MLB 2019 Futures Odds, Preview and Prediction

The 2019 MLB season is about to start but before the teams go to work, let’s take a look at which players we think will stand out this year.

We looked at bet maker bet365 and found these interesting bets ( odds as of 3/18/19)  at who will be the top individual baseball players in the majors in 2019. So read on:

Pitcher To Record Most Wins

This one is perhaps the hardest to predict among all the futures bets because no matter how good a pitcher can be, a pitcher cannot decided whether he wins or losses (or if he gets a decision at all). On the other hand, you can pitch mediocre and have an explosive offense that gives you wins you probably don’t deserve.

Jacob deGrom had the best ERA at 1.70 while Lucas Giolito had a league-worst 6.13 ERA but both pitchers finished the season with 10 wins each. I like Snell’s value at +2500 but I’m not sure if he can repeat last season’s 21-win total. Scherzer and Kluber have been consistent in recent years but I like how Luis Severino has developed over the last two years. I’m picking Luis Severino to record the most wins among MLB pitchers next season.

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Player To Hit The Most Home Runs

The Bronx Bombers are on top of the list at +800 each. Back in 2017, these two combined to hit 111 gomers. Last year though, Stanton hit 38 while Judge delivered 27 homers in 112 games played. Despite falling short last year, we know both can hit over 50 each on a good season and it’s probably safe to expect each to hit 40 apiece this season. But will 40 be enough?

Last season, Khris Davis cashed in with 48 home runs. Davis has tallied at least 40 in the last three seasons while J.D. Martinez has averaged 44 home runs in the last two seasons. Davis may not be a household name but he’s been the most consistent home run hitter in the last three years. To get him at +1200 is a luxury, really. If you don’t like to think about repeat winners, then J.D. Martinez would be a good catch at the same price of +1200. So for me, it’s Khris Davis or J.D. Martinez at +1200.

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American League Cy Young Winner

Blake Snell held the Red Sox to three earned runs in four starts and he gave up nine earned runs in four stars against the Yankees with six of those earned runs given up in one game in New York. Not only did he pitch well against the big guns, Snell pitched well against everybody. His ERA of 1.89 led the American League while his WHIP of 0.97 was second in the league. He also yielded the fewest hits for a pitcher who had a minimum of 140 innings pitched. To have the reigning MVP at +2500 is awesome value for me. So yes, I’m going with Blake Snell to win AL MVP in 2019.

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National League Cy Young Winner

Like Blake Snell in the other league, the Mets’ Jacob deGrom won the Cy Young last season for the first time in his career. DeGron led the majors  with a 1.70 ERA and a third ranked 0.91 WHIP. DeGrom was also fourth in strikeouts with 269 batters fanned. With respect to him, I don’t see DeGrom putting up those same numbers because he pitched a near-perfect season in 2018. Likewise, no NL MVP has repeated since 2000 so given the risks and rewards, DeGrom may not repeat as MVP.

As to my choice, I like Aaron Nola’s chances this season because of the arrival of Bryce Harper. Nola has an excellent 2018 with an ERA of 2.37 and a WHIP of 0.97 but the Phillies struggled in September and that probably cost Nola his chance at winning last year. With Harper providing the much needed run support, I think Nola has good value at +900.

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American League MVP

Mike Trout is favored to win the MVP at +200. The 27-year old center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels was the American League MVP in 2014 and 2016. Trout batted at .312 last season with 39 homers and 79 RBIs.

Mookie Betts is the reigning American League MVP. Betts took home the award in 2018 after a season where he hit .346 with 32 home runs and 80 RBIs. Betts is second in the oddsboard at +500 but it’s important to note that only Miguel Cabrera in 2012-13 and Frank Thomas in 1993-94 won back to back AL MVP awards since Roger Maris in 1960-61.

Aaron Judge comes in third along with Alex Bregman at +1200. No questioning Judge’s skills but he will have to be healthy to be considered here. Judge played in just 112 games last season and is a career .273 hitter who drills  a home run in an average 12.5 at bats. Bregman batted .286 last season with 31 home runs and 103 RBIs.

Prediction: Mookie Betts. Betts has a lot to contend with, not just in the AL but in his own team as well. But if there’s a guy who can join that elite group, it’s Betts. He’s not even in his prime, continues to develop and is playing in an elite team like the Red Sox.

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National League MVP

Bryce Harper is favored to win the MVP in the NL. He won the award in 2015 while playing for his former team the Washington Nationals. Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies last month and is expected to make waves for his new squad.

Arenado lead the Colorado Rockies to a great run last season. It remains to be seen if Colorado can keep it up this season but Arenado is here to stay in Colorado after signing a mammoth $260M deal during the offseason. He led the Rockies with 38 home runs and 110 RBIs.

Goldschmidt had 33 homers and 83 RBIs last season for the St. Louis Cardinals but sorry, I’m not into him because I didn’t like the way he faded in August and September when his team was still in playoff contention. Kris Bryant at +1200 saw his numbers continue to drop in 2018 while Christian Yelich had an outstanding first season with the Brewers with 36 home runs and 110 RBIs.

Prediction: Bryce Harper had 34 home runs and 100 RBIs last season. The 34 homers were his mot since his MVP Season while his 100 RBis is a career-high for the 26-year old. A new setting gives him a fresh start and more room for success.

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