Pitchers and catchers are officially reporting this week, which means it’s time to stop mourning your NFL parlay and start looking at the 162-game grind. The BetOnline futures board for the 2026 Pennants is live, and while the “usual suspects” are dominating the chalk, the off-season has seen a massive shift in power—particularly in New York, where one team spent like a drunken sailor and the other opted for “financial flexibility.”
Here is how the AL and NL landscapes are shaping up as the sun starts to hit the grass in Florida and Arizona.
National League: Can Anyone Dethrone the “Three-Peat” Dodgers?
The Los Angeles Dodgers (+125) aren’t just favorites; they’re becoming a statistical anomaly. After securing back-to-back World Series titles, they spent the winter adding Kyle Tucker and closer Edwin Díaz to a roster that already featured Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. At +125, you aren’t getting much “value,” but you are betting on a machine that hasn’t found its off-switch.
However, the real noise is coming from Queens. The New York Mets (+700) had a monstrous off-season, snagging Bo Bichette and Luis Robert Jr. while fortifying the rotation with Freddy Peralta. If you’re tired of the Dodger-blue monopoly, the Mets at +700 offer a high-octane alternative with a lineup that might actually be deeper than LA’s on paper.
American League: The Yankee “Depth” Gamble
In the Bronx, the vibe is… confusing. The New York Yankees (+450) are the current AL favorites, but their off-season was surprisingly quiet. Aside from bringing back Cody Bellinger and a 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt, the front office seems to be banking on internal health and “vibes” to get them back to the ALCS.
If you’re looking for a sharper play, look West. The Seattle Mariners (+500) are coming off a division title and just added Brendan Donovan to a core that already boasts the best starting rotation in baseball. If Julio Rodríguez puts together a full MVP-caliber season, the Mariners are the most balanced team in the American League. They don’t just win; they suffocate you with pitching, and at +500, they are the “smart money” pick before the market adjusts in Spring Training.
Expert Pick: The Seattle Surge
The Yankees have the name recognition, but Seattle has the arms. In a playoff series, give me the rotation of Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Logan Gilbert over a Yankee staff that still feels like it’s one injury away from a collapse. The Mariners’ front office finally got aggressive in the trade market, and it’s going to pay dividends in October.
The Pick: Seattle Mariners to win the AL (+500)
