It’s the final week of the MLB regular season, and that means it’s the final sweat for MLB bettors and their season win totals wagers that they placed way back in the spring.
The MLB regular season is a journey, with each team playing 162 games for a total of a whopping 2,430 games across all 30 clubs, but the fates of eight teams still hang in the balance with just a handful of games remaining.
Let’s take a closer look at the remaining eight MLB teams that can still realistically exceed their season win totals and their remaining schedules and projections.
All season win totals odds courtesy of bet365.
New York Yankees
Season win total: 92.5
Current win total: 88
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 91.8
Remaining schedule: 3 games vs. White Sox, 3 games vs. Orioles
The Bronx Bombers will have to win five of their remaining six games in order to satisfy their over bettors on season win totals, and it’s entirely possible that they get the job done, with six games against inferior opponents remaining at the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium. They’ll also have plenty of motivation in the final week, as they’ve yet to clinch a playoff berth and trail the Toronto Blue Jays by just two games for the top spot in the American League East. This bet could hang in the balance until the final day of the regular season on Sept. 28.
Houston Astros
Season win total: 87.5
Current win total: 84
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 87.4
Remaining schedule: 3 games @ Athletics, 3 games @ Los Angeles Angels
The Astros were looking like a lock to win the AL West and cruise into the playoffs a few weeks ago, but they’ve struggled mightily this month and have lost three straight games to fall into a tie with the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild card spot and three games back of the division lead. Losing slugger Yordan Alvarez to injury hasn’t helped their bid for a playoff spot, but they do have a favourable closing schedule against non-playoff teams.
Boston Red Sox
Season win total: 86.5
Current win total: 85
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 88
Remaining schedule: 3 games @ Blue Jays, 3 games vs. Tigers
The Red Sox find themselves in a dogfight for an AL wild card position heading into the final week, and it won’t be easy to claim wins against the AL-leading Blue Jays and the AL Central-leading Tigers down the stretch. Toronto has already clinched a playoff berth but is still looking to secure the top seed in the AL, while the Tigers hold a slim one-game lead over Cleveland for the AL Central lead, so both of Boston’s foes down the stretch will be motivated to rack up wins. The Red Sox have struggled since losing top prospect Roman Anthony to an oblique injury in early September, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them collapse and fall short of the postseason. However, they need to win just two of their last six games in order to cash season win total tickets.
Boston Red Sox to miss the MLB playoffs
San Diego Padres
Season win total: 85.5
Current win total: 85
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 88.2
Remaining schedule: 3 games vs. Brewers, 3 games vs. Diamondbacks
The Padres’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth is just one heading into action Monday night against the Brewers, and they need just one more win in order to cash over tickets on their season win total. They should have no problem accomplishing both of these goals over the next week and will likely be a popular underdog in World Series futures markets heading into the playoffs.
San Diego Padres to win the World Series
Kansas City Royals
Season win total: 82.5
Current win total: 78
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 81.4
Remaining schedule: 3 games @ Los Angeles Angels, 3 games @ Athletics
The Royals are a .500 team entering the final week of the regular season and are six games back of the final AL playoff spot, putting their postseason aspirations on life support. They could be knocked out of contention by as early as Tuesday, so don’t count on them fielding their best roster the rest of the way with nothing to potentially play for. It’s not looking good if you’re holding an over ticket on their season win total.
Tampa Bay Rays
Season win total: 81.5
Current win total: 76
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 79
Remaining schedule: 3 games @ Orioles, 3 games @ Blue Jays
Nothing to see here. With six road games to close out their schedule, it’s very unlikely the Rays run the table on their six remaining games to exceed their season win total. If you’re holding an under ticket, go ahead and start celebrating early.
San Francisco Giants
Season win total: 79.5
Current win total: 77
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 80.4
Remaining schedule: 3 games vs. Cardinals, 3 games vs. Rockies
The Giants largely confirmed the expectations of oddsmakers this season and will likely finish very close to .500. They’re three games out of an NL playoff spot with six to play, so expect them to fight until they’re mathematically eliminated. Closing out the season at their home ballpark should give them a good chance to finish with 80 or more wins, especially with three games against the lowly Rockies remaining.
Los Angeles Angels
Season win total: 71.5
Current win total: 70
Projected win total (FanGraphs): 72.4
Remaining schedule: 3 games vs. Royals, 3 games vs. Astros
It’s a shame to see the Angels continue to waste the illustrious career of franchise player Mike Trout year after year, but they at least have a good chance to finish with 72 wins or more. It’s hard to imagine anyone but die-hard fans taking the over on this team back in March, so we’ll root for them to claim this consolation prize for another disappointing season.