Bettors had plenty of time to put in their research and finalize their preseason bets for the top 2018 MLB awards. After a week of action, they may already feel foolish.
Don’t get me wrong, there is still a ton of season left, and a lot can change. However, some of the best pitchers have looked average, and some of the top hitters have gotten off to slow starts.
Even with some of the favorites living up to preseason expectations, there is still time for other candidates to rise up and provide elite betting value. In fact, quite a few already have.
Value is always going to be in the eye of the beholder, but through the first several games, a few value bets demand your attention.
Whether you’ve already committed cash to the AL/NL winners for league MVP or the Cy Young award, there’s an argument for a handful of guys to earn your wager.
Here’s a look at the top threats for these awards that appear to offer interesting value in the early going.
These odds may have changed since the time of this writing.
A healthy Mike Trout (+125) is pretty tough to go against. Trout is a man amongst boys most of the time, and he’s truly the best overall player in the majors, so nobody should be shocked if he wins league MVP.
As great as Trout is, he does face some intense competition. Jose Altuve (+600) is off to a scorching start, while there is a slew of mashers in the American League.
There are three specifically I think you may want to consider betting on.
The first is Stanton, who clubbed an insane 59 home runs a year ago and already has three with his new team, the New York Yankees.
Hitting in Yankee Stadium, Stanton pretty much isn’t even fair. Bettors need to pay mind to his legit shot at 50+ homers again, and if he can somehow cut down the strikeouts, he’ll absolutely be a strong candidate for MVP late in the year.
Considering his power, he’s offering blistering value at +1100 at Topbet.eu and other MLB betting sites.
If you want a power hitter with a little more efficiency, look no further than George Springer.
The Astros star outfielder smacked 29 home runs in 2016 and 34 more last year, so it’s very possible he’s headed for an even bigger 2018 run.
Springer played a big hand in an explosive Houston offense that won it all a year ago, yet bettors can get him at a staggering +3000 price early in the year.
I’m not sure he can give you the consistent power of a Stanton or Trout, but he’s not as far off as some may think.
Olson is a bit of a reach, but I love his talent and these extremely playable odds. The big thing working for Olson is that he’s playing on a young, talented A’s team that figures to be on the rise.
If this kid can put up eye-popping numbers in a relatively pitcher-friendly park and help the Athletics inch closer to a playoff return, he’s going to be in the running for this award.
Olson flashed amazing power last year and is a threat to bust out in 2018. Depending on just how big of a breakout year he enjoys, he could be an amazing wager early in the year.
An MVP race that is perhaps just as obvious resides in the National League, where Bryce Harper (+300) makes sense as the clear favorite.
Harper is one of the more dynamic hitters in baseball, and he won this award back in 2015. In fact, had it not been for an untimely knee injury last year and Giancarlo Stanton destroying the world, he may have had a shot at winning in 2017 as well.
That didn’t happen, while Harper could again have his work cut out for him this season.
Kris Bryant (+400), Nolan Arenado (+500) and Paul Goldschmidt (+800) all have arguments as interesting favorites, but there are a few guys that could provide far more upside.
This is easily one of the best value bets in all of baseball right now. The Rockies just paid this guy a ton of cash due to how crucial he is to their success, both as a stud fielder and a dynamic hitter.
Blackmon crushes both sides of the plate and also brings high-level power to the table, yet he’s being priced like a chump here. At +2500, he may very well be the top overall value bet among current MLB futures.
I can’t talk up Blackmon without also propping up the versatile Freeman, who was enjoying an amazing 2017 season before an injury messed him up.
Freeman is another flat-out masher who brings great percentages to the table, and his case only strengthens with the possible rise of the Atlanta Braves.
Somehow still just 28 years old, Freeman is one of the more efficient and reliable bats in the majors. He probably needs to up his power game a bit to really challenge here, but he’s an elite value as an underrated threat.
Speaking of underrated, I was really surprised to see the immensely talented Hoskins listed with such a low price tag.
Bettors are getting some serious upside at +4000 with another legit masher that also happens to be an extremely efficient and versatile ball player.
The 25-year-old phenom clubbed 18 homers in just 50 games a year ago and has stormed out of the gates with an absurd .471 batting average.
If he can maintain elite efficiency and also keep that power pace up, he could easily end up being one of the better NL MVP betting picks out there.
Chris Sale (+200) leads the way for the AL Cy Young award, and his stiffest competition figures to be Corey Kluber (+250).
The odds are good that the winner comes from that duo, as Kluber won his second Cy Young last year, and Sale is one of the best arms in all of baseball. Still, there are a few value bets here you may want to keep an eye on or even wager on right now.
JV was a beast after the Astros traded for him last year, and he was a huge reason Houston marched their way to a World Series title.
Verlander got 2018 started off on the right foot, posting a stellar 2.31 ERA in two solid outings against powerful Baltimore and Texas lineups.
If he can stay the course and again be a big reason why the Astros compete for another title, he absolutely is in the conversation here and would return amazing value.
If you want longer odds with a little less safety, consider a breakout year for the 23-year-old Berrios.
The talented righty absolutely dominated the Baltimore Orioles (9 innings, 6 Ks, 0 runs) in his lone 2018 outing, potentially suggesting he’s ready to up his game to the next level.
Berrios has flashed brilliance in the past, but he plays in a hitter’s park and has had bouts with hard contact and inconsistency.
If he’s finally figured it out, however, he’d be a heck of a story en route to pushing the Twins up the ladder in the American League.
I don’t see many severe longshots worth your time (or money), but I don’t think I can ignore Ohtani, who is quite the phenom as a rare two-way threat.
Ohtani has impressed in both regards already, as he’s launched two home runs as a hitter and flashes his upside with six strikeouts against a powerful Oakland Athletics squad.
There is no denying Ohtani still has a ways to go to prove himself as a steady arm in the majors, but the first glimpses of his talent were impressive.
If he can keep improving and end the year among the best arms while also mashing as a hitter, it will be tough to ignore him come time to vote.
Clayton Kershaw (+158) is the obvious favorite to snag the 2018 NL Cy Young award, seeing as he’s arguably the top arm in the game and has won thrice before.
The big problem for Kershaw is Max Scherzer (+200), who has claimed the award in each of the past two seasons and has the talent to make it three in a row.
While it’s likely one of these two guys wins again this year, there is actually a long list of viable options in the National League. Here are a few that offer elite value at the moment.
The man known as Thor has the goods just like the top dogs, but consistency has evaded him at times during his Mets career. Last year specifically, he simply wasn’t able to stay healthy.
Syndergaard is still a dominant presence on the mound, and while he’s limped into 2018 with a sluggish ERA, he’s capable of putting up blistering numbers. Just his K upside alone makes him an intriguing value bet right now.
I know he’s not where you want him, but the idea is to think down the road when he’s locked in and slaying. If he can do that and stay healthy, he’s going to potentially be a very profitable wager.
I’d be a little more inclined to get excited about Ray, who is a tad more impressive considering the park he has to deal with on a regular basis.
Ray got hit a bit in his opener against a good Dodgers lineup, but he is an elite strikeout pitcher who seemingly improves with each passing year.
Ray still needs to find a way to limit contact, but he has elite K numbers and can really shut teams down. He’s sure to rebound from his rough opener, and once he does, he’s going to offer sick returns.
Overall, there are clearly a lot of interesting betting paths to consider. It’s also very early in the year, so a lot of different things can dictate the way seasons can rise or fall.
I think hopping on hot starts opens up a lot of value, but as I’ve gone over in other areas, taking advantage of poor starts can also beef up value and make for an attractive long-term investment.
Which players you bet on is up to you, but the value is there to go against the grain a bit and potentially win big with MLB futures in 2018.
The post 11 Selections for 2018 MLB Futures That Offer Value appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
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