Futures Focus: A Look At The Top MLB Futures Bets This Week (5/2/22)

ScoresAndOdds betting expert Justin Van Zuiden (stlcardinals84) checks in to examine the top MLB futures bets on the market this week! Use our Caesars welcome offer to get $1100 first-bet insurance today!

Greetings, SAO readers! Every Monday, I am going to take a look back at the past week and try to find some value in the MLB futures markets. Early in the season, these markets are sometimes slow to come around to news and injuries, so there can be some advantage to exploit.

Now that we are a month into the season, contenders are starting to take shape. Let’s see what the futures markets have for bets right now!

San Francisco To Miss The Postseason

Current odds: +210 on DraftKings

It’s not that I actively want to dislike the Giants. I just think circumstances might catch up to them this year. With Joc Pederson and Brandon Belt sidelined right now, their lineup doesn’t impose much fear into opponents. Alex Cobb and Logan Webb both got hit hard by a weak Washington lineup over the weekend. If the rotation falls apart, this team has problems.

Throw in the fact that the Giants will play a lot of games against the loaded NL West – the Dodgers are elite, the Padres are very good, and the Rockies are off to a strong start – and the competition for a Wild Card spot will be made more difficult given their schedule compared to NL East and NL Central foes. At +210 odds, this feels like a smart bet right now.

Seattle to win the American League West

Current Odds: +375 (BetMGM) or +380 (FanDuel)

I put this one in the article a few weeks ago, but now is still an opportunity to get in at good odds if you didn’t do so back then. I am not convinced that Houston is as good as the oddsmakers think, and it’s crazy to me that they are still odds-on favorites in this division at -125 to win it. Both the Angels and Mariners are capable of causing problems for the Astros, and I like the depth of Seattle’s roster a little more than Los Angeles’ roster. A few injuries could cause major issues for the Halos. Jump in while you can still get a good price here. It’s not too late!

Kevin Gausmah to win American League Cy Young

Current Odds: +800 on DraftKings

Everyone wants to cling to the old notions that we held when Kevin Gausman pitched for the Orioles. He always had the talent, but he had problems with the home run ball. Well, a move to San Francisco and now Toronto has simply provided Gausman with new life.

In five starts this season, Gausman has a 2.27 ERA but absolutely absurd advanced metrics highlighted by FORTY ONE STRIKEOUTS AND ZERO WALKS. He has also yet to surrender a home run. The opponents in the AL East will make life difficult at times, but that is priced into this number. Gausman is absolutely a Cy Young favorite at this point.