MLB Futures: Best Post-Trade Deadline Bets at Online Sportsbooks
Last week, fans and players have witnessed arguably the most exciting trade deadline in Major League Baseball history. Dozens of trades were completed, which included a record number of All-Stars changing uniforms.
Let’s take a look at how these deals impacted the MLB futures landscape for sports bettors —highlighting a couple of our favorite props for the remainder of the season.
Editor’s note: This article was originally written Saturday, July 31.
Tampa Bay Rays – AL East Winner
After losing in heartbreaking fashion in the 2020 World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Blake Snell, in addition to losing Charlie Morton to the Atlanta Braves. Many pundits predicted significant regression from this group heading into 2021, but as the calendar prepares to flip to August, the Rays are only a half-game behind the Boston Red Sox for the division lead, and only two games behind the Houston Astros for the top mark in the entire American League. (Update: The Rays now have a 1.5 game lead in the AL East after beating the Red Sox on Saturday and Sunday.)
If the Rays have one salient weakness, it is the fact that they have struggled mightily against left-handed pitching this season—ranking 28th in strikeout-percentage, 26th in OPS and 23rd in ISO. On July 22nd, they acquired Nelson Cruz, who owns a .354 AVG, .980 OPS, and a 164 wRC+ versus southpaws this year. In an under-the-radar move, they also traded for Jordan Luplow, who has a career .927 OPS and 143 wRC+ against lefties. Luplow has not played in a Major League game since May 26, due to an ankle injury, but he is currently on a rehab assignment and could be nearing a return to action in the coming weeks, should Kevin Cash opt to add him to the Rays bench as a platoon option.
Boston is likely to add Chris Sale to their rotation in the next two weeks, but they are still a team with question marks surrounding the reliability of their starting pitching, especially from a health perspective.
Tampa Bay recognized their one massive vulnerability and did a phenomenal job improving in that area at the deadline. The Rays to win their division, having no major discernable weaknesses on their roster, should be a wager that bettors strongly consider placing.
Chicago White Sox – World Series Winner (+650)
Unquestionably, the Los Angeles Dodgers were the biggest winners at the trade deadline—acquiring both Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in a mega-deal for the history books. However, the Dodgers are still three-games behind the San Francisco Giants in the NL West and would be forced to play in the win-or-go-home Wild Card game if they are unable to make-up that ground over the final two months of action. If Los Angeles somehow was eliminated by poor luck or an unexpected poor performance in a one-game playoff, there would be no clear betting favorite to win the title, making Chicago’s current odds an enticing opportunity for bettors.
The White Sox not only added the best closer in baseball right now in Craig Kimbrel, but they also brought in Cesar Hernandez to upgrade their second-base situation, and will be returning Luis Robert’s bat to the lineup in the coming weeks. Young phenom, Eloy Jimenez returned to the outfield a few days ago, hitting a home run on July 27. Chicago has the luxury of a nine-game lead in their division, so they will not have to exert an extraordinary amount of energy down the stretch to secure a postseason berth. The ability to get regular rest for guys who are coming back from injuries, and for starters who have handled significant workloads in 2021, could benefit this group tremendously in October.
In a five-game series, the White Sox could roll out a lethal three-headed monster of Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Carlos Rodon as their starter pitchers. In a seven-game series in the American League Championship or the World Series, Dylan Cease, who owns a 3.88 xERA and 3.61 FIP, is still likely better than any other team’s fourth option in the rotation. Even if any of these starters struggle, Chicago has the ability to shorten games better than any other team in baseball with a bullpen that features electric arms such as Liam Hendriks, Kimbrel, Michael Kopech, and Ryan Tepera, not to mention two outstanding left-handed options in Garrett Crochet and Aaron Bummer.
Chicago, once they return Robert to the lineup, will have no clear weakness in their offensive attack. Their starting pitching can go toe-to-toe with anyone, even the Dodgers. The White Sox indisputably have the best bullpen in the league, which everyone knows has been a recipe for playoff success in recent decades. Chicago is a legitimate threat to win it all in 2021. Expect their odds to get better and better as the public sees this team play at full-strength over the next two months. Bettors should consider jumping on the bandwagon now at +650 while they still can.
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