After an offseason that featured a lockout over a new collective bargaining agreement, fans will finally be treated to some baseball beginning April 7. All 162 games will be played and the regular season will end on October 5.

MLB Betting Sites

There are relatively few changes at the top the heap. The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again the World Series favorite and a handful of American League teams are among the leaders on the betting board. Which of those American League teams will win the pennant? Here’s a look at the 2022 MLB American League pennant odds and picks.

Astros Lead the Market

There’s no question that the team that has been to the last five straight American League Championship Series is a favorite to win it again. Houston beat Boston is six games last year to win the AL but fell to Atlanta in the World Series.

The Astros have the best of both worlds – solid hitting and outstanding pitching. You have an AL MVP in Jose Altuve who hit .277 with 31 homers and 83 RBIs last season. Yordan Alvarez is among the favorites to win this year’s AL MVP. He’s coming off a season in which he also hit .277 with 33 home runs and 104 RBIs. Kyle Tucker (.294) hit 30 homers and Alex Bregman is back after an injury. There is talent in every spot from 1 through 9 in the batting order.

The Astros have three really good young pitchers in Christian Javier (4-1 in nine starts last year), Framber Valdez (11-6), and Jose Urquidy (8-3). Houston also gets two-time Cy Young Award winning pitcher Justin Verlander back after he missed all of last season with an injury. That’s why Houston sits atop the betting board at +450 to win the AL.

MLB Run Line Odds

Don’t Forget About the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays went 91-71 last year and didn’t make the postseason. They finished fourth in the super competitive AL East. Toronto has one of the best young lineups in baseball and that’s why they are given the same odds – +450 – as Houston to win the pennant.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led the majors with 48 homers. He also had 111 RBIs and hit .311. Bo Bichette is equally as dangerous. Bichette hit .298 with 29 home runs and 102 RBIs. Four more Blue Jays – Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and George Springer each hit at least 22 homers. Hernandez had 116 RBI and hit .296.

Toronto has a loaded lineup and it has the pitching staff to carry them deep into the postseason. The Blue Jays just added Yusei Kikuchi to go along with Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah, Hyun Jin Ryu, and former San Diego pitcher Kevin Gausman.

Don’t Sleep on the Rays or Angels

With all the competition in the AL East, remember it was Tampa Bay that won 100 games and won the division. The Rays are listed at +750 heading into the 2022 season and return a solid lineup that includes AL Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena and SS prospect Wander Franco.

The Angels are given +1600 odds and they might be the best value pick at the moment. This is a lineup with the best player in baseball – Mike Trout – who is now healthy and returns alongside reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani.

Anthony Rendon is in the lineup and the Angels pitching staff got much better with the offseason addition of Noah Syndergaard.

MLB Run Line Picks

2022 American League Pennant Predictions

Houston has been to the last five ALCS, but they have only advanced to the World Series in even- numbered years. Is it some sort of curse?

With the revamping of their pitching rotation, Toronto is a team that can keep pace with Houston. The Blue Jays have the run-producing power and now have the starting pitching that can carry them to a title.

PICK: BLUE JAYS +450

2022 American League Pennant Betting Lines

Houston Astros +450

Toronto Blue Jays +450

New York Yankees +475

Chicago White Sox +500

Tampa Bay Rays +750

Boston Red Sox +1100

Los Angeles Angels +1600

Seattle Mariners +1800

Minnesota Twins +2500

Detroit Tigers +2800

Cleveland Guardians +5000

Texas Rangers +5000

Kansas City Royals +7000

Oakland Athletics +8000

Baltimore Orioles +15000

Track your favorite MLB teams and real-time MLB standings all season long at ScoresAndStats.