Hello all! My name is Greg Monroe, and I am the newest contributor to The Skipper’s View site. Some of you may remember me from my earlier stint with the company a few years ago, but I figured I'd reintroduce myself to the majority of you who are unfamiliar with my work. My content focuses mainly on sports betting in baseball, and I post the majority of my gambling picks on X GRMBets (cheap plug). Expect articles on a weekly basis focused on sports betting trends in the MLB and NCAA, as well as general news and happenings in the baseball world. I hope you enjoy my work. As always, I appreciate all the feedback!
My favorite method of betting on sports is, by far, future bets. Taking a look at the board of win totals, season-long player props, and division/league winners provides me with an insane dopamine rush. Then, finally placing a few, whether it be single bets or huge parlays with unbelievably long odds, and getting to watch the bet and the coinciding cashout option either increase past the original wager amount or crumble to below a dollar throughout the season is my favorite aspect of sports betting. That being said, I am going to write a number of blogs over the next two months discussing season-long future bets within each MLB division that I believe are worth consideration. Let’s get right into it with the AL East.
Gerrit Cole Over 199.5 Strikeouts (+120)
The Yankees are coming off not only losing the World Series in October but also losing superstar Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, the Mets. However, the Bronx Bombers still have their reliable ace, Gerrit Cole, who, despite missing half of the regular season due to injuries, performed well in the postseason and is expected to start the 2025 season healthy. The reason this prop intrigues me so much is, of course, the value, but also the historical precedent. With the exception of 2017 (when Cole only tossed 196 Ks in 203 IP), Cole has surpassed 200 strikeouts every time he has pitched in over 30 games. Additionally, despite missing almost exactly half of the 2024 season, he still accounted for 99 Ks in an “off-season” by his standards. If Cole can stay healthy for the majority of the 2025 season, I believe that he will confidently strike out more than 200 batters.
Orioles to win the division (+220)
Now, it is no secret that I am a massive Yankees fan. However, I am not letting my bias get in the way of the value of this bet. The Orioles won 91 games last season and finished only three games behind the first-place Yankees. Both teams are dealing with significant departures, Corbin Burnes for the O’s and Juan Soto for the Yanks, but I truly believe that the O’s are more set up for success compared to the team in the Bronx. Listen, I like the Red Sox and think they will be a competitive team, but the AL East is a two-team race for the division title. The Orioles are younger and are currently in the market to acquire more talent (reports of potential trades for Michael King or Pete Alonso). Given the price, this is a no-brainer for me. The Yankees will be good, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2025 season resembles the 2023 Yankees more than the 2024 Yankees.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. u30.5 HRs (-110)
Vladdy Jr. is coming off an incredible season where he slashed. 323/.396/.544, hit 30 HRs, and finished 6th in the AL MVP voting. Despite his success, the Blue Jays struggled in 2024, winning only 74 games and finishing last in the division. Even more concerning for the Jays, Vlad is set to hit free agency in 2026. If a deal cannot be met, it is possible that the Jays could try to maximize value and move the star infielder at the trade deadline. Now, onto the bet. Vladdy’s power numbers have dipped slightly since he knocked a league-leading 48 HRs in 2021, as he hit 32, 26, and 30 HRs in his past three seasons. Additionally, Vladdy has been fortunate enough to avoid injuries in his short career, only missing a combined 12 games in 4 seasons since the shortened 2020 season. Now, I am not rooting for Vladdy to get injured in 2025. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if the injury bug catches up to Vladdy and he finally misses some games this season. Additionally, I am not super confident betting the over on a player who has an uncertain future with his current club. Finally, Vlad could still have an incredible season and not hit over 30 HRs, so I will be fading his HR total for the 2025 season.
Thank you for reading all and stay tuned for the next blog covering the AL Central! Also, follow me on X GRMBets as well as the rest of the TheSkippersView team.