The intensity of spring training is growing as MLB Opening Day approaches on March 25. Once the last out of the World Series occurs, a total of 2,430 regular-season matchups and an entire month of playoff competition will have concluded, witnessing countless home runs, stolen bases, and recorded outs. New champions will emerge, personal accolades will be distributed, and fresh narratives will become part of baseball’s storied past.
This moment is ideal for making official forecasts about these events. Todd Zola, Derek Carty, Eric Karabell, and Tristan H. Cockcroft have done precisely this, pinpointing a single wagering opportunity connected to all 30 Major League Baseball franchises.
Kindly note: All betting figures are sourced from DraftKings Sportsbook 
and reflect their status at the moment of release.
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Major League American Division
Baltimore Orioles
Gunnar Henderson +235 for achieving 180 or more base hits
Among numerous compelling wagers concerning Henderson, this particular choice appears to offer favorable value. The Orioles have enhanced their batting order with acquisitions such as Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, and it’s anticipated that several established hitters will demonstrate improved play. This applies to Henderson, whose decline in 2025 was largely attributable to an intercostal strain that postponed his season’s beginning. He is expected to thrive within a more dynamic lineup, suggesting a potential comeback to 700 plate appearances, and his significantly improved contact rate towards the end of last year indicates strong prospects for accumulating hits. — Cockcroft
Boston Red Sox
Garrett Crochet +425 to claim the AL Cy Young prize
Crochet is anticipated to be a favored candidate for the Cy Young Award, and for good reason. He substantially increased his pitching volume by 59 and a third innings, significantly lowered his earned run average by almost an entire run, and doubled his count of quality starts to 22 during a standout 2025 campaign. The underlying statistical data strongly indicates that he can replicate this performance or even improve upon it. While Tarik Skubal is the top contender for this accolade, Crochet represents a strong secondary option among the favorites for the 2026 Cy Young, and his odds are quite attractive. — Cockcroft
New York Yankees
David Bednar 10-1 to achieve the highest number of saves in MLB
Among the various Yankees-related betting propositions, why focus on Bednar? The explanation is straightforward: After his trade to the Yankees at the deadline, he fully regained his exceptional ability to generate swings and misses with his pitches (four-seam fastball, curveball, splitter). This season, he also faces significantly reduced internal competition for the primary closing pitcher position compared to the previous year. Furthermore, he is pitching for a team possessing a respectable, though adaptable, starting rotation — with several key Yankees pitchers recovering from serious ailments — which may necessitate them securing more victories this year than in the preceding two seasons. The AL East division is set to be a fiercely contested struggle for half a year. Increased competitive intensity implies a greater number of potential save opportunities, and given Bednar’s inherent skill, a higher conversion rate of those saves is expected. — Cockcroft
Tampa Bay Rays
Chandler Simpson +900 for accumulating 60 base thefts
Simpson is recognized as one of the swiftest individuals in professional baseball, potentially even the quickest. If his 2025 stolen base count were extrapolated across a full 162-game MLB season, he would have achieved 59.4 steals. A concern regarding Simpson pertains to his defensive capabilities, given his minus-9 Defensive Runs Saved placed him among the poorest outfielders in the majors; however, the Rays possess few superior options. The optimal strategy for them would likely involve consistent playing time for him, allowing him to consistently disrupt opposing pitchers on the bases. In such a capacity, he would almost certainly meet this benchmark. — Cockcroft
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays 14-1 to secure the World Series title
The Blue Jays came within two outs of clinching the 2025 World Series, subsequently committing a combined $337 million to acquire four free agents: Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Tyler Rogers, and Cody Ponce. It would not be unprecedented for a team, having reached the championship series for the first time, to then triumph in it the subsequent season. Examples include the 2014-15 Kansas City Royals and the 2021-22 Houston Astros, in addition to five other teams this century that have made consecutive World Series appearances. These odds suggest a 6.7% probability of winning the championship, while PECOTA forecasts assign the Blue Jays an 8.5% likelihood of victory. — Cockcroft
Chicago White Sox
Will Venable 30-1 to earn AL Manager of the Year honors
Let’s consider an unconventional scenario! Reaching the postseason is not a mandatory condition for securing this accolade. In fact, a team that was widely expected to perform well might even face a disadvantage. The White Sox merely need to demonstrate substantial improvement over their 60-win record from the previous season, a prospect that is entirely feasible. Their projected win total, set at 66.5, already implies an expected enhancement. It’s possible that their young pitching staff will coalesce sooner than anticipated. Furthermore, Kyle Teel and Colson Montgomery might achieve significant advancements, while Munetaka Murakami could adapt effectively to high-velocity pitches. A trajectory leading to 75 victories in the AL Central is conceivable, a performance level that would undoubtedly capture the attention of voters. — Zola
Cleveland Guardians
Cade Smith 22-1 for topping the league in saves
Over the last three campaigns, the Guardians’ bullpen has accumulated more saves than any other relief corps. During this span, the proportion of Guardians’ victories secured by saves ranks second only to the Rockies, although Colorado achieved 93 fewer wins in that same timeframe. Saves generally correlate with team successes and earned run averages. While the Guardians’ win total has been average since 2023, their collective ERA stands as the league’s best. Across his 150 Major League Baseball outings, Smith holds a 2.42 ERA, accompanied by 45 holds and 17 saves. The squad is expected to furnish him with sufficient chances to finalize games. — Zola
Detroit Tigers
Kevin McGonigle +900 to be crowned AL Rookie of the Year
During a season lacking a dominant frontrunner, a “dependable” debut year could be sufficient to claim the award, and McGonigle’s characteristics suggest he is more reliable than spectacular. His primary strength lies in his batting ability, and across a complete season, he is projected to achieve at least ten home runs and ten stolen bases, with the potential for a 20/20 performance. Furthermore, the Tigers have motivation to feature him in their lineup, as doing so could grant them an additional draft selection through the Prospect Promotion Incentive. — Zola
Kansas City Royals
Vinnie Pasquantino -110 to hit 30 or more home runs in the regular season
To be frank, I would prefer a higher payout for this bet, given that the potential for negative outcomes often outweighs positive ones when betting on the “over.” Nevertheless, if Pasquantino can approximate his performance from the previous season, which included 160 games and 682 plate appearances, the revised layout of Kauffman Stadium should assist him in at least equaling his 32 home runs from last year, particularly as Statcast’s expected home run (xHR) metric was 35.5. — Zola
Minnesota Twins
Luke Keaschall -125 to achieve 20 or more stolen bases during the regular season
Keaschall fulfills most requirements for this prediction; he demonstrates strong abilities to get on base, successfully steals bases at a high rate, and is anticipated to play almost daily. The sole reservation is his limited experience, having only participated in 49 Major League games, though he recorded a .382 on-base percentage and was successful in 14 of 17 stolen base attempts during that time. If his performance were projected over a complete season, Keaschall would exceed 40 stolen bases. I am willing to wager on him achieving half that total. — Zola
Athletics
Brent Rooker +170 for hitting 35 or more home runs
With odds at +170, a success rate of only 37% is required for this wager to yield a positive expected value. My forecasting model, THE BAT X, projects Rooker to average 34 home runs, indicating we comfortably surpass that 37% benchmark. Moreover, THE BAT X does not account for Rooker’s offseason training at Driveline, where he sought to enhance his exit velocity, which was only in the 64th percentile last season. His bat speed, however, was already in the 72nd percentile. Therefore, despite Rooker’s existing formidable power, considerable potential for growth exists, offering an additional subtle advantage for this bet. — Carty
Houston Astros
Tatsuya Imai +135 to achieve 150 or more strikeouts in the regular season
During his previous two seasons playing for the Saitama Seibu Lions, Imai pitched 337 innings and recorded 365 strikeouts. There is no indication he cannot pitch 165 innings this season, which would provide a substantial buffer to accommodate any decrease in his strikeout rate while still fanning a minimum of 150 batters. Standing at only 5-foot-8, he employs a low arm slot, which generates an deceptive delivery. His arsenal comprises five different pitches, notably a four-seam fastball characterized by an uncommon rising motion. Additionally, Imai is likely to benefit from hitters’ lack of familiarity with his pitching style. — Zola
Los Angeles Angels
Zach Neto +105 to accumulate 30 or more stolen bases in the regular season
Neto successfully stole 30 bases across 155 games during his inaugural season, but his total decreased to merely 26 in 128 appearances last year. His season began belatedly due to recovery from shoulder surgery, and he subsequently missed the final 16 games of the season owing to a hand problem. Maintaining his prior season’s rate over a conservative projection of 150 games would yield him 31 stolen bases. Considering his performance in his initial two seasons, while betting on over 30 steals isn’t an outstanding proposition, it slightly exceeds a coin-flip probability and offers a modest return. — Zola
Seattle Mariners
Bryan Woo 20-1 to earn the AL Cy Young Award
While Skubal is indisputably the leading candidate for the AL Cy Young, which is merited, the betting odds for Woo appear appealing. My analytical system, THE BAT X, forecasts him to achieve the third-highest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) among American League starting pitchers, at 4.4. Although this figure is two full wins lower than Skubal’s projection, it surpasses the projections of pitchers with more favorable odds, such as Jacob deGrom (13-1), Hunter Brown (13-1), Cole Ragans (13-1), and Max Fried (17-1). Surpassing Skubal’s performance will be challenging, yet the inherent unpredictability of an upcoming season is often underestimated. Additionally, the possibility of Skubal sustaining an injury presents a substantial alternative outcome. — Carty
Texas Rangers
Wyatt Langford 30-1 to be named AL MVP
Langford participated in 134 contests during each of his initial two seasons, registering an average of 19 home runs and 20.5 stolen bases annually. Although forecasting him to play more than 150 games in 2026 might be optimistic, if he achieves this, a season with 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases becomes a credible outcome. Should that be plausible, then a 30/30 season is also attainable. This forecast does not assert that Langford will overcome the recurring core injuries that affected him last season, but it acknowledges that he engaged in an offseason training program specifically designed to address this concern. This serves as recognition that a most favorable outcome could see Langford emerging as the AL MVP. — Zola
Major League National Division
Atlanta Braves
Spencer Strider 22-1 to achieve the highest number of strikeouts in MLB
Strider topped all of baseball with 281 strikeouts during the 2023 campaign, a figure that no player has approached since. Strider was sidelined for the majority of 2024 due to undergoing Tommy John surgery and experienced periods of difficulty last season, accumulating only 23 starts in total. A fully recuperated Strider is expected to return to his high strikeout-generating form in 2026. — Karabell
Miami Marlins
Robby Snelling 45-1 to secure the NL Rookie of the Year award
As one of baseball’s premier pitching prospects, Snelling is expected to receive a full season of chances with Miami. He certainly appears prepared, having registered a 1.27 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP, and a 32.9% strikeout rate while with Triple-A Jacksonville. Snelling will undoubtedly attract considerable attention if his ability to prevent runs remains comparable once he becomes part of the Marlins’ starting rotation. — Karabell
New York Mets
Juan Soto 45-1 to rank first in the NL for stolen bases
Didn’t Soto just accomplish this in 2026? Indeed, Soto shared the National League lead with Oneil Cruz, each recording 38 stolen bases, and perhaps not many anticipate he will replicate this achievement. Soto is not among the sport’s speediest runners, unlike players such as Cruz, Elly De La Cruz, or Corbin Carroll, yet he possesses the clear capability to steal numerous bases if he chooses. Given these lengthy odds (Soto is listed behind over 20 other players), the potential reward seems to justify the gamble. — Karabell
Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Schwarber 35-1 to top all of MLB in Runs Batted In
Schwarber recorded the highest RBI total in Major League Baseball with 132 in 2025, making it curious that almost 20 other players are assigned more favorable odds to achieve this feat in 2026. Schwarber’s potential for high RBI production is somewhat contingent on his position in the batting order relative to teammate Bryce Harper (who is given stronger odds to lead in RBI), but it’s also unlikely that Harper will hit 50 home runs. — Karabell
Washington Nationals
Harry Ford 75-1 to secure the NL Rookie of the Year accolade
Ford’s playing time in Seattle would have been limited due to Cal Raleigh’s presence, but a clear opportunity now awaits him in Washington. These odds are considerable, potentially even understated. Ford achieved an .878 OPS at Triple-A Tacoma, along with 16 home runs in 97 games. While the Nationals might endure a challenging season, Ford possesses the potential to distinguish himself. — Karabell
Chicago Cubs
Edward Cabrera -110 for a regular-season ERA below 3.91
Across a 13-game period mid-last season, Cabrera maintained an impressive 1.95 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, recording 81 strikeouts against only 21 walks over 73 and two-thirds innings. Although Marlins Stadium is known as a pitcher-friendly venue and tends to reduce home runs, it paradoxically benefits hitters. He will now regularly pitch at Wrigley Field, a park that enhances strikeout numbers while simultaneously reducing runs scored. Additionally, the offensive strength of teams in the NL Central division is generally less formidable than those in the NL East. — Zola
Cincinnati Reds
Chase Burns 60-1 to claim the NL Cy Young Award
My recently developed pitcher “stuff” projection system, THE BATcast, displays extreme confidence in Burns, ranking him among the top 10 players in baseball for raw pitching talent. Following this assessment, THE BAT X forecasts him to have the seventh-lowest ERA in the National League this season. Betting odds of this nature for a player possessing such significant talent and future potential are exceptionally favorable, even with uncertainties regarding the total workload Burns will undertake this year. Similar uncertainties also apply to other young talents such as Jacob Misiorowski (30-1), Nolan McLean (35-1), and Eury Perez (45-1), all of whom, for some reason, have considerably shorter odds than Burns. — Carty
Milwaukee Brewers
Brice Turang +135 to record 70 or more Runs Batted In
Turang’s sudden surge in power was among the most unforeseen occurrences of 2025; however, the modifications he implemented in his batting stance and swing mechanics entirely justified this transformation. During the concluding two months of the season, he achieved top-15 rankings in hard-hit rate and top-45 in barrel rate. This specific proposition implies an 11-RBI decline for Turang, which appears improbable given his adjustments and the high probability he will consistently occupy higher-leverage, run-scoring positions (second through fourth) in the batting order this season. — Cockcroft
Pittsburgh Pirates
Don Kelly 10-1 to earn NL Manager of the Year honors
One might have anticipated our selection of Konnor Griffin for NL Rookie of the Year, however, Griffin’s exceptional performance early in spring training has reduced his odds to +280 for that award, thereby enhancing the value of this particular proposition. Kelly guided the Pirates to a 59-65 record after assuming leadership last May, and the team seems to be progressing, bolstered by offseason acquisitions such as Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna, a full season with rookie Bubba Chandler in the pitching rotation, and indeed, the possible debut of Griffin. Furthermore, it’s widely understood how voting for this award typically unfolds when a team exceeds expectations (PECOTA projects 79.5 wins). While these implied odds are below 10%, Kelly’s true chances are likely superior, considering he will be managing one of the more robust teams with the potential to perform unexpectedly well in 2026. — Cockcroft
St. Louis Cardinals
Victor Scott II 20-1 to lead all of MLB in stolen bases
In the previous season, Scott successfully stole 34 bases on 38 attempts. He participated in only 138 games, missing 15 contests in August due to a sprained ankle. During the offseason, Scott utilized motion-capture analysis to overhaul his swing, aiming to reduce strikeouts and increase his ground ball rate. This spring, he has also been practicing bunting. Both Scott and the organization are capitalizing on his 100th percentile sprint speed, and given their current rebuilding phase, there’s no logical reason to restrict the 25-year-old’s aggressive baserunning. — Zola
Arizona Diamondbacks
Ketel Marte +110 to achieve 30 or more regular-season home runs
Marte has surpassed the 30-home run mark only twice throughout his professional career; one instance was in 2019, during the “juiced ball” era. The other occurred in 2024, when he hit 36 long balls across 136 games. Last year, he managed just 28 in 126 games, which extrapolates to 30 over 136 contests. This wager primarily hinges on Marte participating in at least 136 games rather than solely evaluating his power output. Nonetheless, his underlying power statistics are trending upward, including an increase in fly balls hit and a higher average exit velocity. — Zola
Colorado Rockies
Chase Dollander +130 to amass 120 or more regular-season strikeouts
Dollander spent his offseason working with T.J. Galenti, a renowned performance coach specializing in data analytics. The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher indicates that a defect in his pitching motion was identified, and correcting it is expected to enhance both his fastball and slider command and control, as well as restore the induced vertical break on his fastball. While such narratives are common, Dollander’s background and potential warrant confidence. If he were not a member of the Rockies, he would likely be discussed similarly to Bryan Woo, Hunter Greene, Chase Burns, Nolan McLean, and Jacob Misiorowski (among others) – all emerging young pitching talents. This proposition concerns strikeouts, not wins or ERA, and if Dollander can pitch 120 innings, striking out one batter per inning is a highly achievable goal. — Zola
Los Angeles Dodgers
Will Smith +160 for achieving 25 or more regular-season home runs
Smith experienced a less productive year by his usual benchmarks in 2025, hitting only 17 home runs. A contributing factor was his absence in September due to a hand fracture, coupled with managing a persistent ankle injury early in the season. These issues resulted in additional recovery time and potentially diminished performance. Despite these setbacks, Smith achieved career-highs in Barrel% (12.2) and average exit velocity (90.3 mph), prompting THE BAT X to issue the most ambitious projection among public systems for him this year: 24 home runs over 497 plate appearances. He has exceeded this plate appearance forecast in four of the last five years, indicating clear potential beyond that figure. Even if he only reaches that output, the bet still approaches a 50/50 chance, requiring just a 38.5% probability to offer positive expected value. — Carty
San Diego Padres
Jackson Merrill +105 for accumulating 160 or more hits
Merrill’s 2025 campaign was hampered by various injuries; however, he is a young player who, when healthy, possesses some of the most comprehensive hitting abilities. His impressive September statistics (.270/.320/.626 with 7 home runs) further reinforce his potential for a strong recovery this season. As a rookie in 2024, he amassed 162 hits despite not reaching 600 plate appearances. As the probable second hitter in the Padres’ lineup, he is expected to comfortably surpass that plate appearance benchmark and collect a substantial number of hits. — Cockcroft
San Francisco Giants
Logan Webb 20-1 to secure the NL Cy Young Award
Webb might not be the most flamboyant pitcher in Major League Baseball, but his steadfastness and reliability position him as a surprisingly strong contender for the Cy Young award given these odds. He is projected to pitch more innings than any other National League pitcher and is also forecast to achieve the third-highest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) at 5.0. This figure is less than one win below Paul Skenes, the leading Cy Young candidate, who is listed at a significantly lower +225. — Carty
