Colorado Sportsbooks Set 2020 MLB Futures Lines

Much to the delight of Colorado sportsbooks, commissioner Rob Manfred finally set the schedule for the shortened 2020 MLB season. It will be a dash to the finish line as MLB teams plan to play 60 games over 66 days.

The league hopes to see players in spring training-like camp by July 1 in the their home ballparks.  Opening Day is tentatively scheduled for July 24 to accommodate the truncated schedule.

The owners and players failed to negotiate plans for an extended postseason in 2020. But National League teams will see the addition of the designated hitter to their roster to reduce injuries for pitchers.

Now that the dust has settled from the tense negotiations, the main issue moving forward will be COVID-19. On Tuesday, two Colorado sports superstars, Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon and Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic both announced they tested positive for the virus. MLB players will be tested every two days under the return agreement in the hopes of avoiding an outbreak that takes a team off the field completely.

Although the drama surrounding the standoff dominated sports media, Colorado sportsbooks maintained their MLB futures lines for bettors. Now with the number of games set, let’s take a look to see who the books are taking as odds-on favorites to win the World Series.    

What is a MLB Futures Bet?

MLB futures bet is a wager that chooses a team you think will win an event taking place in the future. Popular future bets include the winner of the American and National League. The biggest futures bet for MLB is betting the team to win the World Series.

Before you bet on your favorite team to win the World Series, it pays off to know what the odds mean at a sportsbook.

Let’s say the New York Yankees are +1000 to win the World Series at FanDuel Sportsbook. If you took $100 and bet it on the Yankees to win the Series, you would take home $1000 if New York won the title.

Odds on MLB Futures Vary Wildly

Let’s say you’ve done your homework and found a real sleeper team to bet. Now it is time to go shopping for the best odds. The odds on MLB futures will vary wildly from sportsbook to sportsbook. Betting a team at +1500 as opposed to +1300 is another $200 in your pocket if your team wins the future bet.

Remember, even with the shortened length of the 2020 season, teams will endure peaks and valleys. Winning streaks can be followed by a long losing streak or an injury to a key player that can cause the market to turn their eyes away from a team.

By paying attention to how odds fluctuate during the season, you can open a profit opportunity for your bankroll

Best Odds for MLB Futures Bets in 2020

There are three MLB future bets that you can make on your favorite team. Colorado sportsbooks accept future bets for the American and National League winner plus the World Series champion.

Here are a few teams to keep your eye on that could take the trophy in 2020.

Colorado MLB Futures for World Series

For the 2020 World Series, the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers stand atop the odds at DraftKings and FanDuel. The Dodgers have moved slightly ahead of the Yankees at both sportsbooks as the favorite to win their first title since 1988.

The Astros maintain the third best odds across all sportsbooks in Colorado. Houston stands at +800 at BetMGM and +600 at FoxBet.

With the volatility in preseason futures, there are a few longshots worth looking at from the Colorado sportsbooks. The Oakland Athletics at +2800 at FoxBet, the New York Mets at +2500 at BetMGM, and the Chicago Cubs at +2800 at FanDuel all raise a few eyebrows as teams with the roster to win the World Series under unique circumstances.

The Colorado Rockies, in the middle of a rebuild season, hold long odds to win their first ever franchise title.

During the season, don’t forget to pay attention to the futures live odds as they shift based on winning and losing streaks. A good team struggling can see their World Series futures odds rise, and that is an excellent time for a bet to lock in outstanding value.

Colorado MLB Futures for American League

The Yankees own the lowest odds to win the 2020 AL crown. With +175 odds at DraftKings and FanDuel, the Yankees have become a popular bet in Colorado. With their loaded lineup and stacked pitching staff, this team could provide a smart bet despite their low odds in a shortened MLB season.

Teams with outstanding pitching will rise to the top in a condensed MLB season. And the Astros, the team with the second-best odds, should remain popular with bettors, especially with their mid-range odds. Houston has +350 odds at DraftKings and +275 at FoxBet.  However, the Astros, coming off a cheating scandal and preseason injuries to essential players like Justin Verlander, are a shaky future bet despite the solid odds.

Two other teams that garner worthwhile attention in the AL, the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. Expect the Twins to take the AL Central and the Rays to be a thorn in the Yankees’ side in the AL East.  

If you are looking for a dark horse club, take a look at the Oakland Athletics. Holding at +1300 at DraftKings, FoxBet and BetRivers, Oakland has won 97 games in back-to-back seasons. The 2020 A’s will couple a young, exciting pitching staff with a lineup that generates runs by the truckload.

Colorado MLB Futures for National League

In the National League, the Dodgers’ odds to make it to the World Series stand at +150 on FoxBet and +170 on BetRivers and DraftKings. With their acquisition of outfielder Mookie Betts and since they own the best pitching staff in the NL, the Dodgers provide a safe money bet, even with lower odds.

After the Dodgers, the Braves take the next spot, although they are followed closely by the 2019 World Series Champion Washington Nationals. The Braves post a low odds of +500 at FoxBet and a high of +700 at FanDuel.

The Nationals, with their trio of aces, could may a legitimate push for their second straight title. The reigning champs are +750 at DraftKings and BetRivers and +800 at FanDuel and FoxBet.

As opposed to the American League, the NL holds several teams with mid-range odds to win the pennant. Clubs like the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Mets, the Chicago Cubs, and the Philadelphia Phillies remain fringe plays for future bettors.

The Rockies hold +7000 odds at DraftKings, FoxBet, and BetRivers to win the NL title.