There’s a chance first pitch for the upcoming MLB Season doesn’t happen until April. But although we may have to wait for the season to start, once it does, we should expect a competitive and awesome year of baseball. In this blog, we analyze and make top MLB AL Division Betting picks and second picks for the American League East, Central, and West divisions.
American League Divisions Analysis | MLB Betting
2022 MLB Season
- When: March 31 – Nov. 2
AL East
- Top Pick: Tampa Bay Rays +218
- Second Pick: Boston Red Sox +500
The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees are favorites to win the East. Both teams can take the division. But we like the Tampa Bay Rays to repeat as champions.
Led by Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe, and Austin Meadows, Tampa’s lineup is superb. The Rays’ bats can score runs against any opponent. If ace Tyler Glasnow returns to Tampa Bay’s rotation one-hundred percent, the Rays should dominate.
Tampa is the top choice. The second choice to win the AL East Division are the Boston Red Sox.
Boston has the bats. But the real reason to like the Red Sox is that there’s a chance Chris Sale rediscovers his slider. When Sale has his slider working, it’s one of the most feared pitchers in MLB.
AL Central
- Top Pick: Chicago White Sox -245
- Second Pick: Detroit Tigers +550
The White Sox are the class of the AL Central Division. Lucas Giolito is a legit Cy Young contender. Giolito, right now at least, follows Lance Lynn in the rotation.
Lynn is solid. So are Dylan Cease and Dallas Kuechel. Jose Abreu, who remains one of the best all-around players in MLB, and Tim Anderson lead a strong batting lineup.
Second-choice are the Detroit Tigers. Make no mistake, Detroit’s lone chance of winning the AL Central is if the White Sox implode. But Detroit is the best team after the White Sox in the division. So give the Tigers a shot if you don’t believe in the White Sox.
AL West
- Top Pick: Houston Astros -160
- Second Pick: Los Angeles Angels +320
Houston might be the best team in baseball, which is why they are the top pick.
The Stros get Justin Verlander back from an injury that sent him to the shelf for all of 2021. Verlander should have his best stuff when he gets back onto the mound, giving Houston one of the best, if not the best, starting rotations in baseball.
Lance McCullers Jr., Framber Valdez, and Luis Garcia makes for a solid trio following Verlander in the rotation. The bats should remain hot because Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Michael Brantley return.
Second choice to win the AL West are the Los Angeles Angels. Shohei Ohtani is the chalk to take his second straight AL MVP. Ohtani could because teams can’t simply give a pass to Mike Trout.
Trout had an injury-plagued 2021. When healthy, Trout is the player in baseball. The Halos require Noah Syndergaard to rediscover his best pitches. If he does, the Angels will have the best chance to upset the Stros and win the AL West.
