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As we enter spring training for the 2023 Major League Baseball season and chatter around which teams and players will break out this year starts to begin, arguments about who is going to win the World Series ensue. What better time to start thinking about how we can profit from our predictions?
Predicting World Series Champions, league winners, division champs, and even some fun MLB specials is a great way to get us back into baseball and excited for opening day. The plan is to make some money along the way, as this is the best time we can get odds if our predictions come true.
Today we will talk about my current bets on my MLB futures, focusing on team futures primarily. We will come out soon with another article focusing on player awards and props, but let's focus on teams first. With that said, here are my 2023 team MLB future bets.
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New York Yankees to Win the World Series
The New York Yankees are the best team in baseball. They have a loaded rotation, arguably the best in baseball, a star-studded lineup with a ton of pop, a strong bullpen, and are an excellent team on the defensive side of the ball.
The Yanks won 99 regular season games last year and made it to the American League Championship Series. They did get embarrassed in the ALCS by Houston getting swept in the seven-game set, but the Yankees only got better this off-season. The American League should ultimately come down to those two teams, and the Yankees have the upper hand now in pitching. If they remain healthy, the Yankees will get their revenge in 2023.
The significant addition to the starting rotation was Carlos Rodón, the Cy Young candidate and All-Star signed a six-year 162 million dollar deal this off-season. He joins Cy Young candidate in his own right and All-Star Gerrit Cole, All-Star Nestor Cortes, and Luis Severino in a four-headed monster of a pitching staff. In a five or seven-game series, it's the best in baseball and will be a nightmare in the playoffs. Here is the projected rotation with 2022 stat lines.
- Gerrit Cole, 13-8, 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .208 BAA
- Carlos Rodón (SF Giants), 14-8, 2.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .200 BAA
- Nestor Cortes, 12-4, 2.44 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .188 BAA
- Luis Severino, 7-3, 3.18 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .194 BAA
- Domingo Germán, 2-5, 3.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .236 BAA
The bullpen is just as good, returning all its major cogs from last year's run. Chad Green is the only departure to this bullpen from 2022, but the back end is still one of the best in baseball. It is led by closer Clay Holmes (2.54 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 20 saves) and Jonathan Loáisiga (4.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP). They return Michael King (2.29 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Wandy Peralta (2.66 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) and bring in newcomer Tommy Kahnle (2.84 ERA, 0.63 WHIP) to the mix. The Yankees pen last season was third best in ERA, seventh best in WHIP, and allowed the least amount of home runs in the MLB.
The lineup is back and healthy heading into spring training. Aaron Judge signed a nine-year mega extension worth 360 million dollars. Judge (.458 wOBA, .685 SLG) and his American League record-setting 62 home runs will lead a similar lineup from a year ago that led baseball in home runs. The middle of the lineup will consist of returners Anthony Rizzo (.352 wOBA, .480 SLG), Giancarlo Stanton (.327 wOBA, .462 SLG), and Gleyber Torres (.328 wOBA, .451 SLG).
Josh Donaldson (.302 wOBA, .374 SLG) will be a crucial cog, and a healthy DJ LeMahieu (.329 wOBA, .377 SLG), who missed the entire 2022 MLB Postseason is getting healthy. Harrison Bader (.286 wOBA, .356 SLG) will be playing his first entire season in pinstripes. He will provide excellent defense in the middle of the diamond while allowing the Yankees to add another bat with power to the lineup.
Oswaldo Cabrera (.322 wOBA, .429 SLG), Aaron Hicks (.292 wOBA, .313 SLG), Oswaldo Peraza (.371 wOBA), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.285 wOBA, .327 SLG), who are outstanding players in there own right, will compete for everyday at-bats. Let's not forget about Jose Trevino (.293 wOBA, .388 SLG), who will be behind the plate for the Yanks in 2022. Add in the potential call-up of superstar Anthony Volpe at some point this season, and the Yankees are offensively primed for a big year.
This team is built for one thing—the Playoffs. The American League is much weaker than the National League or nowhere near as deep. The Yankees can get to the World Series and contend with anyone with the roster they have.
NY Yankees (+800), Fanduel Sportsbook, 10 Units
St. Louis Cardinals to Win the National League
The National League is loaded. Six of the top ten betting favorites for the World Series title come from the NL. Sure, the Mets, Braves, Dodgers, Padres, and Phillies all are very good, They can all win the NL, but to get out of this group, they are all so talented it's going to come down to whose hot come September and October. The odds for the Cardinals are desirable here for a team with a roster just as good as anyone.
The Cardinals won 93 games a year ago and brought back a similar roster heading into the spring. Yadier Molina was the most significant loss, and his leadership of this team and pitching staff should not go underestimated. Adding Wilson Contreas is one of the most critical off-season signings in the MLB. He will provide more production on the offensive side of things, but can the Cardinals overcome the loss of their clubhouse leader?
Reigning MVP Paul Goldschmidt (.419 wOBA, .578 SLG) will handle the middle of a loaded order. Goldschmidt hit 35 home runs and 115 RBIs and has become one of the most feared hitters in the big leagues. He will be joined by newcomer Wilson Contreas (.357 wOBA, .466 SLG) as well as Nolan Arenado (.381 wOBA, .533 SLG) in the middle of the order making it one of the best trios in baseball and a nightmare stretch for any pitcher especially when the game is on the line.
Switch-hitting leadoff man Tommy Edman (.318 wOBA, .400 SLG) is back in 2023 and is indeed the glue of this team. They go as he goes, and they score more runs when he gets on base at the top of the order. Tyler O'Neill (.307 wOBA, .392 SLG) will look to bounce back from 2021 and 2022 disappointments, where he often found himself on the IL. If O'Neill can stay healthy, he adds a lot of production to a lineup.
Brendan Donovan (.349 wOBA, .379 SLG), Lars Nootbar (.342 wOBA, .448 SLG), Juan Yepez (.319 wOBA, .447 SLG), Dylan Carlson (.306 wOBA, .380 SLG), and Nolan Gorman (.316 wOBA, .420 SLG) round out the rest of the lineup. With the ten guys mentioned above, there are genuinely no holes, and these guys who are hitting seven, eight, and nine would hit three, four, and five for many other MLB teams.
The Cardinals were fifth in wOBA, seventh in SLG, fifth in runs scored, fourth in strikeout percentage, and ninth in walk rate in MLB in 2022. There are no holes in this lineup, and it will be one of the best in baseball in 2023. They only got better by adding Contreas to bolster the middle of the order.
The Cardinals bullpen is also one of the best in baseball and another strong point of this team. It's led by Ryan Helsley (.125 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 19 saves), who had a 2022 season that marked him a top-three closer in baseball. He is one of the most dominant arms in the back end of a bullpen in baseball, and his .128 BAA and 39.3% K rate show that. Giovanny Gallegos (3.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 14 saves), hard-throwing Jordan Hicks (4.84 ERA, 1.32 WHIP), and Andre Pallante (3.17 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) round out a bullpen that looks just as dominant in 2023.
The most significant question mark of this team belongs to the starting rotation. After another great season, the ageless Adam Wainright returns as the staff's ace. Miles Mikolas looks to build on another healthy season where he saw his best since pre-injury. Trade deadline acquisition Jordan Montgomery could emerge as the ace of this staff and will fill a big hole missing in 2022 as the Cardinals lacked a left-handed rotation piece.
Jack Flaherty will hope to make the same jump as Miles Mikolas did in 2022 as he heads into spring training with his best bill of health in years. Steven Matz will open as the fifth starter, but prospect Matthew Liberatore should plant himself in a prominent rotation role.
This staff has some holes, but if all goes well, it could be excellent in 2023. Who knows, maybe they will add another piece at the deadline to bolster this rotation.
- Adam Wainwright, 11-12, 3.71 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .259 BAA
- Miles Mikolas 12-13, 3.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .224 BAA
- Jordan Montgomery, 9-6, 3.48 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, .234 BAA
- Jack Flaherty, 2-1, 4.25 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, .257 BAA
- Steven Matz, 5-3, 5.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .256 BAA
- Matthew Liberatore, 2-2, 5.97 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, .296 BAA
The National League is loaded and can be won by ten to twelve outstanding teams in 2023. Because of this, taking a team with longer odds makes sense, as it is almost impossible to predict which of the NL powerhouses will be hot or, more importantly, healthy. The Cardinals have veterans who have been there and done that in their major league careers, and at +1000 odds, the number makes sense to hope they return to World Series form in 2023.
St. Louis Cardinals (+1000), Fanduel Sportsbook, 5 Units
Atlanta Braves: Best Regular Season Record
The Atlanta Braves come into 2023 with World Series aspirations and one of baseball's best all-around rosters. They have veterans who can lead a clubhouse, youth who will make an immediate impact and bring energy, and superstars who will perform on the biggest stage.
They won 101 games last year, the third-best in baseball behind the Dodgers and Astros. The Braves continue to improve, bringing prospects up that make significant splashes in the big leagues. Because of this, they are deep and can sustain the ups and downs of a 162-game season. For that reason, they are my favorite to finish 2023 with MLB's best record, and if it weren't for the gauntlet they will face in the NL during the playoffs, they would be a World Series pick.
Braves are led by phenom Ronald Acuña Jr. (.335 wOBA, .413 SLG), who will hit at the top of the order in his usual role. Health has always been the key for Acuña, but the Braves have the pieces to sustain a regular season stretch if he doesn't remain in good health. The playoffs are a whole different story. Acuña is a favorite for NL MVP, and if he stays healthy, it's hard to see him not win that award in 2023 (Hint, Hint).
Matt Olson (.344 wOBA, .477 SLG), Austin Riley (.377 wOBA, .528 SLG), Michael Harris II (.368 wOBA, .514 SLG), and Ozzie Albies (.305 wOBA, .409 SLG) will surround Acuña at the top of the order. The group of five hitters has it all, with a ton of power, speed, and different handiness that can do damage from both sides of the plate. They will be a tall task for any arm that gets the ball.
Vaughn Grissom (.345 wOBA, .440 SLG), the son of former big league Marquis Grissom, will look to take over at shortstop for the Braves after the departure of Dansby Swanson this year. In 156 at-bats in the big leagues last year, Grissom held his own and showed he could compete on that stage and make an immediate impact. Orlando Arcia (.321 wOBA, .416 SLG) will also be competing for the role and is an outstanding player in his own right.
Newcomer Sean Murphy (.331 wOBA, .426 SLG) looks to be a great addition behind the plate and will be in a rotation with long-time Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (.343 wOBA, .472 SLG). Marcell Ozuna (.298 wOBA, .413 SLG) should re-enter the lineup in 2023 as an everyday outfielder. Eddie Rosario (.262 wOBA, .342 SLG vs. RHP) and Sam Hillard (.266 wOBA, .274 SLG vs. RHP) will get at-bats against right-hand pitching in an outfield platoon they will deploy. Jordan Luplow (.291 wOBA, .405 SLG vs. LHP) will be the other half of that platoon in the outfield for the Braves giving them a perfect combination from both sides of the plate.
The Braves were third in baseball in wOBA, first in SLG, and third, in runs scored. It is a focal point for success and during the course of a season, they have a roster full of guys who can just flat-out get the job done.
The rotation is just as loaded, led by ace Max Fried who can command the baseball with the best of them and puts a ton of pressure on opposing offenses with how he attacks the zone. Spencer Strider, better known as Quadzilla, had a coming out party in 2022 where his electric fastball gave fits to hitters. His stuff is the best on the staff, and he will compete to become the ace come the postseason.
Veteran Charlie Morton is back for 2023 and will provide competitive innings for the Braves throughout the regular season. Kyle Wright, another young rising superstar, will look to build on a tremendous second half of the season. Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder, and Kolby Allard will compete for the fifth and final rotation spot, creating depth if an injury occurs. Not to mention wildcard Mike Soroka, the Braves ace in 2020 who hasn't thrown a big league inning since then, will compete for a return to the rotation in 2023.
- Max Fried, 14-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, .224 BAA
- Spencer Strider, 11-5, 2.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, .179 BAA
- Kyle Wright, 21-5, 3.19 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .231 BAA
- Charlie Morton, 9-6, 4.34 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, .230 BAA
The Braves are a team built for the regular season with its youth and depth, and although they play in the NL East, the best division in baseball, we should see them get over their 101 wins last season, putting them in contention for MLB's best record in 2023.
Atlanta Braves (+650), Fanduel Sportsbook, 5 Units
MLB Betting Season Specials
Other season specials to dabble in. These are just another way to bet the Yankees to win with better odds.
- State of New York to win the World Series, +350 Fanduel, 5 Units
- New York Yankees to beat New York Mets in World Series, +3000 DraftKings, 1 Unit
- New York Yankees to beat San Diego Padres, +4000 DraftKings, 1 Unit
- New York Yankees to beat Atlanta Braves, +4000 DraftKings, 1 Unit
- New York Yankees to beat St. Louis Cardinals, +5000 DraftKings, 1 Unit
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