We’re about a month away from the 2021 MLB season, and sports bettors are already placing bets on the teams they think will win it all. Some teams stand out as clear-cut favorites for a good reason, but the public is giving most of the money on teams that don’t even have the third-best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s take a look at the clubs baseball fans expect to take a big step forward.
The Chicago White Sox (+850) have the fourth-best odds and surprisingly command the largest share of the handle on World Series wagers. They haven’t won a World Series since 2005 but have adopted a win-now mentality. Chicago’s young core features Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Robert. That group is good enough to make noise in the postseason. Can Tony La Russa push the White Sox over the top? Many people seem to think so. Chicago has 21% of the handle and ranks second in percentage of total bets (14%).
The New York Mets (+1000) have the fifth-best odds and hold 16% of the handle with 9% of the total bets. Bettors have only placed more money on the White Sox so far. Jacob DeGrom is in his prime and can lead the Mets’ pitching rotation, and acquiring Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco via trade won’t hurt New York’s chances. If Pete Alonso and other hitters can continue to produce at a high level at affordable prices, the Nets could have a shot at making a run.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (+350) are the reigning champs and odds-on favorites. They command a league-high 21% of the total bets after an impressive offseason. The Dodgers added Trevor Bauer to what was already MLB’s best pitching rotation and led the league in home runs last year. The New York Yankees (+550) are right behind them in the odds and have a ton of pressure to win. They command 14% of the handle and total bets but have cut $50 million from their payroll ahead of the season.
Here are the top ten teams in splits, with total handle percentage listed first and total bet percentage second.
1. White Sox (+850): 21%, 14%
2. Mets (+1000): 16%, 9%
3. Dodgers (+350): 15%, 21%
4. Yankees (+550): 14%, 14%
5. Padres (+800): 11%, 13%
6. Cardinals (+2500): 6%, 5%
7. Braves (+1000): 4%, 5%
8. Cubs (+4000): 2%, 2%
9. Red Sox (+5000): 2%, 2%
10. Blue Jays (+2200): 1%, 2%
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