The MLB season is just a week away and the beautiful thing about every team starting at 0-0 is that we all have hope for our teams.
Sure, maybe the fans out there of teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics don’t have much hope, but a little bit of hope is better than none at all.
For some teams, just making the postseason would be considered a massive success. So, how about placing a few bets on exactly that?
I have three plus-money plays to make the 2023 MLB postseason that I think make solid bets ahead of Opening Day.
Let’s dive into them.
MLB Playoff predictions
- White Sox to make the playoffs +125
- Rangers to make the playoffs +180
- Marlins to make the playoffs +320
Chicago White Sox to make the playoffs +125
Injuries and a clueless Tony La Russa were the cause of a lot of the White Sox woes last season and they failed to come close to the expectations laid out in front of them.
But now with La Russa gone and a healthy lineup, they’re more than just in the mix to win the weak AL Central. Their starting rotation is strong, and now may be the best time to buy low on the White Sox.
Whoever wins this division won’t do it via a land slide. This bet will bet alive for the entire duration of the season, and it’s my favorite one of the bunch.
Texas Rangers to make the playoffs +180
There’s no doubt that the Texas Rangers will be an improved team in 2023, but will it be enough to make the postseason?
They acquired the best pitcher in baseball, Jacob deGrom, in the offseason and if he can stay healthy, the Rangers could find themselves in the playoffs. The rest of their rotation is solid as well, with Martin Perez, Jon Gray, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney.
Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Nathan Lowe and Adolis Garcia lead a much improved offense.
Their biggest hurdle is their AL West opponents. The Astros are the defending champs, the Mariners are looking to take another step forward, and the Angels have two of the best players in baseball.
With all of that in mind, I still think the Rangers are a solid bet at +180 to make the 2023 playoffs.
Marlins to make the playoffs +320
This is my long shot bet to make the MLB playoffs. The Marlins were actually a solid team defensively last season, ranking 14th in team earned run average at 3.81. They were also the victims of some terrible luck, ranking 29th in the Majors in close game win percentage.
Their starting rotation is going to be one of the better rotations in the National League, with Sandy Alvantara, Jesus Luzardo, Jonny Cueto and Trevor Rogers. Don’t forget Sixto Sanchez could be a force to be reckoned with once again if his recovery goes well.
Their offensive lineup still leaves a lot to be desired, but their pitching is strong enough to be in the playoff mix come September.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.