Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
It’s been a long winter with the lockout, but baseball finally peeked its head out for spring and stormed the field. A flurry of free agent signings and trades took place over the last couple weeks, and baseball has arrived.
Here’s a look at some of my favorite MLB futures bets for the 2022 season. Grab these lines before they move.
(All odds from Caesars Sportsbook.)
NL East Division Winner
Philadelphia Phillies, +450
These are great odds for a team that added two top-notch offensive pieces (Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber) to go with superstar Bryce Harper. They have one of the best 1-2 rotation punches in the league with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola and added a dynamite end-game manager in Corey Knebel.
AL West Division Winner
Seattle Mariners, +460
A team that won 90 games last season is even better in 2022. A full season from super prospect Jarred Kelenic and the addition of two offensive stalwarts (Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suárez) should help propel the Mariners to be in the mix against the division favorite Houston Astros. The Mariners may need to add another arm to the rotation, but their bullpen is arguably the best in the AL.
NL Cy Young
Max Fried, Atlanta Braves, +2000
Max Fried took another step in the right direction last season. Improved control and run minimization should keep his ERA and WHIP among the league leaders. Solid run support from one of the NL’s best offenses could put him in position to lead the league in wins. Jacob deGrom’s elbow is a timebomb, and if he misses substantial time, Fried’s road will be an even smoother one.
MLB Home Run Leader
Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies, +5000
The new leadoff man for the Phillies hit 32 homers last season in just 113 games and nearly hit 40 with the Cubs back in 2019. He returns to the division he broke out in at the start of 2021 and getting extra at-bats as the leadoff man in Philly could propel him to the top of the dinger leaderboard. He was among baseball’s best in barrel rate (17.5%) and hard hit rate (52.2%) in 2021.
NL Rookie of the Year
Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs, +5000
Seiya Suzuki has the second-best odds on the board, and the guy with the best odds (Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates) is slated to start the season in the minor leagues. Suzuki is no ordinary rookie, as the 27-year-old has been Japan’s best hitter for several years. The top rookies reside over on the American League side, and this is one of the stronger bets you’ll find on the board.
Oakland Athletics Under 71.5 Wins
It’s a sad state of affairs for this rebuilding organization that has shipped away its two best hitters (Matt Olson, Matt Chapman) and one of its best pitchers (Chris Bassitt). There may be more to unload during the season, including aces Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. The offense is utterly abysmal — led by the likes of high-strikeouts guy Seth Brown, platoon man Chad Pinder and the oft-injured Stephen Piscotty. Their only decent hitter (Ramón Laureano) will be finishing his suspension during the first month of the season. Smash this one before it dips below 70.
