The end of the 2022 MLB season is the first week of October — so under two weeks away. However, that doesn’t mean the futures betting opportunities have dried up. Read this article to get three free MLB special bets that we believe can get you paid by the end of the year!
NL East Division Winner Bet
The only division in baseball that remains up in the air is the NL East. Therefore, the NL East is the only division winner futures bet worth looking into. Here are the odds for the remaining contenders, the Mets, and Braves, as set by top-used baseball betting sites:
| Team |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Mets | -235 | -235 | -235 |
| Atlanta Braves | +190 | +190 | +190 |
As we write this, New York holds a slim one-game advantage over Atlanta, with less than 20 games left. Despite that, as you can see in the odds, the Mets are comfortable betting favorites — as perhaps they should be. If we’re being completely honest, we think New York is the team to beat, not only in the division but maybe the whole league (more on that later). Its trio of starting pitchers — Chris Bassitt, Jacob deGrom, and Max Scherzer — will be tough to contend with from this point forward.
But despite our optimism for New York, we still think Atlanta is worth a bet here. The keyword in the last sentence is worth it because this is a pure value play. Should a team that’s right in the division race be almost +200? We don’t think so. So we’re throwing money on the Braves here strictly to capitalize on their undervalued odds.
The two division rivals will meet in the penultimate series of the season between September 30 and October 2. It’s fair to believe whoever wins that series could take the whole NL East. But here’s the kicker: the three-game series will go down in Atlanta. Do you think that’s not advantageous to the reigning champions? And still, they’re as long as +190 to win right now.
For the Braves to win the division, they’ll likely need to outslug the Mets. Behind big hitters like Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, and the returning Ozzie Albies, the Braves are as capable of an offense as anyone — perhaps capable enough to withstand New York’s fierce pitching. So, all things considered, Atlanta is a great play to make as the season winds down.
World Series Winning State
Here’s an incredibly fun bet. Not which team will win the 2023 World Series, but which state will take it. Here are your betting options:
| State | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | +215 | +215 | +215 |
| Any Other State | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| California | +320 | +320 | +320 |
| Texas | +425 | +425 | +425 |
| Missouri | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
To us, this bet comes down to two options — California and New York. Both states are likely to feature a pair of playoff teams. For the Golden State, that’s the Padres and the odds-on favorites, the Dodgers. For the Empire State, the Yankees and Mets are No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in current championship odds. Both these states offer value because it’s not an all-or-nothing bet like Texas, which squarely hinges on the Astros winning it all.
It’s a tough choice, but our money is going on New York. It’s two playoff-bound teams that feel like legit threats, whereas California mostly comes down to the Boys in Blue. Speaking of which, we’re actually confident the Mets can throttle the Dodgers chances in the NL pennant battle.
Remember that trio of pitchers for the Mets we mentioned before? Welp, postseason baseball, more times than not, comes down to those top-3 pitchers more than anything else. When short rest enters the equation, which it does in October, being top-heavy at starter matters more than depth, and we’ll give the Mets the edge over the Dodgers here. Remember, LA will not have the services of its opening-day starter Walker Buehler for the rest of 2022.
Admittedly, we’re less hopeful about the Yankees title chances than the Mets. After a hot start to the season, the Bronx Bombers have cooled off significantly — outside of Aaron Judge, who continues to ding homers at a historic rate. But at the same time, the Yankees are no chopped liver and can topple the Astros under the right circumstances.
What are those circumstances, you ask? If the Yankees offense catches fire in October, which is plausible with this batting order. Many big-time bats are expected to return to the lineup, including Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, and Matt Carpenter. If they’re fully healthy by playoff time, then watch out. Accounting for both in-state teams, New York is the best bet money can buy right here.
How To Bet On 2022 MLB Futures?
The time to bet on 2022 MLB futures is now. Once the playoffs get underway, odds will lose significant value. To seize this opportunity, you’ll want to head to one of the underneath bookmakers. Any one of these will have industry-leading lines on futures like the ones we covered above, but also World Series or league pennant winners.
One last thing: take a deep look at the lucrative types of bonuses up for grabs at these same bookies. By lucrative, we're talking anywhere from $500 to $2500 in free play available. That money is unlocked upon using a supported deposit method to fund your account, which is matched back in free play by the sportsbook. The table below details the best bonuses currently available to you!
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