The acquisition of Jason Heyward is one reason the Cubs have the highest over-under in the majors. (Getty)
Editor’s note: The odds below are courtesy of Heavy’s partners at OddsShark. Click here for more MLB odds and betting info at OddsShark.com.
It takes relatively little – injuries, a starting pitcher having bad luck on balls put in play – for a Major League Baseball team to fall short of expectations.
That is what makes a great guessing game out of poring over MLB wins over/under props at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com, with Opening Day a little more than a month away. The Chicago Cubs have the highest prop at 92.5 wins. The Philadelphia Phillies, with a 68.5 over/under prop, are at the other end of the spectrum.
A MLB team must be very good and lucky to earn at least 93 victories, so the Cubs are -130 to hit the over. A handful of other teams that could be poised for breakout seasons also have -130 odds for beating their projection; that includes the defending NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers (88.5), who lost RHP Zack Greinke to Arizona via free agency.
It also includes the Boston Red Sox (86.5) with new LHP David Price, the Cleveland Indians (84.5), who need better hitting to complement their young pitching, and the aging Detroit Tigers (81.5). Each of those teams is even-money to finish under.
Two teams with -130 under props are the Texas Rangers (84.5 wins), Baltimore Orioles (79.5) and Cincinnati Reds (70.5). Texas overachieved to win the AL West last season. The Orioles have finished at or above .500 in each of the past four seasons, but their pitching regressed last season.
The rebuilding Reds have a thin lineup beyond hitting-machine 1B Joey Votto, plus they play in the strong NL Central with the Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates (86.5 over/under) and St. Louis Cardinals (87.5). Each of those teams is an even-money bet to finish over.
Along with the Cubs, the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals each have an over/under of 89.5 wins. The NL has had four or more 90-win teams in four of the past five seasons.
At the other end of the spectrum, five NL teams have an over/under of 70.5 wins or fewer, with the Atlanta Braves (66.5) and the Philadelphia Phillies (65.5) at the bottom.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros each have an 87.5 over/under. Each team ended a significant postseason appearance drought in 2015 before falling to the Kansas City Royals in the playoffs. The defending World Series champion Royals have an over/under of 85.5, which is also the baseline for the aging New York Yankees. Boston’s over/under is 86.5.
The lower end of the spectrum in the AL is filled by the Oakland Athletics (75.5).
is the official odds provider of Heavy and inserts a gaming perspective into today’s top sports stories. For all the latest wagering news and notes follow them on Twitter: @OddsShark March 4, 2016 7:17 pm
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