MLB First 7 Weeks - Handicapping the Futures

If there was one thing that stat-head baseball handicappers agreed on before the 2015 Major League season began, it was that the Kansas City Royals were destined to be a one-year wonder. It was supposedly (according to the math) a miracle that they reached the World Series last year as a Wildcard. Regular Season win estimates here in Las Vegas centered around 81...meaning the Royals were likely to be only a .500 team moving forward.

But, if you checked on Futures prices this past weekend...Kansas City had become a betting favorite to win the American League! They were in the +450 to +500 range at respected locales. It's neck-and-neck right now between the Royals and the Detroit Tigers at the top of the AL Central standings and in league Futures (both are fourth overall in the World Championship discussion behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Nationals, and the St. Louis Cardinals). And...for now...nobody's talking about it being a fluke.

*KC has one of the best park-adjusted offenses in the AL

*KC has one of the best park-adjusted pitching/defense combos in the AL

*KC has the best bullpen in all of baseball, despite being in the DH league

Kansas City looks to be even better this season--while many other projected powers have disappointed.

If you've only been casually paying attention to the pennant races lately because of the buzz around the NBA Playoffs, the Triple Crown horse races, and what turned out to be an overhyped "Fight of the Century," this is the perfect time to get caught up with the Royal Family.

Kansas City has a huge rivalry series this weekend at home against the St. Louis Cardinals. That's a potential World Series preview given how talented both teams are--and how well they're playing this season. I can run that same chart for the Cards.

*St. Louis has one of the best park-adjusted offenses in the NL

*St. Louis has one of the best park-adjusted pitching/defense combos in the NL

*St. Louis has the best bullpen in the National League

Other big baseball matchups this weekend...

HOUSTON at DETROIT: It's still hard to get used to the possibility that the Houston Astros have a chance to be a playoff caliber team this season. They can prove they're bona fides in a three-game series in Motown. As I write this, Houston sits around sixth place in AL Futures pricing in the +1000 range. Before the season, they were projected to win only 75-76 games, near the bottom of the table.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS at BOSTON: Before the season began, Regular Season win totals in Las Vegas projected both teams to be divisional winners. Instead of a potential playoff preview....this series is a testament to how there are no sure things in baseball!  Quants anticipated both would be run-scoring juggernauts. Yet, both are among the worst in the league in park-adjusted offense thus far. Hopefully you jumped off these overpriced bandwagons early.

SAN DIEGO at the LOS ANGELES DODGERS: A nice tweener for today's discussion because both teams were expected to contend for the playoffs back in March...and both are getting respect in the markets thus far. Most stores have the Dodgers as virtual co-favorites for the National League and the World Championship with the Washington Nationals. San Diego is still in the longterm NL Wildcard discussion because of market skepticism about the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. The most important series this weekend in the National League. Big test for San Diego in terms of whether they should be on the short list of playoff hopefuls...or if they're just going to hang around the .500 mark all season because they don't measure up to the elites.

If you've been behind the curve with baseball developments, get caught up! Still time for YOU to become betting ROYALTY!