Ricky Dimon
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Yes, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres played a couple of regular-season games in South Korea last week. But that wasn’t the real Opening Day in Major League Baseball. The real Opening Day is Thursday, when all 30 teams will take the field. Before the festivities get underway, let’s make some futures bets. Here are a few longshot plays worth making in advance of the 2024 MLB campaign. Let’s dive in, but make sure you keep an eye on our expert MLB picks throughout the season, especially after our best bets went 141-115-4 in the 2023 season.
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2024 MLB World Series longshot pick: Chicago Cubs (+3500)
No, the Cubs are not among the very best teams in baseball on paper. They aren’t as good as they were in 2016. However, that’s why you can get them at long odds – and they are worth a sprinkle. Cody Bellinger is back to lead the offense along with Dansby Swanson, Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ. On the mound Chicago signed Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga to bolster the rotation. Imanaga doesn’t have to be the ace of the staff, though, because Justin Steele is a bona fide Cy Young Award candidate. The Cubs are down at +2800 at DraftKings. Getting them at +3500 at FanDuel is well worth a shot.
Check out our MLB Division winner predictions for EVERY division!
MLB American League longshot pick: Seattle Mariners (+900)
The National League is loaded with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. It is true that an American League team (the Texas Rangers) won the World Series last season and the Houston Astros are always formidable, but the path to a pennant is more manageable in the AL. Seattle is a team that can take advantage. Its starting rotation is solid, led by Luis Castillo (3.74 SIERA, 27.3% K% in 2023), George Kirby (3.71 SIERA, 22.7% K% in 2023) and Logan Gilbert (3.78 SIERA, 24.6% K% in 2023). The Mariners lost Eugenio Suárez during the offseason but added Mitch Haniger, Mitch Garver, Luke Raley and Jorge Polanco. This feels like a roster built for the playoffs – which is pretty much all that matters in baseball.
Read our MLB Player Award best bets for this season, including a +1800 longshot!
MLB National League West longshot pick: San Francisco Giants (+1200)
Yes, the Dodgers are absolutely loaded. The defending NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks can’t be discounted, either. But how will the West be won? It’s not out of the question that the Giants emerge as fourth favorites (FanDuel has Los Angeles at -600, Arizona and the San Diego Padres at +1100 and San Francisco at +1200) to steal it from everyone. This team should be significantly improved in the power department Matt Chapman, KBO star Jung Hoo Lee and 2021 World Series MVP Jorge Soler (then with the Atlanta Braves). Blake Snell was a late signee, joining Logan Webb (3.16 SIERA, 22.8% K%) and Kyle Harrison (MLB’s #23 prospect) in the rotation. Don’t sleep on the Giants.
Our expert also has 3 MLB win total best bets to target for the 2024 season
