This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
I am taking a break from the weekly Monday Best Bets, to give you an updated "Futures" article which will hit each month. I am fascinated by the value that can be had on these and how you can really get ahead of the market.
*Side note – I was 3-0 last Monday bringing my overall record to 6-3.
AL MVP
Mike Trout +225
Shohei Ohtani +1000 (+2350 Opening Day, was +5000 in some places during March)
Alex Bregman +1300
Byron Buxton +1500 (huge jump)
Jose Ramirez +1500
Other Notables
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. +1800 (I am all over this until it falls into triple digits)
J.D. Martinez +2000
I still lean Ohtani because what he is doing hitting and pitching is historic.
AL CY YOUNG
Gerrit Cole +300
Shane Bieber +400
Tyler Glasnow +650 (down from +875)
Lucas Giolito +900
Lance Lynn +1000
This still feels like a two-horse race between Cole and Bieber and we were treated to their duel on Saturday, but Glasnow is legit if the Rays can climb to the top of the AL East. This race still needs to play out more. We should have a better feel for it in a month.
Other Notables
Eduardo Rodriguez's odds have gone from +5000 to +3300.
NL MVP
Ronald Acuna Jr +375
Juan Soto +850
Mookie Betts +900
Fernando Tatis Jr +1000
Jacob deGrom +1500
Other Notables
Justin Turner +3300
Trent Grisham +8000
deGrom's odds have gone from +4000 to +1500 after Friday night's masterful performance. The key is whether or not voters will side with a pitcher for MVP. I would still get in at +1500.
Tatis down being +1000 after his huge weekend against the Dodgers is also in play for me.
Turner and Grisham are sneaky long-shot bets on the two best teams in the National League.
NL CY YOUNG
Jacob deGrom +275
Corbin Burnes +600 (opened at +4000)
Trevor Bauer +750
Max Scherzer +1000
Walker Buehler +1000
Other notables
Yu Darvish +1600
At this point, deGrom is the uber chalk and betting on anyone else is just throwing money away. Although, Darvish at +1600 is very interesting if the Padres get close in the standings to the Dodgers.
I'd keep an eye on the other Dodgers starters who don't have odds right now like Dustin May and Julio Urias.
WORLD SERIES
We are about 15 percent into the baseball season and a lot of teams have started off slow, so their World Series odds have not moved much. On the flip side, teams like the Royals, Mariners, and Giants have gotten off to hot starts, but their odds have not moved much either.
The biggest move in World Series odds has been the Red Sox who have started out 14-9 and gone from +5000 to +2000.
The Yankees have fallen from +350 to +650. While I would still think they are a solid playoff team, their overall chances to win the World Series have dampened in my eyes.
I still think the Astros +1600 (COVID-related bad start), Rays +2500 and the Brewers at +4000 are good fliers. Remember it is not about getting it exactly, but building up enough equity to where you can hedge on another team or flip the ticket on a site like Prop Swap.
