MLB Futures for the 2021 Season

Dean Etheridge
By , Updated on: Feb 8, 2023 07:00 PM
MLB Futures for the 2021 Season

Some people don't believe in pouncing on early MLB Futures. We disagree. Now is a great time to jump on World Series picks, as well as which teams will make it out of the American League and National League.

Let's start with the World Series odds, which we've grabbed from BetOnline:

TeamBovada
Los Angeles Dodgers+480
Toronto Blue Jays+850
Chicago White Sox+950
Houston Astros+1000
Atlanta Braves+1200
Milwaukee Brewers+1200
New York Yankees+1300
New York Mets+1500
San Diego Padres+1600
Tampa Bay Rays+1600
Los Angeles Angels+2500
San Francisco Giants+2500
Boston Red Sox+2500
Philadelphia Phillies+2500
St. Louis Cardinals+3000
Seattle Mariners+3000
Minnesota Twins+4500
Detroit Tigers+5500
Miami Marlins+8000
Cleveland Guardians+9000
Texas Rangers+9500
Kansas City Royals+10000
Cincinnati Reds+13000
Chicago Cubs+13000
Washington Nationals+15000
Colorado Rockies+20000
Oakland Athletics+25000
Arizona Diamondbacks+25000
Pittsburgh Pirates+50000
Baltimore Orioles+50000

Like always, remember to confirm these odds before deciding on any wager. They will shift as the 2021 MLB season soldiers on.

mlb 2021 picks

MLB Futures Breakdown

Before getting into the nitty-gritty about the World Series, let's first look at the best bets to win the American League and National League. We'll analyze the former first.

American League Futures Prediction

Here are the latest odds on who will win the American League:

AL ChampionBetOnline
Houston Astros+200
Tampa Bay Rays+290
Chicago White Sox+310
New York Yankees+650
Boston Red Sox+1000
Toronto Blue Jays+1500
Seattle Mariners+4000

The New York Yankees (+275) are not surprisingly checking in at No. 1. And they deserve it.

Giancarlo Stanton is finally healthy, and they still have slugger Aaron Judge. That is clearly the best one-two power punch in baseball. No other squad even comes close.

Fans have expressed concerns about some very early-season struggles. We can't find a way to be actually worried. The pitching staff is going to be fine. Gerritt Cole is still a beast, and it's fair to expect big things from Luis Severino and Corey Kluber. This remains a top-five pitching rotation relative to the rest of the league.

The Chicago White Sox (+425) is a fair option here, too. Their starting pitching staff is on the shakier end compared to other powerhouses, but they continue to deploy a reliable bullpen and the offense is led by 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreu.

Our dark horse pick would be the Minnesota Twins (+850). They are on the younger side and also have to worry about the health of their oldest vet, power hitter Nelson Cruz, but their offense is immeasurably deep. They'll find a way to score runs and win games without him; their ability to get on base even when they're not hammering dingers is going to be huge. Keep an eye on them.

OSB Prediction: Yankees win the AL (+275)

New York Yankees To win the AL
+275
Bovada

National League Futures Prediction

You knew this was coming. The reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers(+180) were always going to take the No. 1 National League spot. The benefit of the doubt is given to teams that just picked up a World Series. Beyond that, they've actually found a way to get better.

Seriously: The best team in baseball signed Trevor Bauer over the offseason. That move should've been deemed illegal or something. We're now talking about a Dodgers squad that arguably has both the best pitching staff and offensive lineup in baseball.

Still, we just can't shake the San Diego Padres (+400). They have kept going for it even when the Dodgers looked unbeatable. The combination of Ferando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado at shortstop and third base, respectively, is truly terrifying on both sides of the field. And while L.A. added Bauer, they scooped up Yu Darvish.

Tatis Jr.'s recent injury does leave us a little concerned, but he's 22 years old and it's a long season. We don't envision his shoulder issue ruining San Diego's season.

yankees mlb 2021

Feel free to give consideration to the New York Mets (+650). Their pitching staff still has the potential to be the best around if it can stay healthy—a big question mark.

Our dark horse selection would be the Philadelphia Phillies (+1800). Pretty much everyone has faith in their offense. How could they not be with Bryce Harper in the fold? The top of their pitching rotation, headlined by Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, is high-quality as well.

The Phillies' main problem is the back end of its rotation and then, equally problematic, the bullpen. That said, the relievers have pitched well so far. We just need to see whether it's sustainable.

San Diego Padres To win the NL
+400
Bovada

2021 World Series Prediction

Based on the above MLB futures picks, we're tapping both the Yankees and Padres to make the final extravaganza. Sportsbooks don't tend to offer props on specific World Series matchups before the playoffs, but this is something to keep in mind if you're looking for the high-risk, high-reward play.

Speaking of high-risk: The Yankees are the safer selection here. They have more star power top to bottom. Gary Sanchez is even hinting at a bounce-back year with his onset performance.

And yet, the Padres are it for us.

Adding Darvish to a rotation that includes Blake Snell and Chris Paddack gives them a legitimate crack at challenging the Dodgers' aces on the mound. And their batting order is somehow better. They aren't just deep with talent; they are deep in different skill sets. Power, patience, the capacity to get on base—you name it, their offense has it.

Definitely track Tatis Jr.'s shoulder injury. A lengthy absence does compromise San Diego's season to some extent. But we make no apologies about our World Series pick for now.

San Diego Padres To win the World Series
+700
Bovada

Check out this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all your MLB betting:

Meet the author

Dean Etheridge

Dean Etheridge brings decades of sports knowledge and betting insights to his writing. Hailing from Coventry, England, he offers an engaging British perspective on everything from soccer to cricket. Dean has established himself as a reputable voice on English Premier L...

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