2014 Baseball Team Win Totals
Pitchers and catchers still won’t have to report for another week, but the Atlantis Sportsbook has MLB win totals up on the board.
The American League was not short on teams playing below expectations last year, whether it be the Angels in the West, the White Sox in the Central, or the Blue Jays in the East, and a team like the Astros always gives oddsmakers fits, this year getting one of the lowest posted totals in recent memory.
Here are eight win totals worthy of a closer look.
Boston Red Sox, Under 87.5
The Red Sox were pegged as the team that would finish at the bottom of the AL East a year ago, but instead they won the division, and eventually, the World Series. This year, they’ll play 162 games with a target on their back, and expecting guys like Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, and John Lackey to replicate their terrific performances from a year ago would be silly. With Jacoby Ellsbury gone, and third base and short stop in flux, this could be the rebuilding year many expected from the Red Sox in 2013.
Chicago White Sox, Over 76.5
Just about every player on the White Sox underperformed last season, so this number surely gave oddsmakers plenty of headaches. A repeat 63-win season seems highly unlikely, particularly with a healthy John Danks. Adam Eaton patrolling center field is a good upgrade, and the team’s bullpen was also upgraded with a number of shrewd moves.
Cleveland Indians, Under 82.5
The team didn’t really do much in the offseason to continue last year’s momentum. The team opened its purse strings last offseason and were rewarded with the team’s play on the field. A regression seems to be in order this year, especially if Ubaldo Jimenez walks, and it seems likely he will.
Houston Astros, Under 57.5
This is another line that surely gave oddsmakers some headaches. Houston won 51 games last season, and while they did make some decent moves in the offseason, Scott Feldman probably wasn’t the right guy to drop $30 million on, and there likely aren’t an extra eight wins to be found within their other moves. Also, the AL West got a lot better this offseason.
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New York Yankees, Over 83.5
One team that did have a tremendous offseason was the New York Yankees. Maybe they did overpay for Ellsbury, and maybe they did overpay for Tanaka, but there’s no question they’re going to be a lot better this year. Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann also come to down to add some veteran stability to the lineup, while lesser adds like Kelly Johnson, Brendan Ryan, and Brian Roberts will play dividends in the dog days of summer. Don’t forget that they also get back Michael Pineda to solidify an already strong rotation.
Seattle Mariners, Under 80
Adding Robinson Cano is going to get the Mariners some headlines, but the team still has a lot of work to do if they hope to get better on the field. Many average bettors will line up to get behind Seattle as the sexy dark horse pick this year, but that just adds value to the under. The team added power hitters despite playing in a ballpark that doesn’t support that type of offense.
Texas Rangers, Over 86.5
The Rangers won 91 games last season and seem to have gotten better in the offseason, with the exception of their bullpen. Prince Fielder is going to mash in the most hitter-friendly ballpark he’s ever played in, J.P. Arencibia appears poised for a career-high in home runs, and Shin-Soo Choo could start for just about any team in the league. The AL West got better this offseason, but so did the Rangers.
Toronto Blue Jays, Over 77.5
The Blue Jays have plenty of post-hype sleeper appeal this season after last year’s debacle. Dioner Navarro will help out the pitching staff behind the plate in a way that J.P. Arencibia never did. If the team can close the deal with either Ubaldo Jimenez or Ervin Santana, that will go a long way in helping them to reach their lofty goals of a year ago. A healthy Jose Bautista is going to help, and Colby Rasmus could do something special in his walk year.
- Baltimore Orioles, 80.5
- Detroit Tigers, 91.5
- Kansas City Royals, 85.5
- Los Angeles Angels, 84.5
- Minnesota Twins, 65.5
- Oakland Athletics, 86.5
- Tampa Bay Rays, 88.5
