MLB betting: And just like that . . . baseball's on its way

So, the Super Bowl is over and football is gone from our lives for the next five months. Now what?

Well, the good news is the 2024 MLB season will begin on March 28. Pitchers and catchers start to report on Wednesday, if you can believe it. We suspect you might have been out of the loop when it comes to the MLB offseason, so we've got you covered with six things you need to know before you start betting on baseball again. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series favorites after landing Shohei Ohtani

If you've been living under a rock, Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers this offseason for a modest $700 million. Los Angeles also landed Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto and signed veteran starter Tyler Glasnow. Unsurprisingly, the momentous (and expensive) offseason made the Dodgers the betting favorites to win the World Series at +350. Ohtani is the fourth option on the National League MVP odds board at +950. 

The Houston Astros are vulnerable favorites in the American League

In the AL, the Astros are slight +420 favorites to win despite losing in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers last season. Houston re-signed Jose Altuve to a five-year deal, but it didn't do much more to improve the roster. The New York Yankees, who added Juan Soto and Trent Grisham in the offseason, are right behind the Astros at +450, and the Rangers and Baltimore Orioles are tied at +550. 

Eight teams will begin the 2024 season with a new manager

Nearly 30 percent of the league switched managers this offseason. Most notably, Craig Counsell jumped ship from the Milwaukee Brewers to join the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Counsell is the +550 favorite to win NL Manager of the Year.

Los Angeles Angels: Ron Washington

Houston Astros: Joe Espada

Milwaukee Brewers: Pat Murphy

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell

San Francisco Giants: Bob Melvin

Cleveland Guardians: Stephen Vogt

New York Mets: Carlos Mendoza

San Diego Padres: Mike Shildt

The Atlanta Braves continue to reload

The Braves led MLB with 104 wins last season, and they have no plans of slowing down. Not only did Atlanta keep its star-studded core intact, but it also added Chris Sale, Jarred Kelenic, Ray Kerr and Aaron Bummer to the roster. This is arguably the deepest and most talented roster in baseball, so it's no wonder the Braves are second on the World Series odds board at +550. 

You'd be wise to keep fading the Oakland Athletics

If you blindly faded the Athletics in every game they played last season, you would've made a killing. The A's were the least profitable team on the moneyline last year thanks to their 50-112 record, and they didn't do much to turn things around. This is a team you'll want to bet against at the beginning of the season.

Going big on the Baltimore Orioles

Most of the buzz heading into the 2024 season will understandably be focused on the Dodgers and Braves, but the Orioles are our favorite team to target in the futures markets. Baltimore finished with the best record in the AL last season, and it addressed its biggest weakness by trading for former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes. This is a talented, deep, well-managed roster that has the ability to do something special this season. 

We like the Orioles at +550 to win the AL and +1200 to win the World Series.