Best Bets for Teams to Make the MLB Playoffs: Yes or No Props
It feels like the 2025 Major League Baseball season just got started, but a look at the standings says otherwise. Most teams are barely a week away from the 81-game halfway mark.
What have we learned so far? The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees appear to be on a collision course to rematch in the World Series. Shohei Ohtani recently made his long-awaited return to the mound, albeit for one shaky inning.
Across the country in New York, Aaron Judge has matched the Japanese star in home runs while hitting a scorching .366 compared to Ohtani’s .292.
The LA Dodgers and New York Yankees are all but locks to make the 2025 MLB playoffs. Today, let's talk about some teams who have betting odds that are actually playable. It will be hard to justify paying juice at this point in the season. We are still over a month away from the trade deadline, and several divisions have clogged middles.
Look at the NL Central, for example. This division seems to be overlooked every year. Unless the Chicago Cubs have a particularly strong team, it's the big three teams from both the NL East and West that receive all the attention.
The NL Central is the only division with four teams who are in the green for run differential. We can't sleep on the Arizona Diamondbacks. They're incredibly talented and proved to us a couple of years ago that they are second-half horses who can chase down a playoff berth in the Fall.
Let’s look at some of the betting odds to make the playoffs and make a few best bets that will last us for months to come.
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Yes or No Betting Odds to Make the 2025 MLB Playoffs
Cincinnati Reds
Yes: +410
No: -390
Arizona Diamondbacks
Yes: +250
No: -245
Atlanta Braves
Yes: +270
No: -245
Boston Red Sox
Yes: +175
No: -210
Milwaukee Brewers
Yes: +210
No: -235
Minnesota Twins
Yes: +146
No: -175
Seattle Mariners
Yes: +132
No: -135
St. Louis Cardinals
Yes: +235
No: -300
Texas Rangers
Yes: +255
No: -330
Toronto Blue Jays
Yes: -145
No: +124
San Diego Padres
Yes: +125
No: -110
San Francisco Giants
Yes: -144
No: +130
Yes or No Best Bets to Make the MLB Playoffs
Cincinnati Reds Yes to Make the Playoffs: +410
The NL Wild Card race will undoubtedly be a tight one. With roughly seven teams vying for three spots, we need to get all the value we can. Why the Cincinnati Reds, though? Well, they have an electric home-field advantage, a spark in Elly De La Cruz, and a veteran World Series Champion manager to guide the ship.
Like it or not, Terry Francona has still got it. Over the past 18 years, since he began managing the Red Sox, he has led his team to the postseason 11 times. The Reds are young and hungry. When I heard Francona had signed on to be their skipper, I thought, wow, what a perfect fit.
Only the division leaders in the National League have a better run differential than Cincy. If this team can stay healthy, I love their chances to make up the current 1.5 games they are outside of a playoff berth.
Atlanta Braves to Make the Playoffs: +275
If there was ever a time to buy low on the Atlanta Braves this season, the time is now. Considering how their season has unfolded, it has been quite unfortunate. They are rated the second unluckiest team in the league. The bullpen, in particular, has been unreliable, blowing 12 saves this season.
The starting pitching is some of, if not the best, in the league when their stars are healthy and in rhythm. The team is excellent in the field, and they still hit with power. They aren't hitting for average or getting on base, though, and there are small holes in the lineup.
The Braves are one of two teams in the league that have a losing record and a positive run differential. Ronald Acuna Jr. is back and somehow looks better than ever. Atlanta is only four games in the loss column outside of a playoff spot right now, and we have nearly 90 more to play.
You're gonna get quality starts, sure fielding, and power-hitting. They need a few more baserunners and a reliable bullpen.
Texas Rangers Yes to Make the Playoffs: +255
That one other team with a losing record and a positive run differential is the Texas Rangers. We have already spoken of one legendary manager. Another one is down in Arlington with this team. Bruce Bochy had four World Series rings, the most recent coming in 2023 with Texas.
The team hasn't got off to their best start ever, but Bochy has the boys right where they need to be to make a push in the second half of the year. The pitching staff is #1 in the AL in WHIP and ERA.
As you have assumed correctly, they don't hit the ball very well for average, and they don't get on base. The team's on-base percentage is below .300. They have talent in the lineup with World Series experience. With the best pitching in the AL, I expect the front office to invest in this season before the trade deadline.
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