2025 MLB Season: Best Division Winner Bet
The 2025 MLB season is reaching the final stretch, and the wheat has separated from the chaff. The division races, which looked so compelling a month ago, aren’t as tightly contested as we hoped.
Yes, there is some drama in the AL West, with the Seattle Mariners only 1.5 games back from the Houston Astros. And the San Diego Padres are on an 8-2 hot streak, chasing a swooning Los Angeles Dodgers squad.
But is there a bet to make in these division races?
Can San Diego Win the NL West?
According to the latest MLB odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, the San Diego Padres are +480 to win the NL West. They’re only two games back from the LA Dodgers, and have a chance to pull ahead in August.
The Dodgers were considered an all-time great team heading into 2025. Ohtani’s pitching and hitting prowess, combined with all-stars like Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, looked unstoppable on paper.
But the baseball gods are a fickle bunch, and injuries combined with slumping superstars have derailed their supposed destiny.
The San Diego Padres, however, have outperformed expectations and made a huge splash at the trade deadline. The acquisition of Mason Miller solidified the Padres’ starting rotation, and Freddie Fermin gives them an offensive boost at the catcher slot.
The Padres and the Dodgers also have six more head-to-head matchups through August and September, giving the plucky San Diego upstarts ample opportunity to gain ground.
Will the Real Brew Crew Please Stand Up?
The Milwaukee Brewers are 9-1 in their last ten games, and carry a four-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Yet, according to the latest FanDuel odds, the Cubs are only +190 to overtake the Brew Crew in the race.
Why aren’t the odds higher? Well, the Brewers play arguably the toughest MLB schedule down the stretch, playing 35 of 48 games against teams over .500.
The Cubs, on the other hand, have only 24 games against .500 or better MLB teams. While the Brewers are red hot, the Cubs will have ample opportunity to gain ground in the NL Central race, playing teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies.
Take the Padres to Win the NL West
The number is just too good. Mookie Betts and the LA offense are tepid at best. The Padres have the pitching and hitting to close the two-game gap, maybe by the end of this weekend.
The Dodgers start a series against the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays tonight, while the Padres square off against a good, but not great, Boston Red Sox squad.
Take the +480 price before it’s gone.
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