3 MLB Teams Offering Value in the Division Race

The two-month mark is the ideal time to assess the MLB division-winner markets. Let’s take a look at our value picks for MLB division futures.

There’s been plenty of shifting in the MLB futures markets, and now is the time to seek value before previously scuffling playoff contenders truly round into form.

As the calendar flips to June, it is the unofficial time amid a long season when you’re allowed to start looking at the standings somewhat seriously. You’ll see some of the usual suspects atop divisions, with most teams about a third of the way through the 2022 schedule. But there’s ample opportunity for other clubs to rise and close the gap.

Let’s examine three teams that are offering appealing value when making MLB division futures bets (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, and BetMGM).

MLB Division Leaders

(Odds via DraftKings; odds, records, and stats as of May 30)

AL East: New York Yankees (33-15), 4.5 game lead (-200)AL Central: Minnesota Twins (29-19), 5.0 game lead (+115)AL West: Houston Astros (30-18), 3.5 game lead (-370)

NL East: New York Mets (32-17), 8.5 game lead (-285)NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers (30-18), 3.5 game lead (-425)NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (33-14), 3.0 game lead (-360)

MLB Division Winner Value Picks

Toronto Blue Jays - AL East (+375 via BetMGM)Los Angeles Angels - AL West (+300 via DraftKings)San Diego Padres - NL West (+350 via FanDuel)

MLB Division Winner Value Picks Overview

Blue Jays (+375)

Record: 27-20

Spring is the season of blooming as flowers bring joy to your heart and nose. Yet the odor coming from the Toronto Blue Jays was downright offensive for much of May.

A stretch of six losses over seven games lowlighted the Blue Jays’ month. They recorded just four wins over their first 13 games in May, all while losing in an unexpected way considering the offensive talent on Toronto’s roster. The Blue Jays averaged a putrid 3.15 runs per game during that span. They’re still struggling in that regard while ranking 23rd leaguewide for the season with 185 runs (3.94 per contest).

But amid all that doom and what felt like a spiral beginning in May, the Jays’ worst record was 22-20.

They’ve since rattled off five straight wins, with the offense beginning to wake from its slumber. Toronto scored six-plus runs four times during its current run. More encouragingly, core offensive producers are coming alive, like first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (two home runs and three extra-base hits over his last four full games) and shortstop Bo Bichette (.856 OPS in May after posting a .535 in April).

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1531117015204765697

The Blue Jays are 5.5 games back of the Yankees, and the AL East leaders have benefitted from a much easier schedule while playing the lowly Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Detroit Tigers a combined 19 times. Meanwhile, the Jays have faced the Yankees, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Rays a combined 18 times.

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Angels (+300)

Record: 27-22

The Los Angeles Angels’ May has been similar to Toronto’s month, just flipped around.

They started off sizzling, winning 10 of their 15 games over the first two weeks. But Los Angeles has cratered since while winning just three times over its last 12 contests. That run includes dropping four games to the mediocre Texas Rangers, and a four-game sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays.

The Angels have lost five straight, largely due to a bullpen that’s resembling the Springfield tire fire. The club’s bullpen ERA has fallen to 4.02, which ranks 20th in MLB. But bullpen performance can be inconsistent outside of the top tier, and the Angels’ offense is capable of outslugging any pitching woes.

Los Angeles ranks third in runs (235), second in OPS (.748), and tied for first in home runs (67). The Angels' lineup is volcanic while centered around former MVP Mike Trout, who’s posting a ho-hum career-high 204 OPS+. His 1.063 OPS also leads all qualified hitters in MLB, and he’s tied for third in homers with 13.

Did you manage to somehow get Trout out? Congrats, now go deal with Shohei Ohtani and his 11 homers, Taylor Ward and his .359 average, or Jared Walsh, who has smacked 10 round-trippers.

https://twitter.com/Angels/status/1531022723673075714

The Angels’ recent swoon has led to an appealing discount on a team that’s filled with firepower both in its lineup and rotation, and waiting for the price to drop even further is wise. Despite all their recent losses, the Angels are still only 3.5 games back of the AL West lead.

Padres (+350)

Record: 30-17

Never forget the San Diego Padres are keeping up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. hasn’t even been cleared to swing a bat yet. That’s coming, and so is he, as there’s optimism Tatis will return from a wrist injury sometime in June.

https://twitter.com/sdutKevinAcee/status/1531298305493409792?s=20&t=1WYcvxocOpKOuxpYopXVNQ

The Padres are still managing to tread water offensively with Tatis absent. Infielder Manny Machado has been powering that effort while slashing .357/.438/.583. But pitching is fueling San Diego’s surge to holding the NL’s third-best record.

The club ranks sixth in MLB in ERA (3.38) and strikeouts (436). The Padres are also limiting opponents to just a .212 batting average, the top mark in baseball. NL Rookie of the Year candidate MacKenzie Gore is the gem of the staff so far while allowing a mere eight earned runs over 42 innings (a shining 1.71 ERA) and averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Combine the offensive brilliance of Machado and others with the Padres’ flamethrowing pitching staff, and you get a team with a run differential of plus-27. The price is set to drop sharply once Tatis returns.

Where to Bet on MLB Division Winner Futures Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel SportsbookCaesars SportsbookDraftKings SportsbookPointsBetBetMGM

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MLB division winner value picks made on 5/30/2022 at 2:30 p.m. ET.