MLB Betting Feature: Spring Training Update

Daily betting cards are once again loaded with baseball games as MLB’s spring training is back in full swing. With about a week of action in the books, here’s a look at the top bets and fades of spring training so far, as well as a look at the upcoming division races in the regular season.

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The Grapefruit League so far

No team in either league has come close to the dominance of the Detroit Tigers in the spring thus far. Outscoring their opponents by a combined 40 to 8 through their first six games of spring training, Detroit is 6-0 both on the MLB moneyline and on the run line in Grapefruit League play.

Also off to a strong start so far this spring are the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros. Boston is 3-1 straight up through four games while the Blue Jays and Astros are each 4-2 straight up through their first six games.

The best team to fade so far this season in Grapefruit League play is the Atlanta Braves, who are just 1-5 straight up. Two of their five losses came to the red-hot Tigers with one by a score of 5-1 and the other by a disastrous score of 18-3.

Other good early fades have included the Tampa Bay Rays (2-5), the Pittsburgh Pirates (2-4), and the New York Yankees (2-4). The Yankees’ struggles serve as a reminder that spring training is a different beast than the regular season.

Breaking down the Cactus League

Like Detroit has taken the Grapefruit League by storm, the team to beat in this year’s Cactus League play so far has been the Seattle Mariners. Scoring more runs than any other team this spring with 52 so far, the Mariners are 6-1 on the MLB moneyline and currently on a five-game winning streak.

Other hot starting teams in Arizona include the Los Angeles Angels (3-1), Kansas City Royals (4-2), and San Francisco Giants (4-2). After a 1-2 start, San Francisco has won each of its last three games.

The Cactus League’s piñata thus far has been the San Diego Padres, who are just 1-5 straight up. The Arizona Diamondbacks are also off to a rough start at 1-4 straight up; through five games, they’ve given up more runs than any other team this spring, giving up a whopping 10 runs per game.

Though they’ve only played four games apiece each, the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies would like to turn things around as they are each off to 1-3 starts.

Looking at divisional futures

Bettors can currently wager on futures on the upcoming regular season at Bovada for who will win the World Series, the AL and NL pennant, and each of MLB’s six divisions. Some of the best odds can be found before the season starts and baseball bettors start moving lines more frequently, so check them out today.

In the American League, the favorites to win the divisions are the New York Yankees to win the AL East at -150, the Los Angeles Angels to win the AL West at -125, and the Detroit Tigers to win the AL Central at a massive -500. The Angels and Tigers added the two biggest offensive free agents available this season in Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, respectively.

The races in the National League appear to be a bit closer. While the Philadelphia Phillies are a convincing favorite in the NL East at -275, the fields are a bit more open in the NL Central (where the Cincinnati Reds are a slight +140 favorite) and NL West (where San Francisco is a slight +120 favorite). Philadelphia has won the NL East five straight years.

With opening day less than a month away, baseball has finally returned.

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Find MLB futures and spring training odds for the action on the diamond today at Bovada.