The 2023 MLB regular season kicks off on Thursday, March 30. Now that the dust of the off-season and the World Baseball Classic has settled and Opening Day is just a few short days away, we put together our list of best bets for the American League in 2023. Buckle up because the quest for the next champion of America’s pastime kicks off soon.
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MLB Odds 2023: Best Bets for the American League
AL MVP: Julio Rodriguez (+900 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez currently has the fourth-best odds to win the award this year behind Shohei Ohtani (+220), Aaron Judge (+700), and Mike Trout (+800). The names above him are all better players, but they also have clear roadblocks to overcome.
Ohtani and Trout must overcome being on a bad team. The Angels made some moves in the offseason to add bats and much-needed pitching, but how many wins it will amount to is yet to be determined. Ohtani will always be in the running due to his versatility, but the numbers may be becoming less impressive to the voters as the losses pile up for the Angels.
As for Judge, the odds of him following up last season with similar home run numbers are slim, and home runs are usually what have Judge in MVP consideration. Meanwhile, Rodriguez is coming off of a rookie campaign in which he helped Seattle return to the postseason for the first time since 2001. In year one, he batted .284 and had 28 home runs. He also made the Astros sweat in round one of the playoffs, adding to his experience at the plate. If he tops his numbers from last year and helps Seattle return to the playoffs, it may be hard for the voters not to give it to him.
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AL Central Winner: Minnesota Twins (+215 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
The Twins were in the AL Central driver’s seat for the bulk of the season last year until they had a historic collapse in the last six weeks. They were 50-44 at the All-Star break and then went on to finish the rest of the season 28-40. However, at one point, 18 players on their 40-man roster were on the IL, including Byron Buxton — good for the most in baseball at the time.
During the offseason, they somehow retained Carlos Correa after a bizarre back and forth during which he agreed to terms with the Mets, added Christian Vasquez, and got healthy. Given their success early last season, it’s clear they have the talent. Now, it’s just a matter of health. If they can stay healthy, which is a question for every team, they have a great shot at winning the division.
They will have their hands full with the Cleveland Guardians, who added Josh Bell in the off-season to their already potent lineup. Where the Twins have the edge is defense. Their outfield is arguably the best in baseball. If the infield can catch up, their quest for the best in the AL Central gets a little easier.
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World Series Champions: Houston Astros (+500 at Caesars Sportsbook)
The Houston Astros took home the 2022 world championship in their quest to put the negative headlines from 2017 behind them. How did they celebrate? By adding one of the best bats in the business to the roster. First baseman Jose Abreu’s .300 batting average will bring much-needed life to an Astros’ lineup that is no stranger to going cold in big moments, making their quest for ring number two more difficult than it should have been.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but you can make a case that the Astros were a few big swings away from a first-round exit despite sweeping the Mariners. You can also argue they were one swing away from a game 7 against Philly in the World Series, which could have gone either way. Abreu’s bat should help drive home a lot more runs to help the Astros separate when they get the dominant pitching performances they did all 2022.
This is especially true since they lost Justin Verlander to the New York Mets in the offseason. Fortunately for the Astros, their young pitchers seem ready for the spotlight thanks to years of deep playoff runs. However, they will have to prove it as 2023 will be many of their young pitchers’ first full season as starters. If Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and the bullpen pick up where they left off last season, the Astros’ chances of repeating are pretty favorable.
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Article contributed by David Fletcher.
