With the start of the season approaching, theScore's MLB editors put on their prognosticator hats to offer up futures selections on some of the odds on the board.
AL East odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Red Sox | 2-1 |
| Blue Jays | 11-4 |
| Yankees | 11-4 |
| Rays | 6-1 |
| Orioles | 8-1 |
Greg Warren: The AL East is always a tough call, but the Blue Jays may be the bet to defend their AL East title. With sluggers Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista entering contract years, this lineup becomes even more dangerous. Their rise to the top of the division likely depends on Marcus Stroman's development into a true ace. Blue Jays to win AL East at 11-4
Gino Bottero: The Orioles supplemented an already potent offense with a pair of potential 30-home run hitters in Mark Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez. The knock on the team is its pitching staff, but the Orioles can score enough runs to make winners out of Chris Tillman and Co., and Dylan Bundy looks ready to contribute. Orioles to win AL East at 8-1
AL Central odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Indians | 9-5 |
| Royals | 5-2 |
| Tigers | 5-1 |
| White Sox | 5-1 |
| Twins | 6-1 |
Warren: Detroit's front office wasn't happy with the team's last-place finish in the division last year, and the result was a spending spree that brought free agents Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmermann to the Motor City. The acquisitions of Cameron Maybin and Francisco Rodriguez should also help lift the Tigers back to the top of the division. Tigers to win NL Central at 5-1
Bottero: The AL Central may be the biggest toss-up of any division in baseball. All five teams could conceivably finish atop the standings after 162 games. But it's a pitcher's era, and the Indians have a starting staff as good as any in baseball. Indians to win AL Central at 9-5
AL West odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Astros | 10-13 |
| Rangers | 4-1 |
| Mariners | 5-1 |
| Angels | 6-1 |
| A's | 20-1 |
Bottero: Don't be surprised to see a little regression from an Astros team that broke out ahead of schedule a year ago. The Rangers, meanwhile, have quietly assembled a balanced lineup of veteran and emerging young stars and, coupled with the addition of Ian Desmond and the return of Yu Darvish, look primed to successfully defend their division title. Rangers to win AL West at 4-1
NL East odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Nationals | EVEN |
| Mets | EVEN |
| Marlins | 10-1 |
| Braves | 80-1 |
| Phillies | 80-1 |
Warren: Dusty Baker should be a calming influence for the Nationals after a disastrous 2015 campaign. Their roster is still loaded with reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper leading the way, and this should be the year they finally meet high expectations. Nationals to win NL East (EVEN)
NL Central odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Cubs | 1-2 |
| Cardinals | 15-4 |
| Pirates | 15-4 |
| Brewers | 80-1 |
| Reds | 80-1 |
Dan Toman: Baseball's newest super power (and odds-on favorite) might not break the bank for you, but there's at least a good chance they won't cost you any cash, either. So long as they receive good health for their pitching staff, the Cubs' lineup is much too deep to bet against. Cubs to win NL Central at 1-2
Bottero: Let's give the Cardinals the benefit of the doubt before we hand over the keys to the NL Central to a Cubs team that has a history of letdowns. Big steps forward from rising talents Kolten Wong, Randal Grichuk, and Stephen Piscotty figure to give the Cards enough offensive punch to keep up with the North Siders. Cardinals to win NL Central at 15-4
NL West odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 11-10 |
| Giants | 6-5 |
| D-Backs | 7-1 |
| Padres | 20-1 |
| Rockies | 50-1 |
Warren: Arizona's offseason was incredible, but its high-priced additions still won't be enough to snatch the title away from the Dodgers and Giants. San Francisco's trend of winning World Series titles in even years (2010, 2012, 2014) suggests its the team to beat. Giants to win NL West at 6-5
Home Run King Odds
| PLAYER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Giancarlo Stanton | 7-1 |
| Mike Trout | 12-1 |
| Bryce Harper | 12-1 |
| Edwin Encarnacion | 15-1 |
| Kris Bryant | 15-1 |
| Josh Donaldson | 15-1 |
| Chris Davis | 15-1 |
| Nelson Cruz | 20-1 |
| Jose Abreu | 25-1 |
| Jose Bautista | 25-1 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 25-1 |
| Nolan Arenado | 25-1 |
| Todd Frazier | 25-1 |
| Carlos Correa | 30-1 |
| Anthony Rizzo | 30-1 |
| Miguel Cabrera | 30-1 |
| Justin Upton | 40-1 |
| Joey Votto | 80-1 |
| David Ortiz | 100-1 |
| Yoenis Cespedes | 100-1 |
Bottero: We've seen pending free agents post monster stat lines in their walk year before, and none have had more to prove than Jose Bautista, who'll enter free agency as a 36-year-old. The added motivation could be enough to get him back above the 50-home run plateau in the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. Bautista to win home run title at 20-1
Toman: Isolated power is a great predictor of future performance, and one needn't look any further than Nolan Arenado's eye-popping power rates to know there's a good chance Coors Field will house - or at least try to house - baseball's next home run king. Arenado's .287 ISO was fourth-best in the majors last season, but the numbers that really have us excited are his 42 homers and 25-1 odds. Arenado to win home run title at 25-1
World Series odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Cubs | 4-1 |
| Dodgers | 9-1 |
| Astros | 10-1 |
| Mets | 12-1 |
| Red Sox | 12-1 |
| Giants | 12-1 |
| Blue Jays | 14-1 |
| Nationals | 14-1 |
| Yankees | 14-1 |
| Indians | 16-1 |
| Rangers | 18-1 |
| Royals | 18-1 |
| Cardinals | 20-1 |
| Pirates | 20-1 |
| Tigers | 25-1 |
| Mariners | 30-1 |
| Angels | 30-1 |
| White Sox | 30-1 |
| D-Backs | 30-1 |
| Twins | 50-1 |
| Rays | 60-1 |
| Orioles | 60-1 |
| Marlins | 60-1 |
| A's | 100-1 |
| Padres | 100-1 |
| Reds | 300-1 |
| Brewers | 300-1 |
| Braves | 500-1 |
| Phillies | 500-1 |
Bottero: For reasons beyond it being an even-numbered year, the Giants are the team to beat. Madison Bumgarner leads a rotation that's as deep as any in baseball, and San Francisco's lineup may be more potent than any they fielded in their World Series-winning seasons, particularly if they can keep Hunter Pence on the field. Giants to win World Series at 12-1
Warren: Remember when the Nationals were favored to win the World Series last year? They're basically bringing back the same club with a few tweaks, and they'll be hungry to silence last year's demons. At 14-1, Washington presents great value as a World Series contender. Nationals to win World Series at 14-1
Toman: If you're looking for a long shot, perhaps you should consider the Mariners, last year's AL favorite before a litany of injuries and underwhelming performances made them the most disappointing team of 2015. Felix is back, the rotation is solid, and Robinson Cano is hitting like a Yankee again. Mariners to win World Series at 30-1
Win total odds
| TEAM | WIN TOTAL |
|---|---|
| Cubs | 93.5 |
| Dodgers | 90.0 |
| Mets | 89.0 |
| Giants | 88.5 |
| Nationals | 88.5 |
| Astros | 88.0 |
| Cardinals | 87.5 |
| Red Sox | 87.5 |
| Yankees | 86.5 |
| Blue Jays | 86.5 |
| Pirates | 86 |
| Indians | 85.5 |
| Royals | 85.0 |
| Rangers | 83.5 |
| Mariners | 83.0 |
| D-Backs | 82.0 |
| Tigers | 81.5 |
| Angels | 81.5 |
| Rays | 80.5 |
| White Sox | 80.0 |
| Marlins | 79.5 |
| Twins | 79.0 |
| Orioles | 78.5 |
| A's | 75.5 |
| Padres | 73.5 |
| Rockies | 71.0 |
| Reds | 70.0 |
| Brewers | 70.0 |
| Braves | 67.0 |
| Phillies | 65.5 |
Warren: It's hard to imagine the revamped Tigers not finishing over .500. The 81.5-win total seems a little low considering the flurry of moves, as long as Detroit's bullpen improves and its starting pitchers remain healthy, take the over. Tigers OVER 81.5 wins
Toman: For a team with better World Series odds than the Cardinals, taking the over on the Rangers' 83.5-win total seems like a no-brainer. Jeff Banister's group boasts an impressive blend of power and speed, a pair of aces, and an intimidating bunch of hard-throwing bullpen arms, so given that Texas will play nearly a quarter of its games against two of the AL's worst teams (Angels, Athletics), it's definitely looking like the upside play. Rangers OVER 83.5 wins
Bottero: A lot went right for the Yankees in getting to 87 wins a year ago, but all the concerns that were present last season are still there, and their core players are another year older. Their bullpen can shorten games, but that's something they were doing a year ago, and getting to that point will be difficult this season. Yankees UNDER 86.5 wins
Odds courtesy: Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, OddsShark
