If you like a flutter at the races or to place a bet on who will score next in football, then you might be looking for a new way to play – and you might fancy looking a bit further afield for another sport to bet on.
Baseball might just give you the excitement you are looking for, especially with so much riding on the World Series’s results and the sheer amount of money being spent on salaries, merchandise, and sponsorship.
Once you’ve looked and read on this article about casino games that pay real money, check out the sites that offer great odds on baseball – with the right research and a bit of luck, you could become a fountain of knowledge about this bat and ball game from across the pond and turn it into a winning combination.
What is Baseball?
As with American Football, baseball evolved from games played in England and was brought over by the immigrants. English watchers will recognise some of the similarities of baseball in comparison to games like rounders – a bat and ball game, where two teams take turns to bat and to field, each hoping to score more ‘runs’ than the other.
Specifically in baseball, the ball and the bat are crafted in very particular ways, the ‘bases’ are in a diamond, and the fielding team includes a pitcher. The pitcher throws the ball to the next available player, who tries to hit it far enough that they have time to run to the next base (with the end intention of completing a loop and scoring a run). The fielders, then, want to catch the ball and get the player ‘out’ by throwing it to the fielder standing on the base.
Thanks to the simple rules, baseball soon became known as ‘America’s Pastime,’ although it is not the only place where the game is played. In fact, according to the World Baseball Softball Confederation, America’s national baseball team is only the third best in the world, behind Japan and Mexico.
Why is Baseball So Popular?
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest major professional sports league in the world. Started in 1903, the MLB consists of 30 teams in total – 29 from the US, and 1 from Canada. The first professional baseball team in America was the Cincinnati Red Stockings (a name that hasn’t stuck, surprisingly) – they were officially founded in 1869.
Behind NFL, the MLB is the second wealthiest professional sports league, and boasts not only the highest total season attendance of any sports league around the world, but games that are broadcast on TV, radio, and online in multiple countries and continents.
The passion for the game is a family tradition, attending the ball game is a rite of passage in many cases, and fans are just as enthusiastic about their little league teams as they are about their favourite major league team.
Who Will Win in 2024?
The MLB is split into two distinct leagues – the American League and the National League. Each team in the league is playing for the opportunity to win their group and the sought-after pennant. Below are all the teams in each league:
American League
- Chicago White Sox
- Cleveland Guardians
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
- Minnesota Twins
- Baltimore Orioles
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels
- Oakland Athletics
- Seattle Mariners
When it comes to winning the American League pennant in 2024, the oddsmakers favor the New York Yankees or maybe the Houston Astros.
National League
- Chicago Cubs
- Cincinnati Reds
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Atlanta Braves
- Miami Marlins
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Washington Nationals
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
For the National League pennant, bookies favor the Atlanta Braves, closely followed by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Of course, for most fans, it all comes down to who wins the World Series. This is essentially the FA Cup of the baseball world, displaying the best teams and giving the offseason more focus for the players – so who has it in the bag for 2024?
The Texas Rangers had an awe-inspiring postseason run that culminated in them winning the World Series in 2023, and while their fans might think they could pull off the double, most pundits are looking elsewhere.
If it comes down to the amount of money spent, then it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers – they’ve signed two new contracts to a reported value of $1 billion in their attempt to win. Other options for the World Series title include the Atlanta Braves, the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
With barely a month gone in the season, there is still everything to play for in the game that America loves so much.
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The post Baseball’s Top Predictions for the Year appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.
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