MLB Previews and Betting Advice: American League West

The Houston Astros had to come from behind last season to overtake the surprise team of the 2021 season, the Oakland Athletics.

The A’s helped Houston out by finishing the year on an 18-29 losing run over the last 47 games of the regular season.

Like the Billy Beane-inspired Money Ball movie, the A’s are a fully gutted team entering the 2022 season.

What does this mean for your MLB betting?

What are the Betting Markets Expecting in 2022?

The expectations for the American League West are about as exciting as uploading all your tax documents to your CPA’s accounting portal.

The Astros are favored to win the division at -165. Next is the Los Angeles Angels, priced at +400, then the Seattle Mariners at +450, then the Texas Rangers at +1600, and the A’s at +2500.

The Astros are lined at the BetMGM Sportsbook Canada at 92.5 regular-season wins, paying -110 vig.

The Angels are projected to finish 84-78 and are posted at 84.5 wins -110.

The Mariners are projected to at 84.5 and paying -110 vig. Then the Rangers, who will be better than last season, at 74.5 wins.

The A’s are picked last with an expected 68.5 wins for a 68-94 record.

No team in MLB this season is projected to lose 100 or more games, which will make the landscape more competitive than in the last five seasons.

Is This the Season That Mike Trout Gets to the World Series?

Mike Trout, who patrols centerfield for the Angels, is the best player in baseball. He has never played in a World Series and deserves a better fate over the remainder of his future Hall-of-Fame career.

The Angels lineup is formidable. It includes Shohei Ohtani, who is the reigning American League MVP. A new rule that permits a pitcher to be relieved and stay in the lineup as the designated hitter has his stamp all over it.

Ohtani batted .257 with 103 runs scored, 100 RBI and 46 home runs last season. As a starting pitcher, he went 9-2 with a 3.18 earned run average with 156 strikeouts in 130 ⅓ innings.

He also posted an impressive 3.0 strikeout to walk ratio and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings ratio.

Remaining healthy is the key for Trout and Ohtani, and if they do play a combined 300 games, the Angels are the best to make at +400 to dethrone the reigning divisional champion Houston Astros.

I like betting the Angels at +400 to win the AL West/strong>.