With the MLB All-Star break behind us, it’s full steam ahead to the final stretch of the regular season. We’re making updated betting picks on different MLB Division winners. You’ll want to read this for up-to-date betting advice!
Best Bets To Win 2022 MLB Division Titles
There’s really only three MLB divisions worth making bets on the rest of 2022. That’s because the other three divisions have zero betting value given how big of a lead the current first-place team holds.
Those three divisions are the AL East, AL West, and NL West. World Series favorites, per top baseball betting sites, lead all three — New York Yankees, Houston, and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively. We’d be shocked if they don’t hang on to win those divisions hence why we’re skipping those bets entirely. Let’s cover the three title races that are up for grabs, though.
AL Central Betting Pick
It’s a three-team struggle for the AL Central crown. Currently, Minnesota is three games atop the standings. Cleveland is in second and Chicago in third, only five games out of first. Here’s how popular online sportsbooks are pegging each of the three’s division-title chances:
We’re not optimistic the Twins can hang on to win. That’s because they’ll have a tough schedule the rest of the way. Their remaining out-of-division opponents are the Yankees, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Giants, Brewers, Padres and Astros — an absolutely murder’s row of playoff and World Series contenders. Minnesota has zero margin for error, which is a tough position to be in a tough division race.
As for the Guardians, they are, well, just average. We expect them to stay in division and wildcard contention but just miss out. Why? Welp, the team’s best player, Jose Ramirez, is swirled in contract talks that seem to be going nowhere. That’s not good for a team that already lacks star power.
This leads us to the White Sox, our go-to pick to take the AL Central. This is the most talented team of the three and are finally getting healthy enough to realize those talents. And unlike Minnesota, Chicago’s remaining schedule is the second-easiest in the whole league. The Sox should be able to mount a division-title comeback here.
NL Central Betting Pick
Only two teams are legit threats to win the NL Central. The first is Milwaukee, who owns a two-and-a-half game lead in the division. But right on their tail is St. Louis. Both teams are neck-and-neck in the betting odds:
We’ll be completely upfront and say we don’t like where the Brewers are trending, and that’s down. Way down. This team has gone seven games under .500 since Memorial Day. It's been offensive woes that’ve stopped this team in their tracks. One could argue this team can acquire a bat before the trade deadline but historically speaking, Milwaukee is a cheap franchise. There’s just not a whole lot to like from the Brew Crew right now.
Therefore, we’re jumping on the Cardinals chance. Remember earlier when we said the White Sox had the second-easiest strength of schedule? Welp, the only team that has an easier path the rest of 2022 is St. Louis. About 70 percent of its remaining games are against teams completely out of the playoff picture (e.g. the Diamondbacks, Reds, Rockies). We fully expect St. Louis to go on a run to not only climb up the division, but the National League too.
NL East Betting Pick
We finish out East where the Mets have a one-and-a-half-game advantage over the Braves. It’s either one of these two team's division to win the rest of the way, as reflected in the betting lines:
This is the toughest pick of the three. Both ball clubs have legit World Series potential, however, we’re going with Atlanta, the reigning champions of the world. The Braves are actually trending higher right now than in their 2021 title season with a higher winning percentage (.600 to .547).
Not only that, but this is also the Mets we’re talking about — a franchise that just can’t catch a break, especially when it comes to injuries. We expect New York to falter with its pitching aces, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, still missing in action.
How To Bet On 2022 MLB Season?
There’s a never-ending amount of bets you can make on the 2022 MLB season. Daily bets (game moneylines, run lines, total runs, props), futures like the ones we covered, and a whole lot more. Want to seize these limitless opportunities? Then you might as well visit one of the online sportsbooks featured in the table.
What’s even better is these bookies are offering numerous sportsbook bonuses. These deals are available to all bettors, whether they’re first-timers or seasoned players. With the bonuses, you can earn an injection of free play — anywhere between $500 and $2500 — to make MLB wagers with free of cost. The table below has details on the best bonuses currently on the table.
