MLB Picks & Predictions

The 2026 Major League Baseball season promises to be enthralling, from the Los Angeles Dodgers trying to complete a first three-peat for the first time in a quarter of a century to the big-spending New York Mets looking to take a step forward, and the arrival of top prospects like Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle.

2026 MLB Season Picks and Betting Tips

With its deep history and marathon regular season, MLB has tens of millions of fans across the US. America’s Pastime might have changed since the days of Babe Ruth, but its fans are still as passionate, and the game’s biggest stars are lucratively rewarded for their skills.

Bettors have a lot to choose from when it comes to betting on MLB but futures markets have become a fundamental part of baseball discourse. On this page, you'll have all the info you need to start making accurate baseball predictions. We have you covered for lineups, pitching matchups, and the best free expert picks and predictions with odds from a top baseball sportsbook. 

MLB Picks: Who Will Win the 2026 World Series?

The defending champion Dodgers are overwhelming World Series favorites after adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz to their already star-studded roster. Shohei Ohtani is healthy (as a pitcher) for the first time since he joined the juggernaut at Dodger Stadium. 

There are some concerns, however. The bullpen wasn’t reliable last year, and Diaz doesn’t fix that on his own. It’s also unclear whether Roki Sasaki has a future as a starter or if he’s best used as a late-inning flamethrower. Then, there’s the potential age-related decline of Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.

There’s no question the Dodgers are the team to beat. Their playoff experience will stand them in good stead in October once again, but it’s worth noting that the Yankees, Mariners, and Blue Jays have all had recent deep postseason runs that mean they’re well-prepared for a Fall Classic duel with the Dodgers.

No team is unbeatable, so it’s far from a guarantee that the Dodgers reach the World Series again. There are several high-upside National League teams, including the Mets, Phillies, and Cubs. 

Of that group, the Mets had the most active offseason, including a trade for Freddy Peralta and marquee free-agent acquisitions of Bo Bichette and Devin Williams. Chicago added Edward Cabrera to its rotation and brought in Alex Bregman on a long-term deal.

Our pick for the 2026 World Series winner is the LA Dodgers. 

2026 World Series Futures

• Los Angeles Dodgers +170

  New York Yankees +500

  Atlanta Braves +1000

  Seattle Mariners +1200

  Milwaukee Brewers +1800

  Philadelphia Phillies +2000

  Tampa Bay Rays +2000

  Chicago Cubs +2200

  Cleveland Guardians +2500

  Toronto Blue Jays +2700

  Texas Rangers +2700

  San Diego Padres +4000

  New York Mets +4500

  Baltimore Orioles +5000

  Pittsburgh Pirates +5000

  Houston Astros +5500

  Boston Red Sox +6000

  Detroit Tigers +6500

  Arizona Diamondbacks +8000

  Athletics +8000

  Cincinnati Reds +10000

  Chicago White Sox +10000

  Minnesota Twins +10000

  St. Louis Cardinals +12500

  Kansas City Royals +12500

  Miami Marlins +50000

  Colorado Rockies +50000

  San Francisco Giants +50000

  Washington Nationals +50000

  Los Angeles Angels +50000

Odds provided by FanDuel.

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MLB: American League 

There’s little splitting the elite teams in the American League. Sure, the Yankees were early favorites, but they always have shorter odds due to their massive fanbase. After getting within one game of the World Series last year, the Mariners are a team to take very seriously with a highly talented rotation and a strong lineup. 

The rest of the AL East are more than capable of beating the Yankees, too. Boston added Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez to its rotation. Toronto brought in Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers, and Kazuma Okamoto. Baltimore shouldn’t be overlooked after signing Pete Alonso and tweaking its pitching staff.

With McGonigle likely to debut in the first couple of months of the season, write off the Tigers at your peril. Detroit is a serious contender to represent the AL in the World Series with Framber Valdez representing a stellar second ace behind two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

It feels like it will be one of the top four AL East teams, Detroit, or Seattle in the World Series, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the Rangers after they added MacKenzie Gore and Brandon Nimmo over the winter.

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MLB: National League 

Few teams in big-league history have been as likely to make the playoffs as the Dodgers. That’s part of the reason they are such a clear favorite for the National League. Even if the rotation is decimated by injuries, Los Angeles has the pitching depth to win the NL West, and the lineup has enough talent to survive down years from multiple key hitters.

Once it comes to the playoffs, though, even a team as stacked as the Dodgers is vulnerable to the small samples across a series, just as we saw in the 2025 World Series when they had to come from behind to beat the Jays. 

Peralta and Nolan McLean could be a fearsome top two for the Mets in a postseason series. Philadelphia will think they can at least match that with Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez. 

Chicago has perhaps the most well-rounded National League roster outside of Dodger Stadium, with Cabrera fortifying the rotation, Justin Steele on his way back from injury, and a deep lineup. 

Further afield, could the Pirates make some noise after bolstering their lineup? What do the Giants look like with a first full season of Rafael Devers alongside Matt Chapman, Will Adames, and Heliot Ramos?

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How to bet on MLB?

Bettors have lots of options when they are considering how to bet on MLB. You can stick to the moneyline and over/under, you can pick your favorite run line wagers, or dive deeper with player and team props.  Of course, there’s also the option to survey outright markets. The best MLB betting sites will provide a catalog of futures betting options throughout the season, including division winners, World Series winners, MVP, Cy Young, and more. 

You must conduct sufficient research before you commit to betting on MLB. Get a full understanding of the markets available, and compare odds across different sportsbooks. We would also recommend looking at some MLB tips from betting experts to inform your decisions. 

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MLB Betting Tips for Beginner Bettors

Below, we have compiled five pieces of advice to bear in mind when making your MLB picks. Stick to these and you will enhance your chances of hitting a home run with your MLB wagers.

• Compare starting pitching matchups
• Consider the form of both teams
• Analyse detailed statistics
• Situational spots and team news
• Compare odds across bookmakers

Let’s take a look at each point in more detail:

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Tip 1: Compare the starting MLB pitching matchup

Even with starters pitching fewer innings and many teams utilizing openers, the starting pitching matchup is still a major factor when making your MLB betting decisions. The quality of the two starting pitchers will go a long way to determining which team is favored.

A dominant starter can pitch six-plus innings and will occasionally hand straight over to the closer. If they’re pounding the zone and racking up the strikeouts, the other team is going to struggle to generate much offense.

Sites like Baseball Reference and Baseball Savant are packed with starting pitcher statistics. You can see how a pitcher has fared against a particular opponent and look into their last few outings. Savant’s advanced metrics are especially useful for those who want a bit more depth than looking at a starter’s season-long ERA.

Tip 2: Consider the form of both MLB teams

Just as in other sports, it’s important to look at the recent performances from both teams. Previous successes don’t guarantee a team will be victorious in the game you’re wagering on, but it’s something to consider when analyzing the betting markets.

Form isn’t everything when making your picks. It should be part of your pre-bet process, though.

Baseball is notorious for hot streaks and massive slumps both for players and whole teams. If a player has been scorching hot at the plate lately, that’s something you need to know. If a team has been slumping on the road, that might put you off backing them even as favorites.

Tip 3: Analyse detailed statistics

Baseball is renowned for its love of statistics. Numbers are a fundamental part of baseball conversation, and they are a huge component for bettors, fans and teams.

Fortunately, the vast majority of baseball statistics are publicly available. Most are accessible free of charge, too. The use of analytics has changed the direction of travel in baseball, so it’s paramount that you use them to your advantage.

Think of the statistics that could help find a value betting angle. If a team is facing a hard-throwing starting pitcher, you could look at how they have fared against high-velocity arms. Alternatively, if a team is excellent at drawing walks, it’s worth looking at the command of the opposing starter.

There are so many ways to analyze betting with the help of advanced statistics. You can look into park factors, quality of contact, defense and so much more. Familiarize yourself with the big statistics sites to make sure you are armed with all the resources you need.

Tip 4: Situational spots and team news

Baseball’s schedule is unique, partly because it’s so demanding. Rest days are infrequent for teams during the 162-game regular season. On occasion, they will be forced to play doubleheaders. Long road trips can take their toll on teams.

Look into how teams have got on when they have a rest advantage. See what their recent schedule has been like – could fatigue be a deciding factor? Is it a travel day? Did they just fly across the country?

The MLB season really is a marathon. The schedule is arduous, providing another factor for bettors to consider throughout the campaign. Once the Playoffs come around, the use of pitchers (particularly aces and star relievers) is something to keep an eye on, as starters can end up pitching on short rest.

Like any sport, it’s worth keeping up to date with team news. You want to know if a key hitter is having a day off or if the closer is returning from the injured list. You must study this point before all baseball picks you make

Tip 5: Compare odds across sportsbooks

You should always compare odds across different sportsbooks before committing to your bet(s). This can be the difference between making a profit and losing money. Odds comparison sites make this easy for you – you always want the best possible odds, and the minor hassle of comparing prices is definitely worth it in the long term.

It makes sense to register at multiple sportsbooks with funds in your account so you can quickly place your wager(s) wherever the prices are best. You will also then be able to benefit from multiple sign-up offers and other promotions.

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What Not to Do for Your MLB Picks

Just as we have outlined some things you should do when making MLB picks, there are also things you should avoid doing if you want to be a profitable baseball bettor.

Avoid making these mistakes:

• Chasing losses (betting more units than usual to try to make up for lost wagers)
• Failing to manage your bankroll (have a fixed unit amount)
• Placing bets without comparing odds
• Betting on a team or player based on reputation rather than conducting research
• Only judging the performance of a team on their results rather than on more predictive metrics
• Failing to understand betting odds and the implied probability of the market you are wagering on
• Blindly backing your favorite team/player
• Betting on a market without understanding recent betting trends

Both rookie and seasoned bettors have fallen into a few of these errors. Mistakes are going to happen in baseball betting, but if you steer clear of the slipups listed above, you will significantly increase your chances of earning a profit.

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MLB Picks: Statistics You Need to Know

All bettors need to consider statistics when making MLB picks, whether wagering on an individual game line or a futures market. There’s no single statistic you should be relying on, but it’s worth using various metrics to help you build a picture.

• The White Sox and Marlins (58%) had the best run line cover rate in the big leagues.
• The Phillies and Brewers covered the run line in 75% of games as a road underdog.
• Despite a hitter-friendly home ballpark, the Cincinnati Reds hit the over (59.7%) more frequently than any other team. 
• San Diego had the best bullpen in 2025 with a 3.06 ERA. No other team was better than 3.41. 
• Aaron Judge’s .460 xwOBA was .031 ahead of any other hitter. 
• The Yankees were first in xwOBA. Cleveland was 30th.
• Five teams – the Rockies, Twins, White Sox, Rays, and Pirates – won less than 40% of their divisional matchups.
• Philadelphia’s rotation led baseball in fWAR with 5.4 more than any other team.
• The Phils also had the best home record in the majors at 55-28.
• At 27.1%, the Los Angeles Angels had the highest strikeout rate in the big leagues.
• Tampa Bay led the majors in stolen bases with 194. Only three other teams had more than 147.
• Behind Judge and Shohei Ohtani, George Springer had the third-best wRC+ in baseball. Michael Busch and Geraldo Perdomo also featured in the top 20.
• Logan Webb led the majors in innings for the second time in three seasons. The Giants’ ace ranked fifth among all pitchers in fWAR.
• José Soriano of the Angels led the sport in groundball rate. Garrett Crochet had the best xFIP ahead of Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. 

As you can see there are some interesting takeaways from this list of stats which could be useful for your props, futures or match picks this season. 

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Conclusion: How to Get Your MLB Picks Right Today?

When settling on your MLB picks, make sure you have followed all the advice throughout this article. You want to consider pitching matchups, betting trends and compare odds before committing to your wagers. Research statistics, both traditional and advanced.

If you’re short on time or just want to be pointed in the right direction, head over to our MLB page to learn more about our MLB tips.

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Our current MLB picks

MLB: Best Odds

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