Spring is right around the corner, and that means baseball is almost back.
Fans have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season.
For starters, the MLB season is actually beginning on time this year. COVID-19 pushed back last season’s opening day from March all the way to late July.
Spring training games start at the end of the month for most groups, but the preseason prep is already underway. With players already reporting to workouts for several teams, the real start of the MLB calendar is already here.
Indiana might not have an MLB franchise of its own, but the Chicago White Sox, Cubs, and Cincinnati Reds still have plenty of fans throughout the state. Thankfully, Indiana’s sportsbooks already have baseball futures odds up for every team.
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Chicago White Sox World Series odds
This could end up being a special season for fans of Chicago’s southside squad.
The White Sox finally put an end to their 11-year playoff drought last season. It was the team’s second postseason appearance since their 2005 World Series win.
Despite marching into the playoffs, the White Sox got bounced in their opening Wild Card Series against the Oakland Athletics.
Sportsbooks are expecting a different outcome this time around. With reigning American League MVP Jose Abreu at the helm, the White Sox have some of the best odds to win the World Series over at DraftKings.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: +350
- New York Yankees: +550
- San Diego Padres: +800
- Chicago White Sox: +850
- Atlanta Braves: +1,000
When it comes to Indiana’s favorite teams, the White Sox are probably the only squad with a realistic chance to win it all. The Reds and Cubs are both closer to the middle of the pack odds wise, with Cincinnati at +3,300 and Chicago even further back at +4,000.
White Sox are AL Central favorites
The Minnesota Twins narrowly won the American League Central crown in 2020 with a 36-24 record. Both the White Sox and Cleveland Indians were only one game behind in the division standings at 35-25.
Oddsmakers at BetMGM are expecting another close race between the White Sox and Twins, with the Indians taking a step back.
- Chicago White Sox:-110
- Minnesota Twins:+140
- Cleveland Indians:+600
- Kansas City Royals:+4,000
- Detroit Tigers:+4,000
Cubs and Reds fight for NL Central
The Reds have plenty of fans throughout Indiana thanks to Cincinnati’s close proximity to the state. That fandom dates all the way back to the days of the Big Red Machine.
The Reds narrowly snagged their first winning season since 2013 last year. The team’s 31-29 record during the shortened season narrowly squeezed the team into the playoffs.
Cincinnati ended last year as the National League Central runner-ups. The Cubs took home the division title with a 34-26 record.
But just like the White Sox and Reds, the Cubs were knocked out in their first playoff series.
It’s a big year for the team since many of the squad’s best hitters are in the final year of their deals.
From a financial standpoint, the Cubs will likely have to mix things up after this season. The club won’t be able to afford to bring everyone back year after year.
At least for the 2021 season, the Cubs should still be a solid defensive team. That defense will likely carry the group throughout the year as they battle the Reds for division dominance.
The Cubs and Red fought for control of the NL Central last season, and that might end up being the case this year as well. FanDuel doesn’t have either team as the division favorites, but that could change once the season gets underway.
- St. Louis Cardinals:+105
- Cincinnati Reds:+330
- Milwaukee Brewers: +380
- Chicago Cubs:+400
- Pittsburgh Pirates: +5,000
2021 MLB awards betting
There are all sorts of other futures bets out there that don’t involve team records.
For instance, you can already bet on the 2021 award winners over at DraftKings.
At least for now, the Cubs and Reds don’t have any players in the running for the major awards. The White Sox, on the other hand, have a few players in the mix.
Will Jose Abreu repeat as AL MVP? According to the odds, it’ll be an uphill battle.
Winning back-to-back MVPs is incredibly difficult, so oddsmakers have Mike Trout as the +200 favorite to take home the award. Abreu has the sixth-best odds at +2,500.
Ace pitcher Lucas Giolito will be representing the White Sox in the hunt for the AL Cy Young award. Here’s a quick look at the odds for some of the favorites:
- Gerrit Cole: +350
- Shane Bieber: +400
- Lucas Giolito: +450
- Tyler Glasnow: +950
- Hyun-Jin Ryu: +1,300
Those are only a few of the futures options available right now. There’s something for every baseball fan out there, so feel free to shop around a bit to find the best bets for you.
More choices will become available as we get closer to opening day on April 1, so check in with your favorite sportsbook in the coming weeks for the full list of options.
