NHL Best Bets for Tuesday (11/19)
Kenneth Le
The Chicago Cubs have been in a steady decline since breaking MLB’s longest World Series drought in 2016, and there’s not much optimism that things will improve for the organization in 2022. Illinois’ sports bettors might have a hard time making money by wagering on the Cubs to be a National League contender.
Chicago is coming off its worst campaign in eight years, posting a 71-91 record in the 2021 season. The Cubs raised the white flag at the trade deadline, breaking up the core of their 2016 championship run. After trading Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Craig Kimbrel, the franchise appears to be back in the rebuilding phase.
Here’s a look at how to bet on the Cubs and the team’s chances of going on a run in the 2022 season.
Can I Bet on Sports in Illinois?
Illinois residents will be able to bet on every Cubs’ game online this season. As of March 5, 2022, Illinois bettors who don’t have a sportsbook account can register for mobile sports betting remotely. Prior to that date, users in the state had to register in-person at a casino before betting online or with a sportsbook app.
How to Bet on the Chicago Cubs in Illinois
Multiple legal sportsbooks in Illinois offer the latest odds on the Cubs for a variety of MLB betting markets. BetMGM expects to have mobile sports betting in Illinois before Opening Day. Mobile sports betting is live with DraftKings Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook. When in-person registration is no longer required, creating a DraftKings account is simple and requires a few easy steps.
- Download the app or go to the website.
- Click the “Sign Up” tab.
- Enter your username, email address and password.
- Provide the requested information, such as your name, address and phone number.
- Answer security questions to protect your account.
- Deposit to fund your account.
Chicago Cubs’ World Series Odds
The preseason championship odds suggest that the Cubs won’t come close to contending in 2022. With +10000 championship odds (0.99% implied probability) at DraftKings Sportsbook, the Cubs are given a better chance to win the World Series than just five other teams. Only the Washington Nationals (+12000), Colorado Rockies (+20000), Arizona Diamondbacks (+20000) and Pittsburgh Pirates (+25000) have worse title odds in the NL.
The Cubs have +7000 odds to win the NL pennant and +1200 odds to win the NL Central. The Milwaukee Brewers are the odds-on division favorites at -125. Chicago’s chief rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, have +205 odds to win the NL Central.
No one in the Cubs’ lineup is viewed as a potential 2022 NL MVP candidate. New starter Marcus Stroman has +4000 odds to win the NL Cy Young Award after posting a 3.02 ERA in a league-high 33 starts with the New York Mets in 2021. Wade Miley has +5000 Cy Young odds. Miley’s 5.6 WAR in 2021 was the seventh best among MLB pitchers.
Outfielder Brennen Davis has +2200 odds for NL Rookie of the Year, putting him behind 10 other first-year players. The 2018 second-round pick hit 19 home runs in 99 games across three minor-league levels last season.
Cubs’ Offseason Moves
Chicago wasn’t very active during MLB’s spending spree that took place right before the lockout. Stroman was the Cubs’ one major free-agent addition, signing a three-year, $71 million contract. Chicago claimed Miley off waivers after the Cincinnati Reds declined his $10 million option.
Yan Gomes signed a two-year deal with the Cubs. The catcher hit .247/.299/.421 and 14 home runs in 103 games last season. The team also acquired Clint Frazier, a once-highly touted prospect who never found his footing with the New York Yankees. Chicago has yet to replace any of the All-Stars it traded last summer, watching the likes of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Starling Marte sign elsewhere.
Passing up the chance to sign one of the several superstars available, Chicago isn’t operating like a team that is trying to win a championship this year. The Cubs seem content to go five straight seasons without a playoff victory.
