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All 30 MLB teams are closing out their spring training exhibition schedule early this week in preparation for their regular season opener on Thursday, April 1. There is still plenty of time to get in a few bets at your online sportsbook as far as the odds for the OVER or UNDER on projected wins.
Through Sunday’s practice games, the Oakland Athletics have posted the most wins in the Cactus League at 16-9. The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have each won 15 games during their spring training schedule in the Grapefruit League.
MLB Betting Bonuses and Promotions
It is hard to draw any solid betting conclusions from a team’s record in the preseason but there are still some solid clues to be found in the actual results.
Betting 2021 MLB Win Totals: Top OVER Bets
Oakland’s projected win total is set at 86.5 games with the betting odds slightly favoring the OVER at -120. The betting odds on the UNDER are set at -110.
The Athletics are +160 second-favorites behind the Houston Astros (+125) to win the AL West. Either way, it will most likely take at least 90 wins to lay claim to the regular season title.
Oakland won the AL West last year with 36 wins in 60 games. This followed back-to-back 97- win seasons to finish second behind the Astros each time. I love the value in the OVER on just 86.5 wins heading into the new season. A strong start out of the gate in the preseason only adds value to the OVER play.
At the other end of the spectrum in the NL Central is the Pittsburgh Pirates. As the projected last-place team in their division, the Pirates’ win total for 2021 has been set at 59.5 games. The betting odds are set at -115 for the OVER or UNDER.
This is still a bad team trying to get better after slipping to 69-93 in 2019. Pittsburgh was 19-41 in 60 games last year to set the bar that much lower in 2021. With a respectable 13-13 record in 26 preseason games, I think the Pirates have improved enough to win at least 60 games this year.
Betting 2021 MLB Win Totals: Top UNDER Bets
The Cincinnati Reds worked their way back into contention in the NL Central race last season at 31-29 to finish second. Their MLB futures odds to win the division this season are +350 with St. Louis (+120) and Milwaukee (+275) occupying the top two spots on the list.
The Reds’ projected win total for 2021 is 81.5 games with -130 odds on the UNDER. Those odds could be attributed to the team’s 7-19 record in exhibition games. These results do not count in the standings but they have to count for something.
Winning MLB Predictions for Every Game This Season
Cincinnati has enough talent on its roster to compete with the Cardinals and Brewers. However, this is still the type of team that needs quite a few breaks to fall its way. Where there is smoke there is usually fire to add value to an UNDER bet.
Another team that has really struggled to win games this spring is Houston at 6-14. The Astros’ projected win total for the regular season is 87.5 games with matching -115 odds for the OVER and the UNDER.
As a companion wager to the OVER on Oakland, you could make a strong case to go with the UNDER on Houston. Including the team’s World Series run in 2017, the Astros have won at least 100 games the past three seasons before posting a losing 29-31 record last year. Even another small step backwards this season could easily result in fewer than 87 wins.
