Here are the MLB betting odds for today’s Washington Nationals versus Houston Astros spring training game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for fans who bet on baseball at SBG online sportsbook:
Nationals +110
Astros -130
Excluding the NY Mets, the Nationals appear to be the only team in the National League East that has a shot at winning the division, which would make it the fourth time in six years, including last season. Unfortunately, winning the division is not the only thing that the Nats have made fans who bet on baseball accustomed to. The Nationals los to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the 2016 National League Division Series – the third time they have been eliminated in the division series in the last five years. Washington has addressed certain troublesome areas during the offseason in order to avoid a similar fate in 2015. For example, they acquired outfielder Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez and minor league pitcher Dane Dunning, and signed free agent catcher Matt Wieters to a two-year contract. In addition to that, the Nats have – at least until 2018 – what may become the first player to sign a contract worth $400 million in sports history in Bryce Harper. And then there is right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer, who won his second Cy Young Award in 2016 thanks to a 20-7 record, 2.96 ERA, league-leading 284 strikeouts, and a league-leading 0.968 WHIP.
The Astros are not only the MLB betting favorites to win today’s exhibition game but are also favored by people who bet on baseball to win their first ever American League West title. Houston failed to do that last season when they finished 3rd in the division 11 games behind the Rangers with an 84-78 record. And that was a team too talented to be falling short like that, including the likes of Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, and Alex Bregman. While still retaining those players the Astros have added a few reinforcements. Houston has signed prodigal son Carlos Beltran to a one-year $16 million dollar contract, Josh ‘The Chronicles of’ Reddick to a four year $52 million deal, and acquired Brian McCann from the NY Yankees in exchange for Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzmán. The Astros have one of the best rosters in the AL, and while the pitching rotation posted an ERA of 4.37 last season, the bullpen is deep enough to make the save. Houston and Washington played an exhibition game The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Tuesday, in which the Astros lost 4-3 to the Nationals. Carlos Beltran hit his first home run of Spring Training off of former Houston reliever Oliver Perez. Astros reliever Will Harris left the game in the fifth inning with discomfort and closer Ken Giles surrendered a home run to Derek Norris. Michael Taylor sent an Ashur Tolliver throw over the wall to break a 3-3 tie in the ninth and give Washington the win. Can they do it again today and upset the MLB betting odds?