2022 MLB Quarterly Report
Many baseball teams have played between 40 and 42 games thus far in 2022, meaning that we’re now officially past the quarter-pole of the season.
So, today seems as good a time as any to check in on MLB betting odds and our MLB season prop bets to see where things stand with MLB predictions.
2022 World Series Winner
Los Angeles Dodgers (currently +425)
When the season began, the Dodgers opened as the clear World Series favorite. They now have a little company near the top, but, according to World Series odds, L.A. still is the shortest price of anyone.
New York Yankees (+600)
Back in February, when we were in the middle of the lockout, the Yankees were paying +1050 to win the World Series. That has changed because of the best record in the league, so the odds are nearly half that February total.
New York Mets (+800)
Back in November, the Mets were paying +1800 to win the World Series. They dropped to +1200 after signing Max Scherzer, and even though Scherzer is hurt at the moment, possibly out until July, the Mets are comfortably in first place and near the top of World Series favorites.
Houston Astros (+900)
The Astros were another team paying over +1000 when the season began. They were even higher at the end of April when the Angels moved into first place. May saw a steady climb by Houston in the standings. Consistently dipping in their odds, they’re now fourth choice to win the World Series.
American League MVP
Shohei Ohtani (currently +200)
Aaron Judge (+335)
Mike Trout (+400)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+1000)
Byron Buxton (+1400)
Shohei Ohtani began this season favored to repeat as the American League MVP. He hasn’t done anything to diminish that. The only real movement at the top is Aaron Judge moving ahead of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Mike Trout.
If you were prescient and placed a wager on Byron Buxton when he was at +4500 before the season began, go get ‘em with that.
National League MVP
Manny Machado (currently +185)
Nolan Arenado (+850)
Mookie Betts (+850)
Pete Alonso (+1200)
Bryce Harper (+1200)
Juan Soto (+1200)
So, two of the top five players on this list have won an MVP award before. Bryce Harper was the National League winner last season, and Mookie Betts was the AL winner in 2018.
Manny Machado has finished in the top five in MVP voting three times (2015, 2016 and 2020), but this season’s career-best OPS of 1.043 has NL MVP odds making him a big favorite to win this time around.
Nolan Arenado has finished in the top 10 in the NL MVP voting on five different occasions, though his best result was third in 2018.
American League Cy Young
Justin Verlander (currently +475)
Kevin Gausman (+600)
Gerrit Cole (+700)
Shohei Ohtani (+850)
Shane McClanahan (+1050)
This is Justin Verlander’s race to lose now. He’s on pace to set career-bests in ERA, opponents batting average against and fewest homers. He’s as dominant as he’s been in either of his two previous Cy Young-winning seasons.
Kevin Gausman began the season at +1800, but the best season of Gausman’s career now has odds down to +600. He’s on pace for career-bests in ERA, strikeouts, walks and fewest homers.
At some point, 26-year-old Dylan Cease will win this award. He was great down the stretch in 2021, and that has carried over into an equally great 2022.
National League Cy Young
Corbin Burnes (currently +335)
Carlos Rodon (+400)
Pablo Lopez (+1000)
Joe Musgrove (+1000)
Max Scherzer’s strained oblique forced him from atop this list at what was then +480. He was the best pitcher on one of the best teams in the National League. The injury lingers, so Corbin Burnes is now the favorite. His 2.26 ERA is currently lower than last season when he won both the ERA title and the National League Cy Young.
And don’t sleep on Walker Buehler, currently at +1200. He was +800 when the season began, and as his win total continues to climb, do not be surprised if his odds return to that number, or even lower, perhaps. These could be the best wagering odds out there.
