The Daily Sweat: Dodgers might be favored in every game until October, at least
The Los Angeles Dodgers are rarely underdogs. After their start to the second half of the season, they might not get a plus number again until deep into the playoffs.
The Dodgers had their first four-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants since 1995. That pushed their record to 64-30 this season. It was a statement as the season resumed following the all-star break.
The Dodgers are a massive favorite on Monday. They're -300 at BetMGM for the series opener at home against the lowly Washington Nationals. It's a little surprising that number isn't bigger. This is a ridiculous mismatch.
The Dodgers will start Tony Gonsolin, who has been fantastic this season. He has a 2.02 ERA and was a part of the All-Star Game last week. He'll go against the Nationals, who are 32-65. It's hard to find value in a baseball team as a -300 favorite, but it's not like you're rushing to bet the Nats.
Being a favorite is not unusual for the Dodgers. They have not been a home underdog all season and a road underdog just twice, according to TeamRankings.com's standings. Over the 2020 and part of the 2021 seasons, the Dodgers were favored in 150 straight games. Los Angeles, once again, has a loaded roster and will cruise into the playoffs.
It's hard for bettors to profit off the Dodgers. Their World Series odds of +375 are second-shortest in MLB behind the Yankees at +325. They're favored in most individual games and usually at a number you don't want to lay in baseball.
Bettors know the Dodgers are fantastic. But oddsmakers know it too, and they're going to make you pay the tax for betting on Los Angeles.
Here's the first look at the sports betting slate for Monday:
What's the rest of the MLB schedule?
There are 12 games, so you're not stuck figuring out what to do with the Dodgers as a -300 favorite if you want to bet on Monday.
There aren't a ton of great games, but the Atlanta Braves at the Philadelphia Phillies is interesting. The Phillies had a terrible weekend, being swept at home by a bad Chicago Cubs team. Nick Castellanos is struggling, getting booed by the home fans and arguing with the local media. Not much is going well as Philly is slipping in the standings. It doesn't help that they face the Braves, who have been one of baseball's best teams after a tough start. The Braves are a big -175 road favorite.
What else is there to bet on?
It's a Monday in late July. So the answer is not too much. Even the WNBA has no games scheduled on Monday.
What's the best (baseball) bet then?
It's weird to take a team that just suffered a four-game sweep, but give me the Giants -135 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants were in each game of that sweep by the Dodgers, but the Dodgers imposed their will late in those games. San Francisco will be happy to face an opponent that won't be so tough.
