Caesars Entertainment set the betting line for the Phillies this year at 83 wins, indicating Vegas predicts at least some improvement in 2019.
As Phillies and baseball fans look towards the MLB season, the question of how many wins each team will get is at the front of their minds. Las Vegas urges this on with their betting lines as Caesars Entertainment released theirs for the 2019 season.
Caesars set the opening line for Philadelphia at 83 wins, a three-win improvement from where the team finished last year. This indicates that Vegas expects the team to improve in the win column despite their collapse to end the year.
This growth in win total likely stems from the additions the club has already made this offseason. The additions of Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen, David Robertson, and others should lead to a couple more wins. If the club makes any other big free agent moves (cough cough), their line should jump considerably.
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While Vegas is predicting a slight improvement from Philadelphia, they still only expect them to finish fourth in the National League East. The Nationals are set at 88.5 wins, Braves at 84 wins, Mets at 83.5 wins, and Marlins at 65.5 wins. They expect a dogfight at the top of the division, but they don’t fully know what way it will go.
Based on Vegas’s odds, the Nationals, Cubs, and Dodgers will win their respective divisions with the Cardinals and Braves playing in the National League Wild Card Game. The Cardinals are very close to the Cubs at 88.5 wins to Chicago’s 89, indicating a very close NL Central race this season.
Turning towards the American League, the Yankees, Indians, and Astros are predicted to win their divisions. The Red Sox and Rays are predicted to play in the AL Wild Card game, although 10.5 wins separate the two teams. There is a clear separation between the top four teams and the rest of the pack in the AL, but you never really know what will happen during the baseball season.
In my completely untrustworthy opinion, the Phillies at 83 wins could be a good bet, especially if you believe that they will land one of the star free agents. Getting in now before the line jumps in that scenario could wind up paying off.