Which Teams Will Make the MLB Playoffs: Yes or No Betting Props and Predictions

by Trevor Whenham - 3/15/2018

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke

One of my favorite baseball season prop bets every year is the ability to bet on whether or not a given team is going to make the playoffs. Odds are listed for every squad, and it's a good exercise to really think about what you see the season turning out like. And every year there are some fat prices available that at least look good in hindsight - how much would you have loved to bet on the Twins last year, for example? Or even the Rockies. Here, presented in alphabetical order, are the seven most interesting prices BetOnline has offered this year :

Arizona Diamondbacks ("Yes" +120): The Diamondbacks made it last year, though they didn't show much after winning the wild-card game. Their bats aren't as good as last year with the loss of J.D. Martinez, and that's a concern. But the pitching staff really has a chance to be special. From top to bottom the rotation has something to like, and the upside is high. If Zack Greinke has a strong year then this could be a horrible team to face at the plate. The Rockies are uncertain, and I don't much like the Mets - a team a lot of people really seem to like. So, there is room for this team to make it back. The price isn't enough to get me excited, but it is probably close to fair.

Los Angeles Angels (Yes +125): They have had the best player in baseball on their team for far too long to have been as underwhelming as they have been. And now they have added the most hyped Japanese free agent in a while. There are a lot of nice pieces here, and it finally feels like they are moving in the right direction. The AL West is not as tough as it has been at times, either - aside from the 800-pound gorilla that is Houston, of course. I liked this price at first glance. However, given that I give them almost no chance of winning the division, and that the wild-card race promises to be crowded. There is too little value here.

Minnesota Twins (Yes +165): Last year they came from nowhere. This year they aren't sneaking up on anyone. I was concerned about the rotation before spring training started, but the addition of Lance Lynn really helped, and news about the return of Michael Pineda after surgery has been somewhat positive, too. It looked like they were going to try to rely on Anibal Sanchez, but thankfully they don't have to, and they cut him. The roster is young and good, and there is still upside. I am bullish, but again Cleveland will be fairly tough to catch, so they are stuck in a brutal wild-card hunt. The price isn't high enough.

New York Yankees (No +400): The coronation of the Yankees is underway, but that makes me a little uneasy. They are relying on a lot of young players, and their rotation is concerning beyond the top three. The division shapes up to be tough, too, and they are dependent on a couple of sluggers - albeit great ones - staying healthy. And they have a raw manager who came out of the broadcast booth to take the highest-profile job in the business. There is a whole lot to like with this team, but the hype is out of control, so there is value in being a pessimist here.

Philadelphia Phillies (Yes +425): I like the direction this team is moving, but I sure didn't feel like they are ready yet. But by splashing out on free agent pitcher Jake Arrieta during spring training they have shown that maybe they think they are further along than everyone else does. Arrieta and Aaron Nola form a scary top of the rotation. I still don't buy it. But maybe they are the Twins of this year. Think of the bragging rights if you bet this and were right.

Seattle Mariners (Yes +220): I have a hunch that James Paxton is sitting on a big year as the ace of this team. And there are some bats here. And Ichiro Suzuki is a move that sets up to be the basis of a future Disney movie. The window is probably closing with this current roster because several guys are long in the tooth, and they don't have a lot of flexibility because they are paying some of those geezers too handsomely, but they are another team that feels like they are in the wild-card mix, and the price isn't horrible.

Toronto Blue Jays (Yes +260): The Jays are again struggling with injuries this spring after they were an endless issue last year, and that has deflated my enthusiasm somewhat. But the rotation has a chance to quietly be one of the best in the league, Josh Donaldson is an MVP-caliber player playing for a contract, and they have done a good job of reworking their roster. Stop me if you have heard this, but they are an AL team in the wild-card mix, and this price is solid.

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Which Teams Will Make the MLB Playoffs: Yes or No Betting Props and Predictions

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