is Shohei Ohtani (+5000) of the Angels. Ohtani has not been the pitcher he was thought to be since he has came over from Japan, in large part to his injuries. He struggled to get his velocity where he wanted it last season, but he has since returned to his 97 mph fastball of 2018 in this year’s spring training. He has the fastball and splitter to get himself into the conversation, but the key will be the changeup he has been working on that could really take him over the top this season.
The Royals are not expected to be contenders in the AL Central just yet. But with the loaded talent coming up this season, they can speed up that process by a year. Singer leads the young staff at 24 years old and is only three years removed from taking the Florida Gators to the College World Series.
Singer boasts a power fastball and wipe-out slider that are as good as anyone’s. But continuing with the theme for the AL, he needs to add a third pitch to contend for a Cy Young. Singer has a frame similar to Kansas City’s last Cy Young winner, Zack Greinke. And if he has the same mindset, this season could provide the launching pad to a similarly dominant career.
NL Rookie of the Year Bets
The first rookie worth a bet in the National League is Dylan Carlson (+850) of the St. Louis Cardinals. Carlson has been in the Cardinals organization for a few years. With all the skills to become a great hitter, he should be in for a big year. With Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado anchoring the heart of the St. Louis lineup in the third and fourth spots, Carlson has a great chance to slide into the second spot in the lineup.
The second NL player worth consideration is San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart (+2500). Bart has a former Rookie of the Year and MVP in Buster Posey to mentor him this season. Posey will likely play first base or designated hitter this year, giving Bart plenty of playing time.
And even though he will start the season in the minor leagues, the Giants should be looking to the future and giving their future star catcher plenty of reps long before this season is completed.
AL Rookie of the Year Bets
The best bet to win the AL Rookie of the Year award is not low on odds boards. Bobby Witt Jr. (+2500) of the Kansas City Royals is an outstanding defensive stalwart and the rare shortstop who can begin producing home runs the second he is brought up. The power was not something that was totally expected to be as good as it has looked during a spring training that included him hitting a ball over 350 feet off of World Series hero Julio Urias.
Witt has been labeled as a line-drive hitting machine throughout his time in the minor leagues. But with this newfound power at the plate, he instantly will climb up the AL ROY power rankings throughout the year. The biggest issue is that Witt will not be called up until a few weeks pass into the season due to his service time. But with what he has displayed in spring training, the head start for his competitors will not be enough to keep him from running away with the award.
The next rookie worth a bet is Nick Madrigal (+2000), who will likely emerge as the favorite if Witt suffers an injury that limits his playing time. Madrigal was a popular pick to bring home the award last season before a wrist injury stopped his season before it really got going. Madrigal had a 6.4% strikeout rate in over 100 plate appearances, which is evidence of an unbelievable knack to make contact. He might start the season in the seventh spot in the White Sox lineup, but his ability to get on base for the big bats behind him should see him finish the season in the second spot.
Division Winner Diamond
This may come as a surprise, but the best division winner bet is the Indians to win the AL Central at 7-1. The White Sox and Twins are ahead of them on the odds board, but the White Sox are far from proven and the Twins could be due for a letdown season. The Indians have the most wins in the American League since 2013, when they hired Terry Francona as manager.
With Jose Ramirez and Shane Bieber still on the roster, they have a chance to be in contention. Cleveland has plenty of young talent that could lead this team to overachieving once again. Take a flyer on them to win their division and provide you with great returns for your wager, even if it takes more than seven months to collect on it.
*Odds courtesy of MyBookie
https://www.thesportsgeek.com/blog/top-futures-picks-for-2021-major-league-baseball-season/
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