MLB Division Winner 2023 Odds, Leaders, and Projections

With two months remaining in the regular season, the MLB division races are all tight with the exception of the NL East, where the Atlanta Braves are on their way to resoundingly capturing their sixth straight title.

Are we in line for a lot of drama down the stretch?

That would be entertaining, but recent MLB history indicates that it would be a surprise.

Last season, only one division was decided by fewer than seven games. That was the NL East, where the Braves and New York Mets finished with identical 101-61 records, but a sweep in the penultimate series of the regular season saw the Braves lock up the division title via the head-to-head tiebreaker.

In 2021, only one division was decided by fewer than five games. The 107-win San Francisco Giants edged out the 106-win Los Angeles Dodgers by one game, ending L.A.’s run of eight straight NL West titles.

Even in the shortened 60-game 2020 season, only one division race was decided by fewer than three games. In the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins won the division by one game over the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians.

So, even though so many races are tight now, the likelihood is not high that all those divisions will remain that way.

2023 MLB Division Winner Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of Friday, August 4, 2023.

American League

AL East

• Baltimore Orioles -115
• Tampa Bay Rays -105
• Toronto Blue Jays +1000
• Boston Red Sox +6600
• New York Yankees +6600

AL Central

• Minnesota Twins -400
• Cleveland Guardians +250
• Detroit Tigers +5500
• Chicago White Sox +12500
• Kansas City Royals +200000

AL West

• Houston Astros -120
• Texas Rangers -105
• Seattle Mariners +2000
• Los Angeles Angels +3300
• Oakland Athletics +250000

National League

NL East

• Atlanta Braves -20000
• Philadelphia Phillies +6000
• Miami Marlins +12500
• New York Mets +20000
• Washington Nationals +50000

NL Central

• Milwaukee Brewers +110
• Cincinnati Reds +140
• Chicago Cubs +300
• Louis Cardinals +8500
• Pittsburgh Pirates +50000

NL West

• Los Angeles Dodgers -850
• San Francisco Giants +600
• Arizona Diamondbacks +1600
• San Diego Padres +2000
• Colorado Rockies +200000

2023 MLB Division Races and Projections

Information and projections are as of Friday, August 4, 2023.

American League

AL East

At one point of the season, it appeared that the Rays were going to run away with the AL East.

But they went only 8-16 in July, and the Orioles, who went 17-9 in July, are now in the driver’s seat in the division.

Is it a two-horse race, or can the Blue Jays make things interesting? A tough August schedule will make or break their chances for a September charge.

Projected Winner: Tampa Bay Rays

AL Central

Yet again, the AL Central is the worst division in MLB. However, it could end up having one of the tightest division races.

The Guardians opened August by being swept at Houston, but the outcome of last year’s AL Central race should serve as a reminder.

In 2022, the Twins were in control of the division for most of the season, and both teams were 68-64 on September 4. But while Cleveland finished 24-6, the Twins limped to a 10-20 finish, and the Guardians won the division by 11 games.

It’s hard not to expect a similar result this time around.

Projected Winner: Cleveland Guardians

AL West

The Rangers have been one of the best stories of the MLB season, but is the AL West going to wind up like it has five of the last six seasons?

The Astros have dealt with their share of issues this season, but they are getting healthy and have brought Justin Verlander back into the fold after a short stint with the Mets.

For now, everything points to the Astros beating their Lone Star State rivals to the title.

Projected Winner: Houston Astros

National League

NL East

The Braves were expected to be challenged by the Mets; instead, the Mets punted the present in favor of a rebuild after falling flat fast this season.

With no one stepping up yet, unless Atlanta will win a sixth straight NL East title, unless they have the most epic of collapses or the Phillies or Marlins have the most epic of runs.

As it stands, the sixth straight title will be by the biggest margin of any of them.

Will it be followed by a second World Series title in three seasons?

Projected Winner: Atlanta Braves

NL Central

There has not been a repeat winner in the NL Central since the Cubs claimed back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. That will continue this season, with the St. Louis Cardinals well out of the running and trying to avoid their first last-place finish in the 30-season history of the NL Central.

The NL Central race could be one of the most exciting MLB division races to watch. The Brewers currently hold the lead in the division, but the Reds and Cubs are in hot pursuit.

It would be a thrill to see Cincinnati win the NL Central for the first time since 2012, but will their talented young stars be able to keep this up?

Projected Winner: Milwaukee Brewers

NL West

The Giants and Diamondbacks are within striking distance and may well be for the duration. But in the end, expect the top of the NL West standings to look like the same for the tenth time in 11 seasons.

Projected Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers

Where to Bet on MLB

Many of the top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of MLB odds throughout the season. In addition to being able to make daily MLB picks on games from Opening Day until the final game of the Fall Classic, you can also bet on the other major awards (MLB MVP, Cy Young Award, and MLB Rookie of the Year) and World Series odds.

• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Sportsbetting.ag

Along with Bovada, where the MLB division odds in this article came from, there are plenty of sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for MLB betting. The above books are some of the others that we highly recommend.

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.