2023 MLB Odds: Are the Reds the Real Deal?
OK. So maybe I have Dr. Johnny Fever on my mind. Whatever’s in my brain-stem system, I’m starting to believe in these WKRP-fun Cincinnati Reds.
Should I? Should you?
Dunno yet. Doubt they can eventually beat the Braves or the Dodgers (those are your only other two possible NL World Series teams, folks; don’t be silly). But, what I do believe, is that they have the National League Rookie of the Year in this Cincinnati Kid – the dazzling, electrifying, and blazingly fast Elly De La Cruz.
Arizona’s Corbin Carroll has had an incredible season and he’s still the clear favorite to win the award – based on current odds which I’ll use from FanDuel Sportsbook one of our favorite sportsbooks out there, along with DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM, and more.
National League Rookie of the Year 2023
Corbin Carroll -500
Elly De La Cruz +950
Francisco Alvarez +5000
Andrew Abbott +5000
I was gonna list more than four but this is now a no-doubt two-man race.
Back to De La Cruz.
He’s the most exciting Reds player to come along since Eric Davis, who also burst onto the scene as a 21-year-old and also wore jersey number 44. No offense, Joey Votto. We know you’re the face of the franchise – for now – and that you returned with big bravo gusto this week.
Kudos, 39-year-old dude.
And now, suddenly, the Reds have reeled off 11 straight wins. Huh?
That’s always difficult to do in baseball, a sport that is notoriously, infamously, and always gloriously full of slumps and streaks.
So what’s happening? There’s the De La Cruz effect, definitely. I promise all of you, we’re witnessing a future Hall of Fame superstar. But there’s also another rookie phenom, pitcher Andrew Abbott who is 3-0 and off to a fantastic start.
So here’s what I’m proposing: These Reds will keep it going enough to capture the easily-winnable NL Central crown. I’d make that bet right now.
2023 MLB NL Central Winner
Milwaukee Brewers +115
Chicago Cubs +350
Cincinnati Reds +360
St. Louis Cardinals +470
Pittsburgh Pirates +1900
Now, let’s look at the NL odds.
2023 NL Pennant Winner
Atlanta Braves +170
Los Angeles Dodgers +220
Arizona Diamondbacks +1200
San Francisco Giants +1200
San Diego Padres +1200
Philadelphia Phillies +1500
Milwaukee Brewers +2200
New York Mets +2500
Miami Marlins +3000
Chicago Cubs +3500
St. Louis Cardinals +3500
Cincinnati Reds +5000
Pittsburgh Pirates +13000
Colorado Rockies +50000
Washington Nationals +50000
I mean, hell, 50-1 to win the National League … Eh, the Braves are starting to look invincible but not unbeatable and ya never know. This Reds team has something special going on and I can feel it. Not World Series sixth sense … but they will be chasing their sixth title all time. Hmm.
We’ll get to those MLB WS odds next week. Let’s see what Cincy does for the rest of this one.
