MLB Futures: Wild Card and Division Races Heat Up | Best Bets

Introduction to the MLB Playoff Race Grid network. Donny right side here dubs Anderson will be back in here in just a few moments. But we are talking Major League Baseball. Yes. On a football Friday. There is a lot going on. A full slate of Major League Baseball games tonight, Saturday and Sunday, and a lot to determine who's actually going to make these wild card rounds here. Coming up at the end of September. And I say this too. And I mean, I mean this there's money to be made here in the late months of August and September, Major League Baseball. I understand why we turn our focus over to the NFL and college football next weekend in week number zero. But this is fun, man. October baseball is awesome. But in order to get to October, we've American League Division Battles still got to make it through the half month here of August and all through September. Things are going to change a lot. Like if we're looking at the leaders here in major League Baseball in these divisions, the American League, how about two teams with 72 wins right now, the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees? They're fighting for that division supremacy. The winner is going to get home field advantage. The loser is going to be in that wild card round. You take a look at the Guardians, a four game lead over the Minnesota Twins and a six game lead over the Kansas City Royals out there in the Al West. The Houston Astros, a three game lead now over the Mariners when the Mariners look like they were in full control of this division. Now feeling like National League Playoff Picture they're in free fall mode, and also looking at the Houston Astros, winners of eight of their past ten games, the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies resurrected once again a seven game lead over the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets nine games back. Now in the East, the Milwaukee Brewers have a nine game lead over both the Reds and the Cardinals. Then the Dodgers out there in the contentious NL West Dodgers, a two game lead over the Diamondbacks and the Padres dubs. I was just telling the people out here, it's going to be wild over the final parts here of August and September, not only watching who's going to win the division, but who's going to wind up in those wild card spots. There's a lot on the line. A couple of intriguing series coming up, especially in the National League. There's a lot on the line. We've already seen a couple of new faces in New places. You highlighted my Dodgers Donny. I'm very bullish on where we sit right now, but taking a look at the wildcard spots there, the Diamondbacks, they've been playing some fantastic baseball. Obviously they've got the pedigree. They've got the experience. The Padres have been fantastic over the last month. And then for the Braves, I know it was a strong series up there against the Giants. Didn't get it done last night, but they're still sitting as the third choice at minus three 30. So the Wild Card Watch: National League playoff push continues in terms of the National League. Donny, you know there's a couple of teams that stand up for mine. But in terms of the teams chasing on the outside looking in the Mets, Giants and the Reds, who's been the standout for you and who has the weapons? Maybe the depth to take him. You know what's interesting about the New York Mets? Because we were writing them off and we were led to believe under Steve Cohen that they were just going to buy themselves a World Series championship. All the money in the world go out and pay players. It didn't work out in their favor. So they sort of torn it down and the expectations dropped for the Mets. But the team camaraderie certainly didn't drop, and they're playing much better baseball. So there is a chance for me that the Mets, if they can hold it together, can make a climb. That's going to depend on what the Atlanta Braves do. So if we are looking at the wild card watcher dubs in the National League and some of the price points associated with it, you take a look at the NL West. First and foremost, you look at this to make the playoffs for the Diamondbacks. They're a -2200 price. This was a team that was floundering around through the months of April and May. In the early parts of June. And we're saying like, when is this team going to wake up? When are we going to see the team that made a run into the World Series last year, knocking off the Philadelphia Phillies? They're here now. You take a look at the San Diego Padres. They're a -3000 price to make the playoffs here. This was a team last year that you were expecting big things out of. And the year previous, where the Philadelphia Phillies had knocked them out on their way to a World Series. This team has gotten hot at the right time. Yeah, they lost Juan Soto. Oh, no, they're not going to be a good baseball team. There's a ton of talent left on that roster. And then you take a look at the Atlanta Braves, who I've been saying all along that they were always going to make the playoffs. It looked like they were even more of a shoo in, let's just say a month and a half ago before they had that sort of downturn. But they're still a heavy favorite dubs at a -330 price to get in. And then you're looking at the underdogs here right now. If we're looking at the FanDuel sports book, the Mets, as I just talked about, with a chance to maybe beat the Atlanta Braves, dubs plus 360 price the Giants at plus 680 price and the Reds off the board currently at this point. So if we look at the top three teams I do think those teams all make the playoffs. The Diamondbacks, the Padres and the Braves, the New York Mets. They got a little bit of work to do, but I don't think it's out of the realm that they can't make a run into it. And also that San Francisco Giants point when we covered the game with them winning yesterday, their one two punch dubs fantastic. If they can get into that wild card round. And you look at the Mets, I mean they got the Marlins coming up here this afternoon in terms of strength of schedule. They have a decent little run towards October there. So they're going to have to make up a bit of ground but certainly have the arms. I guess the offense you could make the argument there as well. Jose Quintana I believe he's getting the start later this afternoon. Severino has been strong. Guys like Minaya, they're probably going to have to step up and that's the difference. Donnie, when we're trying to attack the teams that can make a significant push towards the playoffs, it's all about depth at this time of year. You got to be finding that momentum and no surprises. Every ball club is going to go through their struggles. The Yankees have seen it. The Dodgers have seen it. And for the Mets, I'm still banking on that upside. Are you still getting a decent price? Yeah. We'll see if they can climb back into it. As you point out, depth does matter here. You can't start your pitcher every single day down the stretch to pick Wild Card Watch: American League up victories. Those third, fourth and fifth starters really have to help you out here. And the dog days of August, if we flip it over here on the excuse me, the wild card watch for the American League Yankees and the and the Orioles. One of those teams is going to be in one of those teams is going to be a wild card. That's why they're listed off the board right now. But how about this shout out the Al central representing here with the twins and the Royals. Look at the price points here. The twins minus 1300. The Royals had a -144. But you do have some teams creeping around, which includes the very talented Boston Red Sox at a plus 188 price. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year and you told me the Guardians, the twins and the Royals would all make the playoffs, I would have thought you were crazy. Who's the below spot on in terms of the American League? We've gone through the highs, the lows. I love what I'm seeing out of the Orioles. The Guardians obviously have been playing some fantastic baseball. And the Yankees, well, it looks like they have figured it out over the last couple of weeks. The one team I do have an eye out for, and I've liked them and bet them a lot, particularly with RBI props here. Dubs, let's just say over the past 30 to 45 days, it's the Boston Red Sox. They weren't supposed to do a lot, and quite frankly, many people picked them to become dead last in the Al East for this season. And that's very unlike the Boston Red Sox, because typically they'll have a big payroll superstar after superstar challenge for World Series championships. And now they weren't supposed to do that this year. So when I look at that roster and say some of these young guys, and particularly those left handed batters surrounded by Rafael Devers, they have done really well. That's one of those teams I want to keep an eye on down the stretch, but I think we can probably, you know, become an agreement here. Yankees, twins, Royals, Red Sox. Those are the four teams you want to watch out World Series Championship Odds obviously in that wild card race and we'll see how it turns out here. Now getting into the wild card. Yeah that's great. If you win you make it to the league Championship Series round and the divisional round. Final segment of our number one right here on the early line Sirius XM channel 159 right here on the Sports Grid network dubs Anderson. Donny. Right side bringing that heat. And yes, we have a lot more topics to get to in our number two, but let's put the cherry on top of the major league Baseball season so far. That's World Series championship odds here, dubs. And if we look at the leaderboard right now, it's going to say the odds market at the FanDuel sports book. You're still looking at the same teams. We've been looking at for the past months here. It's two National League teams to start it off. The Dodgers at a 3 to 1 price. The Philadelphia Phillies at a plus 500 price. Then we get to the two stalwarts in the American League. That's the new York Yankees at a plus 550 price and the Baltimore Orioles at a 7 to 1 price. Before we get to the other teams, I always like to ask this question because the odds really haven't changed all that much in the leaderboard. Standings here do you agree that the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been and continue to be the favorites here at the FanDuel Sports Book to win the World Series? Yes, I do, and I agree that Jack Flaherty, coming across as a great addition here for Dave Roberts and the Dodgers. They've gone through their own struggles. But you highlighted Donny. You know if you're jumping in to play the futures markets as a baseball better. Why would you have jumped in preseason to take the Dodgers at plus 360 where you can now get him at plus 300? We wanted to see that all the things would fall in line. We wanted to see that our big fella, Showtime, Ohtani, would show up and be that superstar after surgery. And he is every bit as advertised. Yamamoto. There's whispers that he could be getting closer to a return. We need Walker Buehler to step up and be that guy. So there's now a bit more depth. There's no questions against that lineup. Mookie Betts is back in the mix here, so this is the time of year where you want to build that momentum. I like the price. I like the number. I've now seen enough. And for the Dodgers at plus 300 compared to where they were in the preseason world Series futures. I like this spot. I was big on the Phillies. If you asked me this question a couple of weeks ago, Donny, I was all in on Philadelphia. This was the best team in baseball. But suddenly they're on the skids, the Yankees are on the up and the Orioles are sitting there saying, hey, don't worry about us. But yes, I agree with the oddsmakers. I think the Dodgers certainly have the class and we put the intangibles, that little X factor going towards a world Series. I think they are the team to beat. How crazy a baseball season is too. Because before the all star break, you saw the Dodgers show up in Philadelphia and get hammered in that three game stretch, you're like, oh, there we go. That's the side of the Phillies have like a six game lead over the Dodgers for that number one seed. And here we are talking about them today neck and neck. At this point even though the Phillies have won five of six games over the Dodgers. So the Phillies are a 5 to 1 price. And we do probably agree the Dodgers and the Phillies, the two top teams in the Top Contenders and Final Thoughts National League, if we were to set up the playoff structure, they probably would meet in the NLCS. Flipping it over here to the American League. It's the Yankees and the Orioles plus 550 and a 7 to 1 price here for the Orioles, respectively. Now these two teams are going to jockey for position. They're tied right now in the standings in their own division. And boy, if you could win that division, the fruits of the labor, you have home field advantage. The other team has to go into the wild card round to make it a little bit more difficult. So if we're looking at the American League with those two top teams, Yankees and Orioles, who gets the nod for you? Because for me, I'm still riding with the Yankees. Do you think it's the Orioles or the Yankees as well here in the in the American League? Excuse me, I'm so wrong with the Yankees there as well. Donnie but it's not so much of what I have seen. It's what I expect to see going towards the next couple of weeks here. I do think they're starting to find their stride. I love till I know it's been a bit of a mixed bag for the rookie, but I think he could be that guy coming in for the Yankees as they look for that depth. You've got the likes of Carlos Rodon, nasty, nasty, nasty Nestor. I should say there. So the arms, they've got to be a bit more consistent. The offense looks to be finding stride and they probably need Giancarlo Stanton to be the Giancarlo Stanton that we use to see. And we all know Aaron Judge Juan Soto a couple of superstars in the mix there. But they're going to need third or fourth. Maybe rice could be the guy up top there as well. So I'm all in on the Yankees coming out of the American League, but certainly looks to be very competitive up top of the table. No, it certainly is. And look at that. The top four teams Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Orioles. You know who's right behind them. The Houston Astros. You can't get rid of this team I put a fork in them 15 times this season. Here they are leaders of the Al West and a 10 to 1 price, which means a legitimate chance. The oddsmakers think that they can actually win another World Series, the Guardians, at a 15 to 1 price. The Braves at 15 to 1, the twins at 17 to 1, followed by the Padres and the Diamondbacks out there in the NL West. If we remove the top four teams and go with just the Astros, Guardians, Braves, twins, Padres and Diamondbacks, I would have to believe myself. I still think it might be the Padres or the Diamondbacks that can climb this ladder here. Dobbsie. Yeah, and you know, there's so much recency bias the Astros have now rattled off. I think it's eight straight on the bounce there. So arguably the hottest team in baseball. And I like Donnie. You write them off and they just show you that they've got that dog in them. They've got that experience that X factor. They know how to grind out a couple of wins. And this is the time of year where you want to be finding top stride there. So Framber Valdez leading the way for the Astros. Couple of questions on the injury side of things. If you want to win a World Series, you need good fortune. You need a bit of luck. Right now. The Astros have got the momentum. They need a bit more depth coming in from October and playing your best baseball down the