'UNDER' in Hollywood: Bet on 2023 L.A. Dodgers to fall short of 95.5-win total O/U

Do you think the Dodgers can win more or less than 96 games in 2023?

Despite breezing to a MLB-best 111 regular season wins to go OVER a 97-win total over/under, the Dodgers were sent packing for the offseason after dropping the 2022 NLDS to the San Diego Padres. 

Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, a top-notch pitching rotation, and a strong crop of young players are still around. J.D. Martinez, Miguel Rojas and Noah Syndergaard were added over the winter.

Trea Turner, Justin Turner, and Cody Bellinger, all key contributors in recent years, are gone. Walker Buhler (elbow surgery) and Gavin Lux (torn ACL) are out for all of 2023. 

Yet, the Dodgers, expected to challenge for another World Series berth, are listed at a 95.5-win total over/under at a host of US sportsbooks. MLB regular season win totals, released last month by US sportsbooks, can be a profitable market to pursue for baseball bettors looking for a solid return on investment. 

Do you think the Dodgers can go OVER 95.5 wins in 2023. Here is more on my best MLB UNDER bet to make before the start of the regular season. (Check your favorite sportsbook for updated MLB win totals, odds, etc.)

Los Angeles Dodgers U95.5 (+105)

The Dodgers, a popular bet to make the 2023 World Series, are counting on Rojas and Syndergaard, in part, to fill the holes left by  big injuries to Lux and Buhler. 

Martinez, who reportedly wanted to retire as a Red Sox, is being bet on to pick up some of the offensive slack alongside Betts and Freeman, while Max Muncy and Chris Taylor look to rebound from down years. I'm not betting on any of it.

Clayton Kershaw's health aside, the Dodgers, to me, have the feel of a team trusting a lot of players who could be way past their prime (namely Martinez, Rojas, and Syndergaard) while banking on good players (Muncy, Taylor, and Will Smith) to play above said expectations.

Julio Urias and Dustin May will give L.A. a chance on most nights, but getting positive results, or wins, when the rotation turns to Syndergaard and Kershaw is definitely no guarantee. 

The lost of both Andrew Heaney and Tyler Anderson could also hamper the pitching depth at some point in 2023.

Lastly, the NL West, featuring the loaded Padres (Xander Bogaerts), retooled Giants (Sean Manaea, Mitch Haniger, Michael Conforto), and upstart D'Backs, is no cake. Although, the Dodgers, thanks to the reworked schedule allowing for just 13 games vs. divisional opponents, will see less of the NL West this season.

Still, I am not sold on the bottom of the Dodgers' lineup and their middle infield, especially with Lux out for 2023. I've also seen plenty of Rojas, a standout for years on a bottom-tier Marlins team, to know better.

(UNDER 95.5 wins is my bet on the 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers).

Bet on it: Cubs to make Wrigley Field fun again, go OVER 77.5 wins in 2023

I'm excited about the 2023 Chicago Cubs, who added SS Dansby Swanson in the offseason, moved young star Nico Hoerner to 2B, and will start the regular season with a very good pitching staff  (Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele, Drew Smyly, Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon). I'm so excited, I would bet the Cubs go (OVER) 77.5 wins this year.

MLB regular season win totals, most of which were released last month by a host of sportsbooks, can be a profitable market to delve into for baseball bettors looking for a solid return on investment.

Here is my best MLB o/u bet to make before the start of the regular season. 

Chicago Cubs OVER 77.5 Wins (-110)

Perhaps, I'm missing out on something but the Cubs' win total seems a bit low.

Despite not being too competitive in 2022, or trying to be, the Cubs finished  74-88, and went OVER 73.5 total wins.Now, they're listed at O/U 77.5 wins for 2023 at a majority of US sportsbooks, including BetMGM.

I'm betting OVER.

Swanson, an MVP-type player, is a marked upgrade at SS, and a good bet to put up lofty stats at Wrigley Field, while Hoerner, moving to 2B, is a young star. Together, they form a lethal leather duel up the middle.

C Tucker Barnhardt and 1B Eric Hosmer, both Gold Glove winners, add even more defense to what could turn into one of the elite infields in all of the big leagues. 

Especially with the no-shift rule now in play. 

Chicago also bought low on OF/1B Cody Bellinger and OF/1B Trey Mancini, two former All-Stars who, in a pinch, can play multiple positions. Bellinger, discarded by the Dodgers, and Mancini, who has logged a few flier miles since beating the odds in Baltimore, are out for big deals, and arrive with built-in storylines around them.

Yet, it's Chicago's pitching staff, featuring Stroman, Steele and Smyly at the top of the rotation, which makes the Cubs a serious threat to win the NL Central. Add Hendricks and Taillon, and the 'W's' will be flying high at Wrigley Field. 

The pitching depth, especially in the bullpen, is cause for concern, but there's always a chance the Cubs, if hanging in what appears to be a soft NL Central or vying for a Wild Card spot, make a move as they get closer to the trade deadline. 

The Cardinals, favorites at most sportsbooks to win the division, have legit questions outside of their collection of young arms, Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, while the Brewers look to be a little light on offense these days. The Reds and Pirates, both coming off 62-100 tabs in 2022, are non-factors for the time being. All told, it makes the Cubs a smart bet to go OVER 77.5 wins. If not, to win the NL Central in 2023.

Fly 'OVER' with the Cubs: Bet on Chicago to win 74 games, at least, in 2023.

  

(Please check your favorite sportsbooks for a full list of MLB over/under win totals, updated odds, etc. Please bet responsibly and thank you for reading.)

NBA Road 'Dog Alert: Bulls (+4.5) at Raptors

It's the Bulls vs. Raptors (-4.5) in a key Eastern Conference matchup tonight at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. 

The Bulls (28-33), on a modest two-game winning streak after dropping six in a row earlier in February, are starting to click on defense, especially with the addition of Patrick Beverley, who was signed during the All-Star break. With Beverley, Chicago has allowed a combined 170 points in wins over Brooklyn and Washington, after giving up 100 or more points in seven of eight games before the break.

The Bulls, currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and 1.5 games behind Toronto in the standings, are starting to roundup as a solid defensive squad. DeMar DeRozan, who scored 29 points on 11-of-15 from the floor vs. Washington, also continues to find his spots on the floor. 

While just 10-20 on the road, Chicago, 4-6 straight up in their last 10 games, will be playing their third game in five nights, but with the 7-10 seeds in each conference making the play-in tournament, this is a good spot for the Bulls to make up ground. 

Toronto (30-32), coming off a road loss at Cleveland, will be in action for the third time in four nights. The Raptors are 7-3 in their last 10 games, but six of those wins came against Houston, San Antonio, Orlando, New Orleans and Detroit. 

The Raptors are 19-13 at home, including a win over the Bulls inside Scotiabank Arena.  

But that was in early-November on the front-end of a home-and-home vs. Chicago. While the season series sits at 1-1, it's been over three months since these two teams have met on the basketball court.

However, even with the Raptors recent success, I feel the Bulls are starting to turn the corner at just the right time. The addition of Beverley also gives Chicago a different feel on defense, which will force the Raptors into plenty of tough shots, if not create easy buckets on the opposite end. While not entirely sold on the Raptors, I'm definitely buying what the Bulls are doing right now.

My Bet: Bulls +4.5 

On a roll: The Bulls (+4.5), on a two-game winning streak since the All-Star break, are a live 'dog at Toronto on Tuesday night. Photo: Getty 📸

Trophy case, MLB longshots: Flier bets on Manaea (80-1, NL Cy Young Award), Devers (20-1, AL MVP Award) worth a look before start of 2023 season

Sean Manaea, who signed a two-year, $25 million deal with the San Francisco Giants this offseason, is 80-1 at BetMGM to win the 2023 National League Cy Young Award. Red Sox star Rafael Devers is a 'modest' 20-1 to win the 2023 American League MVP Award.

I think both of them are worth longshot bets. Here's why. (Please bet responsibly and do it with a legitimate and licensed operator. Check out your favorite sportsbook for updated odds, etc.)

SEAN MANAEA (80-1 @ BetMGM) to win 2023 National League Cy Young Award 

I think the 2023 San Francisco Giants will not only hang tight with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, but make the playoffs this season. 

My long-term projection also includes left-handed starter Sean Manaea, a 80-1 longshot at BetMGM to win the 2023 National League Cy Young Award, emerging as a top-tier contributor in the Giants' pitching rotation. 

With a 58-50 record and 4.06 ERA in seven MLB seasons, the 31-year-old Manaea, signed to a two-year, $25 million this offseason, and currently slotted behind Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, has proven to be durable and effective throughout his career.

Despite logging over 820 big league innings, Manaea, who made 30 appearances for the Padres last season, has already shown an increase in velocity, including getting to 93-96 mph while striking out two over two innings in his spring debut vs. the Reds.

While he still goes to his fastball a high percentage of the time, which could be a cause for concern for a pitcher advancing in age, Manaea also features a devastating changeup, which could come in quite handy when facing the likes of the Dodgers and Padres lineups - both very patient at the plate. 

I also like that Manaea is fresh off an extended look of the NL West after his time with the Padres, in addition to Cobb being often injured. 

All considered, Manaea is my pick (bet) to win the 2023 National League Cy Young Award.

RAFAEL DEVERS (20-1 @ BetMGM) to win 2023 American League MVP Award 

With plenty of betting love at various sportsbooks going to favorites such as Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Shohei Otani, Boston Red Sox' 3B Rafael Devers definitely offers plenty of value as a potential 2023 American League MVP Award winner.

Fresh off signing an 11-year, $313.5 million deal in January, Devers, 26, could be in prime position to challenge Judge, Otani and Trout, after a Top-15 finish for the same award in 2022. 

While not much is expected of the Red Sox this season, I expect Boston to contend all summer and Devers to carry much of the load on a team with plenty of questions. 

I'm also not convinced Judge, who also signed a huge contract this offseason, can repeat what he did in 2022. After I bet Otani and Trout, both with a history of elongated injuries, will cancel each other out. 

Even, if both stay healthy and the Angels contend. 

So, go get a hefty price right now on Rafael Devers to win the 2023 American League MVP Award. 

(Note: Shop around for better odds!) 

Big swing: Winning a bet on Red Sox 3B Rafael Devers at 20/25-1 to win the 2023 American League MVP Award would return a hefty profit for any bettor .