The 2021 MLB season is underway and already many of the early favorites to win this year’s World Series are off to strong starts. Defending champion Los Angeles has won eight of its first ten games and division rival San Diego is 7-3.
There are also a couple of teams that bettors had their eye on before the season – the Yankees and White Sox – that have started slowly. There is still plenty of season left to play though. Here’s a look at best MLB bets to start the 2021 regular season.
World Series Futures
The Dodgers have been the favorite to win the 2021 World Series ever since they won it last year. Their 8-2 start is as good an indication as any for bettors looking at the futures market.
L.A. is listed at +300 and now is as good a time as any to get in on the action. As the Dodgers continue to roll up big win numbers, those odds are going to shorten.
The Yankees (+675) find themselves at 4-5 after nine games. The same is true of the Chicago White Sox who are 4-5. The White Sox at +1200 right now were an early value pick with what many believe is the AL’s best lineup. Chicago will be without OF Eloy Jimenez until late September though due to injury.
A real value pick is the Los Angeles Angels. For years, there are those that believe the Angels have wasted Mike Trout’s talents. That could all change this season. Shohei Ohtani is back and healthy and L.A. is off to a 6-3 start.
The Angels finished last season going 14-9 in their last 23 games. Trout and Ohtani are outstanding talents and finally have some solid pitching with Dylan Bundy, Ohtani, and Andrew Heaney. The Angels are currently listed at +2200 to win this year’s World Series.
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Division Futures
There is simply no value in taking the Dodgers at -500 to win the NL West. There is, however, some value in backing the Padres at +325 to win the division. The issue is pitching.
Yes, the Padres upgraded their pitching staff, but can it compare to the Dodgers’ rotation? San Diego is just one game behind the Dodgers and the two teams have yet to meet this season. They will play seven games against each other between April 16 and April 25.
The better divisional bet might be in the AL West where Houston has had a hold on the crown for the past three seasons. If you like the Angels chances at a World Series, you should take a look at the Angels at +325 to steal the AL West from the Astros (-135). The two teams are currently tied with 6-3 records.
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MLB Strikeout Leader
One of your best MLB bets in 2021 is the race for the most strikeouts. The shortest odds belong to Gerrit Cole (+450), the AL and overall strikeout leader in 2019.
Last season, the Mets’ Jacob deGrom led the NL for the second straight year. deGrom is listed at +525 to capture the strikeout title this season.
The best bet though is on Cleveland’s Shane Bieber who won the AL and overall title last season with 122 K’s. Bieber is given +650 odds and is off to a strong start in 2021. In just two starts, Bieber leads the majors with 24 strikeouts.
