Insights and advice for betting MLB in June

The MLB season continues into June and the dog days of summer are approaching. Bettors who follow the daily betting opportunties in baseball not only scour the stats and look for favorable odds and prop bets of interest at the leading online sportsbooks, but also take advantage of dime lines offered at top online sportsbooks. 

While I'm not providing daily MLB picks or following the baseball action from tee to green like PGA or football season, I still do research MLB games and stats as time allows and able while also following and betting select games. That includes from my sharp sports betting colleagues like Sherwood and others when making sports wagers. Sherwood also provides more insight into dime line betting and sportsbooks while sharing insightful analysis and MLB stats, pitching profiles and identifying value and market inefficiencies.

That includes on top-notch undervalued players and pitchers, like Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, who had a no-hitter through 6 innings May 30 in the Tigers 5-0 win. I bet Detroit 1st 5 innings and game at +100, and Sherwood provided the insight and analysis of the winner, and he's shown a profit this season on more than 150 game selection. All of Sherwoods picks and insight are provided free of charge, like mine at OSGA. And like Off Shore Gaming Association, he has working relationships with leading online sportsbooks like Pinnacle, which also features dime lines (TB +126 at BAL -136 on May 31). You can also check out some of the daily videos at Gamblers World for more games and sports betting insights. 

Key MLB Series And Odds In June 

As MLB teams head into June, here are the top teams in the divisions, current futures odds and key series and games to watch in June. Some sportsbooks in Las Vegas where I cover and report on the top sportsbooks (vidoes) and industry, also have odds on MLB teams most wins in June (Circa). They of course favor the top teams, but there is value on other teams even like the Yankees (+1800), Padres (+1700) or Brewers (+2500) in June instead of the heavy favorites Dodgers (+300), Braves (+550) or Phillies (+800). 

The Yankees have the best record in the American League, and New York has 14 series victories in 18 tries (14-2-2) this season. Slugger Aaron Judge continues to set the pace and records with his 275th Home Run of his career and 24 extra base hits in May (12 HRs) - the most by a Yankees player in a month since Joe DiMaggio in July, 1937.  

American League

AL Central

Cleveland (38-19)
Kansas City (35-24)
Minnesota (32-25) 

AL East

New York (40-19)
Baltimore (36-19)
Boston (29-29)

AL West 

Seattle (32-27)
Texas (27-30)
Houston (25-33)

Key games and schedules

June 4-6: Kansas City at Cleveland / Minnesota at New York
June 7-9: Seattle at Kansas City
June 10-13: New York at Kansas City
June 14-16: Texas at Seattle / New York at Boston
June 18-20: Seattle at Cleveland / Baltimore at New York
June 21-23: Baltimore at Houston / Kansas City at Texas
June 24-26: Cleveland at Baltimore 
June 27-30: Cleveland at Kansas City / Texas at Baltimore
June 28-30: Minnesota at Seattle / Texas at Baltimore

National League

NL Central

Milwaukee (34-23)
St. Louis (27-28)
Chicago (28-30)

NL East

Philadelphia (40-18)
Atlanta (32-23)
Washington (26-30)

NL West 

Los Angeles (36-23)
San Diego (31-29)
San Francisco (29-29)

Key games and schedules

June 1-2: St. Louis at Philadelphia
June 3-5: Milwaukee at Philadelphia
June 6-9: Atlanta at Washington
June 14-16: St. Louis at Chicago
June 17-19: San Francisco at Chicago / San Diego at Philadelphia
June 20-23: Milwaukee at San Diego
June 22-23: San Francisco at St. Louis
June 24-26: Atlanta at St. Louis / Washington at San Diego / Chicago at San Francisco (& 27)
June 28-30: Chicago at Milwaukee, Los Angeles at San Francisco

Also, on June 20, "MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues," will showcase the Giants vs. Cardinals for the first regular-season AL/NL game ever played at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham. That's the site where the Birmingham Black Barons and Negro League legends played for nearly four decades and where more than 180 future Hall of Famers showcased their skills.

Interleague

June 1-2: NY Yankees at San Francisco / Kansas City at San Diego
June 3-5: St. Louis at Houston
June 4-5: Atlanta at Boston
June 7-9: LA Dodgers at NY Yankees / San Francisco at Texas
June 10-12: Houston at San Francisco
June 11-13: Atlanta at Baltimore / Philadelphia at Boston / Texas at LA Dodgers
June 14-16: Kansas City at LA Dodgers / Philadelphia at Baltimore 
June 21-23: Atlanta at New York 
June 24-26: Texas at Milwaukee
June 25-26: NY Yankees at NY Mets
June 28-30: San Diego at Boston

Odds To Win The 2024 World Series

MLB game and futures odds from OSGA Elite-rated Jazz Sports refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Jazz also offers MLB series odds, team totals, game and player props, alternate runs and more. MLB adjusted odds as of June 1. 

+325: Los Angeles Dodgers
+500: Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees
+800: Atlanta Braves
+1000: Baltimore Orioles
+1200: Houston Astros
+1800: Seattle Mariners
+2000: Cleveland Guardians
+2500: Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals
+3000: Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs
+4000: San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
+10000: St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox
+25000: Washington Nationals

Looking at my MLB preseason coverage that included futures odds and season win totals, the National League's Philadelphia Phillies are the biggest movers among the favorites with World Series odds dropping from +1500 to +500. The Phillies season win total was O/U 89.5, which they should eclipse with the best record in baseball heading into June at 40-18. The defending National League champions Arizona Diamondbacks (25-32) are underachieving and a disappointment thus far while sitting in fourth place in the NL West and out of the playoff picture. The D'Backs had a preseason win total of 84.5, which is still attainable, but early June will be pivitol for the Diamondbacks with seven of their first nine games against division rivals Giants and Padres. The Milwaukee Brewers (34-23) lead the NL Central and had a win total of just 77.5, or projected below .500. The Brewers and Washington Nationals (26-30) are the most profitable National League teams through May when betting games on the moneyline. The Nationals had a season over/under win total of just 66.5 - second lowest in the National League behind the Colorado Rockies (21-35), who join the Miami Marlins (21-37) with the worst records in the National League through May. Of course, the New York Mets (24-33) have been an early season bust with the highest opening day payroll in MLB, just ahead of the Yankees followed by the Dodgers and Phillies. 

In the American League, the Yankees (90.5) and Orioles (91.5) are on their way to ecliple their preseason season win totals with the Guardians (79.5) the biggest early-season surprise exceeding expectations. Cleveland's odds to win the World Series are down from 65/1 to 20/1 at both Jazz and BetOnline as you compare futures odds at leading online sportsbooks. The Houston Astros (92.5) have been a big disappointment thus far and Astros 'under' season win bettors like their 25-33 start through the first 1/3 of the season. AL West rival and World Series champions Texas Rangers (88.5) are also underachieving and have work to do to make the playoffs and reach 89 wins projected by the 'reduced juice' sportsbooks. 

Moneyball And Baseball In Las Vegas

When it comes to money beyond betting, note too that the Orioles ($94.5 million) and Guardians ($93.3M) have the 27th and 28th lowest opening day payrolls in Major League Baseball. Both Baltimore and Cleveland are top-5 in MLB wins this season through nearly 60 games. The Mets ($305M), Yankees ($303M), Dodgers ($250M) and Phillies ($237) top MLB in opening day payroll. The Oakland A's ($60M) have the Majors lowest payroll as the owners save their money for the relocation to Las Vegas and 2028 opening of a new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. Major League Baseball's approval of the A's move to Las Vegas moves forward along with stadium construction starting in 2025 on the corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard across Trop from the MGM. I live very near the Las Vegas Strip, and look forward to attending and covering MLB in Las Vegas! 

Follow along and compare the futures and season win totals and monitor the team schedules, injuries and key series as the leading online sportsbooks adjust the odds and post daily MLB odds and matchups throughout the 2024 MLB season. 

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is recognized as a leading sports betting analyst providing insights and information you can bet on here at OSGA. Follow him on X (Twitter) @FairwayJay for more sports betting news and insights.