Ten Bold MLB Betting Predictions Heading into Midseason

Can Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees keep up their surprising play once the second half gets underway? Will the defending AL champion Cleveland Indians kick it into high gear once the second half gets under way? Can the Houston Astros remain the best team in all of baseball this season and will the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs be able to fight off their NL Central division rivals to get back into the playoffs? With the 2017 MLB regular season moving closer to its midway point of the regular season, baseball bettors everywhere are in for a big-time treat thanks to the 10 bold predictions that you’re about to get. Find the latest baseball betting run lines here.

Ten Bold MLB Betting Predictions Heading into Midseason

   

The Yankees Challenge for the AL East Title

A lot of baseball fans and experts are expecting the New York Yankees (32-22) to start fading at some point in the near future, but I’m not so sure they will seeing as how they’re ranked third in scoring (5.4 rpg) and fourth in team ERA (3.77) and have one of the game’s best young hitters leading them in Judge who has smacked 18 home runs while batting a robust .324. If you’re expecting the Yankees to start fading at some point very soon I don’t think you should as I’m expecting Judge and the Yankees to keep up their surprising play once the second half gets underway.

Boston Wakes Up

The Red Sox (31-25) were expected to win the AL East this season but they’ve been sitting behind New York all season long after watching franchise superstar David Ortiz retire following last season. Still, I like the BoSox to get their act together to challenge for the division title seeing as how they’ve won 10 of their last 14 games and are ranked 10th in scoring (4.8 rpg), seventh in team ERA (3.84) and third in both, quality starts (33) and strikeouts (539). Newly acquired staff ace southpaw Chris Sale (7-2, 2.89 ERA) and veteran shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.330) have both been phenomenal in the early going. Boston needs Hanley Ramirez (.253) to start hitting a lot better, but the BoSox have gotten some nice contributions from several other players like Dustin Pedroia (.292) and will challenge for the AL East title despite their early struggles.

The Indians Take Control in the AL Central

The reigning AL champion Indiana (29-26) have gotten off to a slow start, but they’re just one game behind Minnesota in the AL Central and look poised to take control of the division once the second half gets underway.  The Tribe need to improve their hitting as they currently rank a modest 19th in scoring (4.5 rpg), but their stellar pitching (3.84 team ERA, 6th) tells me they’ll almost assuredly win the AL Central for the second straight season.

Houston Stays Red-Hot

The Astros (41-16) have been the best team in baseball so far this season and I see absolutely nothing to make me think they won’t remain that way once the second half of the season gets underway. Houston ranks a stellar second in scoring (5.4 rpg) and identical second in team ERA (3.43) while also ranking first in home runs (90), second in team batting average (.276) and first in strikeouts (578). Jose Altuve (.323, 8 HRs) Carlos Correa (.315, 11 HRs) and George Springer (.280, 16HRs) are knocking the cover off the ball and staff ace Dallas Keuchel 99-0, 1.67 ERA) is the favorite right now to win the AL Cy Young award. Maybe it’s me, but Houston looks like they’re going to be tough for anyone to beat this year.

Minnesota Fades

The Twins (29-24) are in first place, one game ahead of Cleveland in the AL central, but I wouldn’t expect that to last much longer, seeing as how the overachieving Twins are ranked a modest 13th in scoring (4.6 rpg), 21st in home runs (64) and uninspiring 24th in team ERA (4.60). The Twins will hit the wall in the second half, so make sure you know when to bet against Minnesota moving forward.

Washington Rolls to NL East title – Again!

Okay, it may not be a very bold prediction, but the Washington Nationals (35-20) are the easy pick to win the NL east for the second straight season with the Braves, Mets and Marlins all sitting between 10.5 and 11 games behind the division leaders. The Nats are ranked first in scoring (5.7 rpg), first in team batting average (.278), first in OPS (.826) and third in home runs (86). Last but not least, Washington leads all of baseball in quality starts with 35.

Milwaukee Challenges

The Brewers (30-27) are up on the Cubs by two games in the NL Central, but I don;t think they’ve gotten it done with smoke and mirrors as they rank sixth in scoring (4.9 rpg), sixth in OPS (.764), sixth in home runs (80) and third in stolen bases (47). Sure, the Brewers need to improve a pitching staff that ranks 25th in quality starts, but Milwaukee has been good enough to rank a solid 10th in team ERA (4.06) that I believe they will really challenge Chicago for the division title moving into the second half of the regular season.

Cubs Dial It Up!

The World Series champs (28-27) have gotten off to a modest start after winning it all a year ago, but I’m expecting the Cubs to pick up the pace as the second half approaches, mostly because they’ve got a ton of elite talent. While Chicago is ranked just 15th in scoring (4.6 rpg) and a dismal 27th in team batting average (.2350, the Cubs are ranked a respectable ninth in team ERA (4.06) and identical ninth in strikeouts (506). If 2016 NL MVP winner Kris Bryant (.268, 12 Hrs) among others, starts to heat up as the summer months approach, I say watch out for the loaded Cubs who are basically sleep walking through the first half of the season right now.

Colorado Fades

The Rockies (36-23) are a half-game in front of the Dodgers in the NL West, mostly because they’ve been smacking the cover off the ball since the beginning of the season to rank fourth in scoring (5.0 rpg) and fourth in team batting average (.267). but I just can;t see Colorado remaining ranked a solid 12th in team ERA (4.15) and 11th in quality starts, especially playing in the hitter-friendly Coors Field. Expect the lack of quality pitching to catch up to the Rockies at some point in the second half.

L.A. Takes Control in NL West

As the Rockies start to fade in the second half, you should expect the NL West favorite Los Angeles Dodgers to take control of the NL West, although Arizona looks like they’ll also contend all season long. L.A. is currently ranked an impressive ninth in scoring (4.8 rpg), but it is their stellar top-ranked team ERA (3.20) and stellar pitching that I believe will lead the Dodgers to the division title at the very least this season. Los Angeles ranks second in strikeouts and first in WHIP (1.16) and is still getting some mostly jaw-dropping performances from staff ace Clayton Kershaw (7-2. 2.28 ERA).