At the beginning of the MLB betting season, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles are widely considered the most improved teams following the 2025-2026 MLB offseason. On the other hand, the Cleveland Guardians and Athletics are frequently cited as the least improved.
Consider that the Los Angeles Dodgers strengthened an already championship-caliber roster by signing right fielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal. And they are adding elite closer Edwin Diaz for $69 million. These online betting moves addressed their two primary needs in the corner outfield and the back of the bullpen, while retaining key veterans like Miguel Rojas and Enrique Hernandez.
Also, the Baltimore Orioles made significant strides by injecting massive power into their lineup with the signing of Pete Alonso and a trade for Taylor Ward. They further bolstered their pitching staff by re-signing Zach Eflin. And they are acquiring high-leverage arms like Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge, along with starter Shane Baz.
The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets are also high on the list of MLB wagering odds improvers, as Toronto secured ace Dylan Cease and Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto. At the same time, the Mets executed a massive roster shuffle, including the acquisitions of Freddy Peralta and Bo Bichette.
The Cleveland Guardians have been widely criticized for their lack of activity despite scoring the fewest runs in the American League last season. Their only notable major league addition was reliever Shawn Armstrong. At the same time, they lost key players like Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.
The Athletics also had a disappointing winter relative to their successful finish to the 2025 season. To show, they are adding only low-value veterans like Jeff McNeil and Aaron Civale while failing to address a bullpen that lacks a proven closer.
The Los Angeles Angels received poor marks for a scattered strategy that involved signing several older veterans, such as Kirby Yates and Travis d’Arnaud. Yet they remain without a clear long-term plan for their aging roster.
Additionally, the St. Louis Cardinals intentionally took a step back by trading away veterans like Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to focus on a youth-led rebuild, which left their 2026 outlook diminished in the short term.
MLB Future Market Update and Teams to Watch
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals are among the teams most likely to surprise the league in 2026 due to their combination of elite young arms and veteran additions. Pittsburgh is looking to break a long postseason drought with a rotation led by Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. While the front office added power hitters like Marcell Ozuna to bolster a previously thin lineup.
Kansas City is similarly poised for a jump in the American League Central as Bobby Witt Jr. leads. Now the KC core includes veteran depth like Jonathan India and a healthy Cole Ragans at the top of the pitching staff.
In the National League, the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds are viewed as major bounce-back candidates who could easily exceed their 2025 win totals. Atlanta expects a massive surge in the standings with a healthy Ronald Acuna Jr. returning to the lineup. Consider that it is one of the most dangerous in baseball, alongside a rotation led by Spencer Strider. The Cincinnati Reds have one of the most athletic rosters in the sport. They could take over the National League Central if Elly De La Cruz continues his development and Hunter Greene remains consistent at the front of the rotation.
The Tampa Bay Rays enter the season as under-the-radar threats in the American League. Tampa Bay returns to its home stadium with a healthy Shane McClanahan. Additionally, they boast a rising superstar in Junior Caminero, who showed elite power potential last season.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies are considered overrated by some due to an aging roster and significant questions about the health of ace Zack Wheeler. Analysts have noted their relatively quiet offseason and reliance on older stars as potential red flags for a team expected to contend for a title.
The Houston Astros are also viewed as a team on the decline after losing key pieces of their championship core. Of major concern to gamblers is a steady drop in their annual win totals over the past few seasons.
Furthermore, the New York Yankees face skepticism despite their talented lineup, as some projections suggest they could fall short of their high expectations if their pitching depth does not hold up.