The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook projected the Chicago Cubs to finish with the best record this season, setting their 2017 over/under at 95.5 wins. The Los Angeles Dodgers follow the Cubs with an over/under of 94.5 wins.
The Washington Nationals, the third and final National League team with an over/under in the 90s, had their bar set at 91.5 wins. Among American League clubs, the over/under for the Cleveland Indians is 93.5 wins.
They’re followed by the Boston Red Sox (92.5) and Houston Astros (91.5). The Westgate previously anointed the Cubs to repeat at World Series champions with 3-1 odds. At the time, the Dodgers, Nationals and Red Sox were tied for second-best odds at 10-1.
Online oddsmaker Sportsbook.ag placed the Dodgers (10-1 odds) behind the Red Sox (6-1) and Cubs (15-4) to win the 2017 World Series.
Where Los Angeles holds the edge over other clubs is in the Baseball Prospectus PECOTA projections, which has the Dodgers pacing the Majors this season with a 98-64 record. The forecast called for the Cubs to win their division with a 90-72 record, and the Red Sox going 90-72 to claim the AL East crown.
The Dodgers re-signed key free agents Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner, and addressed their void at second base by trading for Logan Forsythe. In addition, Sergio Romo was signed to bolster the bullpen, and Franklin Gutierrez to address the club’s deficiency last season in hitting left-handed pitching.
The flurry of offseason transactions didn’t preclude the Dodgers from re-signing respected veteran Chase Utley who is expected to spell Forsythe at second base and Adrian Gonzalez at first base.
