2017 MLB Betting: Teams Poised to Run Away With Their Divisions

2017 MLB Betting: Teams Poised to Run Away With Their Divisions

Written by on July 18, 2017

Here’s the good news if you like late-season drama in MLB: the races in the AL East, AL Central and NL Central all could go down to the wire. Let’s hope so because the races in the other three divisions already look over. Here are three MLB betting picks that will end the 2017 season dominating their divisions.

2017 MLB Betting: Teams Poised to Run Away With Their Divisions

Houston Astros (62-30)

Houston has a whopping 16.5-game lead in the AL West – no other team is even over .500. Seriously, the Bad News Bears could replace the Astros big leaguers for a month and Houston would win this division. Oh, and Houston is close to getting even better. That’s because after losing out on a trade for White Sox ace lefty Sonny Gray, Houston wants Sonny Gray from Oakland.

How Has Houston Done With Trades Lately?

They’ve made many deals over the last few years, but of all the trades they have made one of their biggest splashes came with the A’s in 2015 when they acquired Scott Kazmir. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow flat-out said a month ago that he likes to make trades with Billy Beane. “I think it’s because Billy Beane and I have the same philosophy, which is we want to make win-win trades,” he said. “And if there’s a trade that helps your club and helps the other club even if it’s a division rival, it’s not worth putting it aside just because it’s a division rival.”

Who Else Does the Astros Want in Their Squad?

They are also close to getting back ace Dallas Keuchel and fellow starting pitcher Collin McHugh from the DL. McHugh (elbow) pitched well in his final rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Sunday, allowing just an unearned run over six innings. McHugh scattered four hits and a walk in the ballgame. He’s expecting to rejoin the Astros’ rotation next weekend against the Orioles in Baltimore. Keuchel made another rehab start Monday. The All-Star lefty is undefeated with a 1.67 ERA in 11 starts this year.

Latest MLB Betting Odds & Trends

  • Odds to Win 2017 World Series: +350
  • Odds to Win AL Pennant: +160
  • Odds to Win AL Division: TBA

Check Out MLB Odds to win the 2017 World Series Predictions for AL & NL

Washington Nationals (56-36)

The Nats lead the Atlanta Braves by 10 games in the NL East and are the only club in the division with a positive run differential. Ryan Zimmerman socked a solo homer Monday against the Reds becoming the Nationals/Expos all-time franchise leader in home runs. It was his 235th career homer, which puts him past former Expos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero. The Nats boosted their bullpen – the team’s biggest weakness – over the weekend in landing Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle from Oakland. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said that Madson was the team’s initial target with the Athletics before the deal was expanded to include Doolittle. The Nationals haven’t decided who will close following the trade.

How is the Offense Doing Right Now?

Washington’s offense leads the National League in almost every category, including: batting average, on– base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, hits, runs, doubles and extra-base hits. Meanwhile, the Nationals’ starting pitching staff paces Major League Baseball in strikeouts and innings pitched and ranks second in WHIP.

Latest MLB Betting Odds & Trends

  • Odds to Win 2017 World Series: +550
  • Odds to Win NL Pennant: +220
  • Odds to Win NL Division: TBA
The Dodgers are favorites in the NL West to win the division.

LA Dodgers (64-29)

The Dodgers’ record merits comparisons to their teams in 1977 and 1955, both World Series clubs. They’re 35 games above .500 for the first time since ’77, and the record at the 93-game mark is their best since ’55. They are going to win the NL West a fifth straight year as they lead second-place Arizona by 10.5 games. L.A. has the potential Cy Young Award winner (Clayton Kershaw), NL MVP (Justin Turner or Cody Bellinger) and Rookie of the Year (Bellinger). Plus, LA is 55-18 (.753) since Bellinger was promoted from the minors. He has 26 homers and on Saturday became the first rookie in the 128-year history of the franchise to hit for the cycle.

And Kershaw Doesn’t Even Have the Best Numbers on the Team!

This weekend, Alex Wood became the first Dodger since at least 1913 to start the season 11-0. He’s the 18th pitcher in the big leagues to start the season 11-0 since 1913 and the first since Stephen Strasburg last season (13-0). He also is nearing eligibility for the official ERA title and currently leads all Major Leaguers (min. 50 IP) with a 1.56 ERA (15 ER/86.2 IP). In fact, the L.A. bullpen leads the NL with a 2.95 ERA (99 ER/302.0 IP), a 1.11 WHIP (1st MLB) and 348 strikeouts. All-Star closer Kenley Jansen, who has recorded 22 saves this season (T-2nd, NL), currently owns the longest active save streak this year (22). He has thrown scoreless relief in 19 of his last 20 appearances.

Latest MLB Betting Odds & Trends

  • Odds to Win 2017 World Series: +300
  • Odds to Win NL Pennant: +130
  • Odds to Win NL Division: TBA

Expert MLB Betting Prediction

Honestly, I don’t see much changing in these divisions. Those teams just continue to rule out the competition.So, this is the way I see it going down. First, Dodgers beat Nationals in NLCS, but Astros lose to Red Sox in ALCS. How’s a Boston-Dodgers World Series sound? I do see the Dodgers succeeding this year, but much can change by then. Besides, there are other divisions we haven’t mentioned, which we will do in the upcoming weeks. But for now, be sure to get all the knowledge you need before making your betting picks.