MLB Wild Card Betting Odds: Numerous Teams Alive at Halfway Point
More Than Two-Thirds of MLB Teams Battling For Playoff Berth

Nothing creates fan excitement like a trip to the playoffs. For that reason, MLB introduced the wild card playoff team in 1995. It’s since grown to three wild card teams, which adds more meaningful games to the schedule. Nearly two-thirds of MLB teams are within five games of the playoffs, either as a wild card team or in a weaker division. The MLB wild card betting odds are there for bettors, but it isn’t quite phrased that way. Bettors can wager on teams to make the playoffs, whether it’s as a division champion or as a wild card team.
Most teams are going to be closer to a wild card berth than they are to a division title. The teams playing in the AL and NL Central are going to be the exception. A team like the Detroit Tigers is just 5.0 games out of the division lead, but 9.0 games back in the wild-card race.
The Tigers are one of many teams within striking distance of a playoff spot. There are really only seven or eight teams that can safely be eliminated from the playoff hunt.
American League Odds to Make Playoffs
Tampa Bay Rays: Yes -10000, No +2000
The Rays are pretty much a lock for the playoffs. Tampa Bay leads Baltimore by 5.0 games and the Orioles are 5.0 games ahead in the wild card race. The Atlanta Braves have pulled even with the Rays for the best record in the MLB 2023 standings.
Baltimore Orioles: Yes -200, No +160
People are still doubting the Orioles, as they are only -200 and have a good-sized lead in the wild card race. The Orioles have won six more games than their expected wins based on run differential, so a bit of a slide won’t be a shock.
New York Yankees: Yes -220, No +180
The Yankees trail Tampa Bay by 9.5 games but do have a half-game lead for one of the wild card spots. The Yankees are just one game in front of Houston and the Angels.
Toronto Blue Jays: Yes -180, No +150
The Blue Jays are currently the third wild card, but it’s a slim lead and it could be erased in one day. Toronto is 10.0 games behind the Rays in the standings, so it’s a wild card or nothing for the Jays.
Boston Red Sox: Yes +550, No -900
The Red Sox are in last place in the AL East, trailing Tampa Bay by 14.0 games. But Boston is just 4.0 games out of the wild card picture. Boston will have to pass several teams. But a winning streak can put the Red Sox right back into the playoffs.
Cleveland Guardians: Yes +145, No -175
Cleveland is 4.0 games out of the third wild card spot, but the Guardians do hold a one-half-game lead in the AL Central. All five teams entered Thursday’s games below .500.
Minnesota Twins: Yes -135, No +105
The Twins are 4.5 games out of a wild card spot, but just a half-game behind the Guardians for the division lead. Bettors are expecting Minnesota to pass Cleveland in the second half of the season based on the odds.
Texas Rangers: Yes -500, No +350
The Rangers hold a 5.5-game lead for a wild card spot and a 6.0-game lead over Houston and the Angels for the division title. The Rangers have the best run differential in baseball, which has helped them post a 50-30 record against the MLB point spreads, more commonly referred to as the run line. Of Texas’ first 49 wins, 44 of them have been by two runs or more.
Houston Astros: Yes -200, No +160
The Astros are 6.0 games behind the Rangers, but only a half-game out of a wild-card berth. Houston is a veteran team, so it’s hard to go against the Astros not making the playoffs.
Los Angeles Angels: Yes +160, No -200
The Angels have two of the best players in MLB, but bettors aren’t entirely sold on the team making the playoffs. Los Angeles needs better efforts from its starting pitchers. But with MLB wild card betting odds of +160 to make the playoffs, the Angels offer some positive value for bettors.
Seattle Mariners: Yes +500, No -800
Seattle is capable of making up the 5.0 games it’s behind in the wild card race. But the starting pitchers have to live up to expectations down the stretch. The Mariners have too many pitchers who are better on paper than on the field.
National League
Atlanta Braves: Yes -15,000, No +2500
Atlanta holds a massive 8.5-game lead for a wild card spot and a 6.5-game lead over Miami in the NL East. The Braves haven’t received the attention of Tampa Bay, but are right there record-wise with the Rays.
Miami Marlins: Yes -165, No +135
The Marlins hold a two-game lead in the wild-card race but could be due for a slump. Miami’s expected win-loss record is 40-41 and the Marlins are 47-34. If those numbers begin to even out, the Marlins will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs. The MLB wild card betting odds of +135 for the Marlins not to make the playoffs are worth a look.
Philadelphia Phillies: Yes -140, No +110
The Phillies are just 2.0 games out of a wild card spot and have a favorable schedule remaining. Philadelphia is 21-14 at home and 21-23 on the road, so they’ll have more home games in the second half of the season.
Cincinnati Reds: Yes +250, No -325
The Reds are 2.0 games out in the wild-card hunt, but right there for the division lead. Cincinnati may not be able to keep up its winning percentage, as the Reds are another team winning more than the numbers suggest they should be.
Milwaukee Brewers: Yes -155, No +125
The Brewers are just a couple of games out of a wild card berth and also battling for the division title. Milwaukee has the pitching needed to make the postseason. The starters just have to go and throw the way they’re capable of.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Yes -260, No +200
The Diamondbacks have a 2.5-game lead in the NL West and a 3.0-game lead in the wild-card race. Arizona has been playing well on the road, going 24-14, which has the Diamondbacks in the division lead. Arizona was 34-47 on the road last year.
San Francisco Giants: Yes -220, No +180
The Giants have a half-game lead over the Dodgers for the second wild card spot and trail Arizona by 2.5 games. San Francisco is 23-17 against .500 or better teams, the second-best record in the National League.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Yes -1200, No +650
The Dodgers are clinging to the final wild card spot and are 3.0 games behind Arizona. Los Angeles has been inconsistent this season, but it’s hard to count them out.
For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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