Last Updated Aug 30, 2021, 14:05 PM
2018 Season Predictions
The 2018 baseball season is here with plenty of new expectations and hope for all 30 teams. Our consensus of handicappers provides their annual predictions on their best season win total bets as well as American League and National League champions, along with World Series winners.
In spite of Houston’s World Series victory last season, not many experts at VegasInsider.com are buying that Houston will return to the Fall Classic. In the National League, the Dodgers are expected to make it back to the World Series, as the Nationals and Cubs are expected to compete for the pennant.
From the win totals perspective, there are plenty of varying opinions from our handicappers on which teams will overachieve and which ones will fall short of their victory total.
The MLB experts at ASA believe Washington will take care of its win total of 92 ½, “The Nationals play in a division they should dominate which, of course, goes a long way toward going "over" on a win total. The Nats again will take advantage of being in the NL East with the Marlins, Braves, Phillies, and Mets. Out of those 4 teams it is not inconceivable that they all finish with a losing record. Miami has averaged 73 wins the past 5 seasons, Atlanta has averaged 71.5 wins the past 4 seasons. The Phillies have averaged 67 wins the past 3 seasons. As for the Mets, they fall hard last year and won just 70 games. The Nationals looks just as strong as recent seasons and Washington has won at least 95 games in 3 of the past 4 seasons.”
Handicapper Joe Nelson sees another strong effort from the Twins following a playoff appearance in 2017, “Minnesota won 85 games last season despite going only 41-35 vs. AL Central foes. Cleveland remains a formidable AL contender in the division but the prospects for the Royals, Tigers, and White Sox are poor, featuring the AL’s three worst season win total projections. The Twins also get to trade a tough NL West interleague draw for facing the NL Central teams this season to possibly gain a few more wins.
The Rockies were a playoff squad last season also, but Vince Akins believe Colorado will take a step back in 2018, "The NL West was turned upside down in 2017 with 3 87+ win teams and there will be some market correction in 2018 with San Francisco returning to form and San Diego at least looking to compete. This Rockies team lacks top-end talent with only three difference making players on the roster in our estimation. We see them as overachievers in 2017 that are likely to fall back toward the bottom of the standings in the NL West."
Expert Dave Cokin feels the Rangers will a tough time reaching their win total of 77 ½ this season, “Texas is a team in transition. I don't like their lineup, the starting rotation beyond Hamels is extremely shaky and the bullpen appears very untrustworthy. The AL West looks tough with the Astros, followed by high upsides like the Angels and Mariners. Even Oakland appears better off than the Rangers. I see them finishing at the bottom of the division and suspect they'll struggle to win even 70 games.”
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