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MLB Odds to Make the Playoffs with a Best Bet

by Joey House - 8/21/2023

MLB odds to make the playoffs with best bet Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers

As the "Boys of Summer" finish up the month of August, they enter the home stretch of the arduous baseball season. While some divisions already have the winner practically guaranteed (the East and West divisions in the NL), thanks to the expanded 12-game playoff format, there is still plenty of excitement and intrigue as to who will get into the postseason and get a chance to play in the Fall Classic.

After Tampa Bay's historic start, they came back down to Earth and are now back in first place, of the Wild Card and not the AL East. The Angels went all-in to make the playoffs by keeping Shohei Ohtani and are well on the outside looking in. They are, however, a half-game better than the New York Yankees, who are in very real danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. With so much baseball left to be decided, make sure you turn to Doc's, who will guide you through the first pitch of the playoffs until the last out of the Fall Classic, with expert handicapping and picks the entire way. The following looks at each division with a best bet to make the postseason.

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AL East: Baltimore (76-47, 2.5 game lead on Tampa Bay)

Even though the Rays won 13 games to start the season and were 23-6 after the first month, a 7-game losing streak at the start of July allowed the Orioles to catch back up with them and pass them as division leaders on July 22. Tampa has since righted the leaking ship a bit and has not fallen further than three games behind. Unfortunately for Ray's fans, their club has the 7th-hardest schedule remaining, according to MLB.com. The Blue Jays, however, have the 7th-easiest schedule and are only a half-game behind the Seattle Mariners for the last wild-card spot. Boston, who is currently three games out of a playoff position, has the second-toughest schedule in baseball. To make the postseason, they will have to earn it. The Yankees have the 14th hardest, but at 9 games out, need to play great ball and get a lot of help. Before the season started, it was often speculated that the AL East could send three teams to the playoffs. Nobody ever would have guessed it was this possible trio coming out of the division. The current odds to make the playoffs: Baltimore: -20000, Boston +425, New York +1400, Tampa Bay -2500, Toronto -270

AL Central: Minnesota (64-60, 5 games ahead of Cleveland)

Easily the weakest division in baseball, there will only be one team emerging from the downtrodden AL Central. Even though the Guardians are just five games behind the Twins, with 37 left to play, to overcome that deficit, they need to navigate a schedule whose opponents have a .527 winning percentage, the 5th-toughest of the remaining schedules. If they were able to pull this off for a second year in a row, their backers would be handsomely rewarded. Minnesota's remaining schedule features teams that have a .479 winning percentage, 25th in the MLB. Odds to make the playoffs: Chicago White Sox, Detroit, and Kansas City N/A, Cleveland +700, Minnesota -1400.

AL West: Texas (72-51, 2.5 games in front of Houston)

One of the more fascinating divisional races remaining, with each of the front runners picking up a discarded pitcher from the salary-cutting New York Mets at the trade deadline. The Angels made some interesting moves at the deadline and decided to make their stand one last time with the dynamic duo of Trout and Ohtani. But when you hit a grand slam and turn a triple play in one game, and still lose, you are just destined to not do well. With the third-easiest schedule remaining, the Astros' +115 to win the division are the most attractive odds around. Making the playoff odds: Houston -1100, Los Angeles Angels +2500, Texas -3000, Oakland N/A

NL East: Atlanta (80-43 Best record in baseball)

With the Braves having the division in hand from the beginning of May with a 7-game lead that has now ballooned to double-digit leads, the race hasn't been for the division but for wild card spots. Philadelphia may be 13.5 games behind Atlanta in the NL East, but they currently sit atop the Wild Card race, with a four-game cushion of three other NL contenders, with the Miami Marlins being one of them. The odds of making the NL Playoffs: Atlanta, Mets, and Washington are all N/A (the Braves because it's virtually impossible for them NOT to make it, and the other two teams are the exact opposite), Miami -110, Philadelphia -600

NL Central: Milwaukee (68-57, 3 games ahead of the Cubs and 4 in front of Cincinnati)

While the NL Central is the weakest division in the National League, it features the best divisional race in baseball, with just four games separating the top three teams. All three of those teams have easier-than-average schedules remaining as well, with Milwaukee sporting the 8th-softest schedule, while the Reds have the 9th and the Cubs have the 12th. In a scheduling masterpiece, the Brewers and Cubs end the season with a three-game tilt in Milwaukee. Current odds to make the postseason: Cubs -120, Reds +200, Milwaukee -500, Pittsburgh and St. Louis N/A

NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (76-47, 11.5 games ahead of San Francisco)

Another divisional runaway by the Dodgers, but every NL West team except the Rockies has a puncher's chance of making the postseason. The Giants currently occupy the second Wild Card position, a half-game behind the Phillies. Arizona is just on the outside looking in, tied with three other teams at one game behind the Cubs. Even the incredibly disappointing Padres are only six games out of the final Wild Card. Current odds for the playoffs: Arizona +375, San Francisco -210, San Diego +300, Dodgers and Colorado both N/A (Dodgers guaranteed in and Rockies guaranteed out).

Best bet to make the playoffs: Toronto -270 The Blue Jays have a dynamic offense and a very capable pitching staff that boasts four starters under a 4.00 ERA, as well as a lights-out closer in Jordan Romano. Add that to a schedule that sees them play the A's, Royals Rockies, Nationals, and two different series with the Yankees, they represent the best value to make the postseason.

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