Sportsbook: Surprise Teams Trying to Stay Contenders. When you look at the Major League Baseball standings and get ready to make a wager at the sportsbook you will notice some surprise teams. Every year there are surprises in baseball and some of these teams continue their success vs. the sportsbook online odds all year. Which teams are likely to continue their early season success this year?
In 14 of the last 15 years, at least one team with a loser record from the previous season made the playoffs the next year. There are five teams that look like they could stay in the hunt and make the playoffs after losing last year. The San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets and Oakland Athletics are all in the mix. What are the chances for each of these teams?
San Diego is a huge surprise to nearly everyone this season. This Padre team was supposed to be terrible and in last place. Instead they have been in first place nearly all season. Can they stay there? The answer is probably not. They have the fifth-worst offense in the league and that simply isn’t going to cut it. San Diego has to improve their hitting if they are to stay in the hunt.
The Cincinnati Reds have also been a major surprise this season but they have the hitting to stay there. The Runs are leading the league in runs and home runs. They have pounded the weaklings of their division, Chicago, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Houston. The question is whether they can handle St. Louis. The Reds have a lot of one-run wins and that luck might run out before the season is over.
The Oakland Athletics have been a major surprise and they play in a weak division. That is one reason they could hang around. The Angels are not as good as last season while the Rangers can’t pitch.
Toronto has good pitching and powerful hitting but they play in the American League East. If they weren’t stuck in a division with New York and Tampa Bay you might like their chances. But they are in the AL East which means they are likely to miss the playoffs again.
The New York Mets are only in the discussion because Philadelphia has struggled. The Mets have Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey. The lineup is inconsistent and unless Carlos Beltran returns and is great, this team is going to fall.