Updated 6/17/2019 20:57
Big Recent Changes
Sportsbook recently doubled their odds on the bottom six teams from 2,500/1 to 5,000/1. This gives them the crown now for best value by far on the bottom feeders for the MLB. The question is, who is going to take the bait?
Best Value
I really like the Tampa Bay Rays at 15/1 at Sportsbook. They have the fifth-best record in the MLB and are only a half game behind the Yankees in the AL East. If they can’t leapfrog the Yankees, they can fall back on the top Wild Card spot, where they have a 5 game lead over the Rangers and Red Sox. Tampa Bay doesn’t generate the same excitement and viewership as some of their division counterparts, which might be a key reason that they have fallen under the radar.
Worst Value
I struggle to find any value with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bovada currently offers the best odds for them at 16/1, but I am electing to stay away. The Phillies are currently in the driver’s seat for the NL wildcard, but the wildcard race is going to be a wild one. Colorado, St. Louis, and Arizona are all within two and a half games of Philly, and I don’t think this team is good enough to unseat the Braves for the division crown. For the difficult path that Philadelphia has ahead of them to get to the World Series, I would like to see them around the 25/1 – 40/1 range.
Best Longshot
If you’re looking for a nice potential payout betting a minimal amount, the Arizona Diamondbacks are a team worth looking at. No, the Diamondbacks are not going to catch the Dodgers and win the NL West, but they have decent shot at getting a Wild Card slot where they would play a one-game playoff. Having an ace like Zack Greinke makes the Diamondback a team who could fare well in a one-game playoff. Would they be able to make it past the Dodgers in the next round? Probably not, but getting 75-1 odds at Sportsbook on a team that could be one of the last eight remaining at the end of the season seems like an opportunity worth taking.