With the race for the National League West Division so tight between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, the best betting sites for MLB have been forced to constantly readjust their 2022 baseball futures. Yes, the Dodgers continue to be the odds-on favorite to win the NL West, but it isn't by much. The Padres aren't just coming; they're here. And the Dodgers desperately need another statement victory over Manny Machado and company on Thursday, June 30.
This is not an overstatement of a single game in a long line of 162 matchups each season. The Padres temporarily jumped ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West Division just a couple of weeks ago. Some sportsbooks even gave San Diego better odds to win the 2022 World Series than Los Angeles. That trend has reversed, for the time being, but it says a lot about the stakes whenever these two teams meet from here on out.
Don't just think we brought you here for Dodgers vs. Padres predictions, though. We have our best MLB bets for all of the pivotal games taking place Thursday. Here's a glance at all of the latest betting odds on MLB before we get started:
Favorite 
Underdog Cleveland Guardians -156 +132 Minnesota Twins Philadelphia Phillies -152 +128 Atlanta Braves New York Yankees -124 +106 Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers -130 +110 Pittsburgh Pirates Chicago Cubs -124 +106 Cincinnati Reds Seattle Mariners -220 +184 Oakland Athletics Los Angeles Dodgers -126 +108 San Diego Padres
Talk about a loaded late-week schedule. How could we miss the chance to tackle a midseason face-off between the surging Houston Astros and scorching-hot New York Yankees? And we definitely have a thing or two to say about the American League Central Division clash between the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins. Oh, and then there's this little matter of the Atlanta Braves being underdogs against the Philadelphia Phillies. What's that about?
We're getting into it all. But before we get to our latest MLB picks, if you're still looking for a place to bet on baseball, consider scrolling through our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. By the time you're through, we have no doubt you'll be able to spot the best betting sites for MLB in 2022.
Will the Los Angeles Dodgers Get Big-Time Win vs. San Diego Padres?
As of this moment, despite their middle-of-year struggles, the Dodgers skew more toward unstoppable than vulnerable.
This is quite the development. Injuries have started to hit the roster hard. Mookie Betts, their best position player, is hurt. Blake Treinen, their best reliever, has missed time. Walker Buehler, who has been their best starter this season, is currently dealing with a flexor injury.
The Dodgers find themselves back atop the AL West anyway. Part of that's on the Padres. Fernando Tatis Jr. has been banged up, and their offense was underachieving in the first place.
Mostly, though, the Dodgers are just deep. No team has a better pitching staff—neither in the starting rotation nor bullpen. And Betts' absence did not torpedo the bats. The Dodgers have actually bumped up with their on-base percentage without him.
Yes, Los Angeles needs a statement win against the Padres, who are no small potatoes. And we're inclined to believe they'll get it.
OSB Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers (-126)
Can the New York Yankees Hold Off the Ascending Houston Astros?
The Astros have regained control of the AL West Division after disappointing fans everywhere with a brutal start. The offense, specifically, is starting to peak, thanks to a superstar month of June from Yordan Alvarez.
Still, oddsmakers seem too scared here. The Yankees continue to roll. They have outscored opponents by 150-plus runs on the season, the best mark in baseball! Aaron Judge has shown no signs of slowing down, and while the team's overall batting average has dipped below ..245, they're still incredibly dangerous when it comes to slugging balls out of the park.
OSB Prediction: New York Yankees (-124)
Why Are the Philadelphia Phillies Favored Over the Atlanta Braves?
Okay, the line on this Phillies vs. Braves game is truly confusing.
Sure, the Braves are on the road. And yes, they're coming off an emotionally charged series vs. the Dodgers, in which they faced off against former Braves superstar Freddie Freeman. And no, megastar ace Max Fried won't be on the mound Thursday. But, like, really?
Philly has only recently climbed above .500 and has actually struggled more at home than they have on the road. They also remain overly dependent on their pitching staff to get by. And when Zach Wheeler or Aaron Nola isn't on the mound, they've largely looked helpless. Oh, yeah: Atlanta has also won the first two games of this three-game series already.
Unless the Braves are scheduling a rest day for all of their key players that we don't yet know about, this seems like a great chance to capitalize on a better-than-even money payout.
OSB Prediction: Atlanta Braves (+128)
Are Oddsmakers Too High on the Cleveland Guardians Against the Minnesota Twins?
While the Guardians entered the month of June with a roar, they're closing it with a barely audible whimper. Cleveland has been searching for more consistency from their primary pitching arms all season, and they remain at a disadvantage when two or three of their core hitters, including Andres Giminez, aren't getting on base.
The caveat? Minnesota's roster is banged up almost beyond recognition right now. That's why the Twins are working through such a tough stretch in which they've ceded ground in the AL Central to both the Guardians and Chicago White Sox. Even so, we trust Minnesota a little bit more. In this current extended series alone, they've outscored Cleveland 25-10 overall.
OSB Prediction: Minnesota Twins (+132)
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