Players have reported for spring training, and MLB Opening Day will be here before we know it. This early is a good time to take advantage of some odds you might like, and these are some of my favorites to take a shot on, mostly at over +1000. All odds are via FanDuel Sportsbook.
NL East to win World Series (+250)
The toughest division in baseball looks like it’ll be the NL East, with the Mets, Braves, and Phillies all high-end contenders with 100-win upside. Like last season, all three can make the postseason, and we saw the Phillies get hot and go on a run—the same could easily happen this season with either one of Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York. The Phillies at +1400 are currently the best value of the three NL East titans.
Aaron Judge lead MLB in HR (+600)
Getting these odds on the American League record breaker in home runs—who signed a long-term contract to remain with the Yankees and play half his games at Yankee Stadium—could prove to be a bargain. Aaron Judge will have to live up to the contract and not let any slumps (and the noise that comes with that in the Bronx) affect his play, and he must stay healthy, but the giant slugger led the majors in homers by a whopping margin of 16 last season.
Mike Trout AL MVP (+800)
Injuries have unfortunately been an issue for Angels star outfielder Mike Trout, still one of the best players in the game when he’s on the field. If teammate Shohei Ohtani (the heavy AL MVP favorite at this stage) has an off year either at the plate or on the mound, a healthy Trout would likely be the favorite if he performs like he usually does. This just feels way too low for the three-time American League MVP.
Shohei Ohtani AL Cy Young (+1200)
New American League entrant Jacob de Grom certainly makes things more interesting, and—similar to Trout with the MVP—he’s going to have a pretty good shot to take home Cy Young honors if he can stay healthy. But Shohei Ohtani somehow quietly put together a 15-9, 2.33 ERA, 219 strikeout campaign in 2022. A similar year should have Ohtani in the AL Cy Young mix (a group that, while gaining de Grom, lost reigning winner Justin Verlander to the National League’s Mets).
Trea Turner NL MVP (+1200)
The Phillies loaded up this offseason, and Trea Turner was their biggest acquisition. The fast and super smooth shortstop is set to hit in the leadoff spot for Philadelphia—a spot that can lead to him pacing the National League in runs scored. That potentially paired with a .300 average and close to 100 RBIs and 20-30+ homers and steals would have to put Turner in the MVP discussion.
Freddie Freeman NL MVP (+1300)
Freddie Freeman finished fourth in NL MVP voting last season, and he should be even more comfortable in his second season with the Dodgers despite already leading the National League in runs (117), hits (199), and on-base percentage (.407). Playing for one of the best teams in the majors, the former MVP during the pandemic season has the obvious upside to take it home again in 2023.
Zack Wheeler NL Cy Young (+1600)
Last season was slightly off for Zack Wheeler, but he still powered through with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. If the hard-throwing right-hander is healthier this year, he can potentially get back closer to his 2021 marks of 247 strikeouts along with a 2.78 ERA—and perhaps closer to 20 wins playing for a Phillies team that boosted the bullpen during the winter.