MLB Futures: Odds, Best Bets and Predictions for 2024

Whether you've got a great feeling about specific MLB futures odds or just want to see what all the fuss is about with sports betting apps, there's plenty to learn about the ins and outs to maximize your betting experience and, of course, your potential payouts.

Betting on MLB future odds can seem daunting, but it's actually pretty easy to understand once you get the hang of it. Choosing winners is more difficult, but that's half the fun of making bets at the various online sportsbooks that are handing out futures odds today.

MLB World Series Futures

Everything changes in October after a grueling 162-game schedule, making the baseball postseason one of the most exhilarating and up-for-grabs playoffs in sports. Consider that four wild cards have won it all since 2011 and you're left with plenty of options to consider when picking a winner. Whether you're all-in on a favorite, believe a team will be aggressive at the trade deadline so you're taking their odds now, or can't keep your fandom out of the equation and pick your favorite team, there are plenty of routes to take when analyzing a World Series winner. 

Here's a look at this year's favorites:

At A Glance

All major operators such as BetMGM, ESPN BET, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, and FanDuel will have World Series odds that change throughout the course of the year based on what's happened during the season to date. These odds are available all the way up until a champion is crowned in late October or early November. You can also check the operators to see which sportsbook promo codes might be available.

Pennant Futures At A Glance

Big deals in the offseason have had a big influence with oddsmakers when it comes to betting on which teams might win a pennant. The Yankees acquired slugger Juan Soto. The Dodgers signed two-way star Shohei Ohtani and Japanese pitching standout Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Cubs lured manager Craig Counsell away from rival Milwaukee in the hopes he brings his championship touch to Chicago's North Side. Those teams lead the top of lists for potential AL and NL pennant-winners as the new year starts and we look ahead to the opening of training camps.

AL Division & NL Division Winners Futures Odds

Division Winner Futures At A Glance

The usual suspects are at the heads of their respective classes to win division titles, based on early MLB futures odds, but there are a few surprises.

The Cubs, off their 2023 finish, are the favorites to win the NL Central. The Yankees have been listed as the pick to win the AL East over the defending champ Orioles.

The Dodgers are building a superteam, so nothing short of a World Series title will do in Los Angeles.

How will it all turn out? Ultimately, that's what the games decide.

MVP At A Glance

Though Shohei Ohtani has sort of turned this award on its head with his unprecedented skill set, we typically find that the best hitters in baseball rise to the top of this list each year. He won't pitch for the Dodgers in 2024 because of elbow issues, but his patient and powerful bat will boost L.A.

You won't find that many outliers here, but you will find home runs, RBI and production at the plate for winning teams. This year's early favorites include Aaron Judge and Juan Soto of the Yankees in the AL, and Ohtani, Ronald Acuña of the Braves, and Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman - Ohtani's new teammates with the Dodgers.

MLB Cy Young Award Futures

Cy Young At A Glance

While Rookie of the Year and even MVP can come from unlikely winners, Cy Young has been a race among the MLB's best starters in recent years (a reliever hasn't won since Eric Gagne in 2003). The National League has had back-to-back winners three times since 2013 (Clayton Kershaw in 2013 and 2014, Max Scherzer in 2016 and 2017, Jacob deGrom in 2018 and 2019) while the American League has had winners such as Justin Verlander (2022, 2019), Blake Snell (2018), and Shane Bieber (2020) take home the award in that span. Last year's winners were Gerritt Cole of the Yankees in the AL and Snell for the Padres in the NL, who became the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young in both leagues.

MLB Rookie of the Year Futures

Rookie of the Year At A Glance

MLB Rookie of the Year winners can be players marked for roster spots coming into spring training or they can be players who came out of nowhere to claim an opening-day nob. The 2023 winners were both unanimous and both expected to live up to a lot of advance billing - Corbin Carroll of Arizona (first-round pick in 2019) and Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles (a second-round pick in 2019).

The futures market for rookies is tough to handicap, so keep an eye on these young players as they make their way through spring training and into the start of the season, whether they wind up at the major-league level or start the year in the minors.

MLB Regular-Season Win Totals

MLB future odds total wins are some of the most popular preseason wagers. With every team 0-0 and bettors eyeing injuries, potential for trades at the deadline, and breakout candidates, it's a fun bet that means players have a stake in every game that's played (without needing to place 162 wagers). While future odds also exist for this market while the season is going on for a few teams, victory totals for all 30 teams are available prior to the beginning of each season.
 

How to Read MLB Futures Odds

As a whole, odds tell the same story even when listed in different format. It's the cost of choosing that outcome and what the payout will be if you place that wager. Here's a look at the three ways that odds can be listed at the various operators that players use to place these bets.

• American Odds: Bettors are most likely to see American odds when playing with operators in the U.S. Examples include +300, which means a $100 bet would yield $300 in profit, or -175 that indicates a bettors must wager $175 to earn $100 profit.
• Decimal Odds: Decimal odds are typically found in non-U.S. countries and their respective sportsbooks, but it's pretty simple to understand once you get the hang of reading them. These odds show how much bettors will yield on a $1 wager. For example, 2.6 odds mean bettors will receive $2.60 total on a $1 wager ($1 wager + $1.60 profit = $2.60). For favorites, 1.4 means bettors receive $1.40 total on a $1 wager ($1 wager + $0.40 profit = $1.40).
• Fraction Odds: Fraction odds are typically seen in events such as horse racing, but it's possible you may come across them with MLB futures betting odds. They work like this: Fraction odds of 9 to 5 mean bettors would need to wager $5 to win $9. Likewise, shorter odds of 1 to 3 mean a $3 wager yields just $1 profit (because it's highly likely to occur).

Above all else, odds represent the probability of something happening or not. There are a number of intuitive odds converters across the internet that can help bettors determine what respective online sportsbooks interpret that a specific outcome has the chance of happening. It's also why we recommend shopping around for different lines at multiple online sportsbooks, because it's almost a guarantee that you will find longer odds (meaning higher payouts) at one sportsbook compared to another.

Caesars Sportsbook

With some of the most competitive odds in the industry and an outstanding mobile app, betting on MLB future predictions is a breeze with Caesars Sportsbook. Bettors who register with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code USATODAY1000 can also make a first bet up to $1,000 on Caesars to use on MLB futures odds 2024. It's one of the largest potential dollar amounts in the industry, adding to the reasons to use this operator for your baseball betting needs.

DraftKings

You'll find all the best MLB future bets at DraftKings, which also does a great job of boosting futures odds at times to kick off seasons. For example, the start of the MLB season could have DraftKings allow bettors to add +300 odds to any World Series futures bet. What's more, all new bettors can use the DraftKings promo code to earn $150 in bonus bets instantly after placing an opening bet of $5 or more.  

FanDuel

FanDuel is one of the most popular operators in the industry and provides a great experience for those betting on MLB futures 2024. A nice feature it provides players is being able to parlay futures odds together to create even larger odds for players looking to go big. Bettors can also use the FanDuel promo code to earn its flagship No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000 when they register for a new account, making this one of the largest welcome bonus offers in the industry.

It is sometimes superseded by a short-term offer, like the current Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets deal. If you place a successful opening bet of $5 or more, you get $150 in site credit ($300 in MA & OH).

bet365

bet365 is available in a growing number of states and the bet365 bonus code features a generous welcome offer for new customers. The offer features a $1,000 First-Bet Safety Net when new players register with code USATODAY. 

North Carolina is the latest state with sports betting and bet365 is poised to be a major player in the Tar Heel State. New customers there can use the bet365 North Carolina bonus code to bet on baseball futures for the first time this season.

ESPN BET

The new ESPN BET sportsbook features one of the best MLB betting sites. It has a broadcasting rights contract with MLB and it has a big role in its legal online sportsbook.

You will be able to choose from a wide range of betting options at ESPN BET. Using the ESPN BET promo code TODAY will give new customers an exciting First Bet Reset up to $1,000 bonus.

How to Sign Up and Bet On MLB Futures Odds

If you're ready to take your shot at betting on MLB future odds 2024, it's as simple as following a few nice and easy steps. Operators want players to spend more time playing and less time registering, so it's simple to get started and bet MLB futures.

1. Download the operator's app for free at either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
2. Begin your registration for a new account within the app or website. You must use the promo code associated with the operator during registration, so note you can't go back and add it later.
3. Create your account and profile by providing the operator with your personal information to help you verify your identity; note that all bettors must also prove they are at least 21 years old and physically located in a state where the sportsbook has launched and is operating.
4. With your account now created, make a first deposit to fund your new account (some bonuses require players to deposit a certain amount to earn the bonus, so read the fine print) before starting to browse the various 2024 MLB futures odds available.