Sportsbook Give Chicago Cubs Highest Wins Total for 2017 MLB Season
Scott Morris | February 12, 2017
The NFL season is now behind us, the NBA regular season is reaching its two-thirds point and NCAA basketball’s March madness is right around the corner.
However, Major League Baseball’s spring training begins Monday February 12 with pitchers and catchers reporting, to start the 2017 season.
That means sportsbooks both online and in Las Vegas have released the 2017 MLB wins totals for all 30 teams for the 162-game regular season.
The wins totals should not necessarily be used as a barometer of what is going to happen this upcoming season. Last February for example odds makers gave the Chicago Cubs an opening win total of only 89.5. Chicago ended up leading the major leagues in wins with 103.
This season’s Cubs return as defending World Series champions and will field close to the same team as last season minus closer Aroldis Chapman who was acquired during prior to the trade deadline. Dexter Fowler, the team’s leadoff hitting and an outfielder, is gone too. Both players left the team through free agency during the offseason.
Therefore, it is no surprise oddsmakers have the Cubs with the league’s highest win total for the season with a number of 95.5. Oddsmakers believe the strength the Cubs have top to bottom with its tremendous depth that this season’s number is more accurate than last year’s opening win total.
Chicago is the favorite to win the World Series almost across the board at sportsbooks online and in Las Vegas, making it not surprising to any baseball pundit that the team also has been given the highest wins total for the season.
Following the Cubs (at most sportsbooks) with the second highest wins total are the Cleveland Indians with 92.5, followed in third by the Los Angeles Dodgers at 91.5 games.
The Indians lost to the Cubs in the World Series and return a team that looks even stronger than last season after signing free agent Edwin Encarnacion who has hit 193 home runs over the last five years.
The Boston Red Sox have the second highest American League win total and fourth highest on sportsbooks at 90.5. They lost long-time designated hitter David Ortiz to retirement but traded for ace Chris Sale during the offseason.
The team with the lowest wins total for this season is the San Diego Padres at 64.5 games. A season ago the Padres won 68 games.
