Bold bets for the second half of the MLB Season (Don’t count these teams out!)
If you’re an MLB fan, you know how unpredictable the final few months of the season can be.
If you need a refresher, do you remember how the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Guardians each had a torrid second half to rally and win their divisions last season?
There’s sure to be more mayhem like that down this final stretch this year, which ALSO means there’s money to be made on some unexpected endings.
Here are some bold bets that could pay off big if they wind up coming true:
Division winner odds
At this stage in the game, many of the awards races have been whittled down to just a few contenders, so let’s instead take a look at some teams who could win their division at long odds.
Baltimore Orioles odds to win AL East (+500)
The Baltimore Orioles have had one of the best records in baseball all season, but not many people – including oddsmakers – are taking them seriously yet.
There’s only ONE second-place team (the San Francisco Giants) with longer odds to win their division in all of baseball!
Baltimore has lackluster starting pitching but excels at nearly everything else, including bullpen pitching, hitting, speed and defense. The O’s would be in first place in any division but the AL East and NL East and have the sixth-best run differential in MLB.
If new call-ups like Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg can contribute and rookie Grayson Rodriguez can live up to some of his hype, this team could be even BETTER in the second half!
When you consider the litany of injuries that the Tampa Bay Rays have dealt with, too, it’s more than worth it to grab Baltimore at 5-to-1 odds to win the division.
Arizona Diamondbacks odds to win NL West (+460)
Believe it or not, this could be one of the best chances the Arizona Diamondbacks have to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arizona is on the rise and loaded with young talent, but the Dodgers are also as vulnerable as they’ve been in YEARS – to the point that Mookie Betts has played shortstop and they’ve NEEDED rookies like Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan to step into the rotation and produce.
Similar to the Orioles, there’s a LOT to be desired when it comes to the back-half of Arizona’s starting rotation, but the lineup has been able to carry the load with the sixth-most runs in MLB this season.
It won’t be easy for the D-Backs to beat out the Dodgers down the stretch, but if there’s any year for it to happen, it’s this one.
Chicago Cubs odds to win NL Central (+850)
This division-winner bet has long odds, but might actually be the most likely to happen.
The NL Central is one of the most winnable divisions in baseball and the Chicago Cubs actually have the best run differential in the division – 35 runs better than the first-place Cincinnati Reds!
Chicago’s pitching has allowed the fewest runs in the division and there’s no reason that can’t continue with a now fully healthy starting five.
Does anyone remember how quickly the Pittsburgh Pirates faded from their hot start? This division is still up for grabs and that makes these odds a steal.
Odds to make the playoffs
These teams probably won't make a run at winning their divisions, but they could still beat the odds to make the postseason via a Wild Card berth.
Seattle Mariners to make the playoffs (+265)
This season has already been a bit of a disappointment for Seattle Mariners fans, but it doesn’t have to finish that way.
Even after losing Robbie Ray early in the season, Seattle’s pitching has been one of the best in baseball. The Mariners have allowed the fourth-fewest runs in MLB (second-fewest in the AL).
If that can continue and slumping hitters like Julio Rodriguez, Jarred Kelenic and Ty France can heat up, Seattle could make a strong push for the playoffs.
It’s unlikely that the Mariners pass BOTH the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers in the AL West standings, but they enter the second half just four games out of a Wild Card berth.
Take the Mariners to make the postseason behind some of the best pitching in the AL.
San Diego Padres to make the playoffs (+300)
In a similar vein to the team above, San Diego has MASSIVELY underperformed this season, but the year isn’t over!
The Padres have some of the best hitters in the game in Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts. Suspension and injury have kept this core four from playing together for much of the season, but that should change in the second half.
And even if the hitters don’t fully bounce back, San Diego has the pitching to compete.
Blake Snell has been a bounce-back revelation this season. Michael Wacha has been an outstanding addition. And Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove are some of the most polished starters in the game.
Beating out the Giants, D-Backs AND Dodgers might be a stretch. But the Padres are just six games out of a Wild Card berth, and does anyone really trust the Miami Marlins to hold them off?
Predicting the 2023 World Series winner
What would a second-half preview be without picking a World Series winner? This pick might not surprise anyone, but you can still get some value out of this bet.
Tampa Bay Rays odds to win 2023 World Series (+600)
The Rays are listed behind the Braves and Dodgers as World Series favorites, but are firmly ahead of the entire American League.
Tampa Bay has already dealt with a season’s worth of injuries – losing Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen while also dealing with injuries to Tyler Glasnow and Shane McClanahan.
Springs and Rasmussen are out for the year, but if Glasnow and McClanahan can stay healthy, this is easily a top-5 starting rotation in baseball when you add in Zach Eflin and Taj Bradley.
Sure, the Rays have slowed down since their torrid start, but they still have the second-most runs in MLB while allowing the third-fewest (playing in the BEST division in baseball)!
When you consider that Tampa Bay is -2500 to make the playoffs, there’s a good chance you’ll get to see this bet ride out till the end.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.