We are only a few weeks into the 2026 MLB season, but we’re already seeing some teams build early-season momentum. Other than the NL West, underdogs are leading every other division. While they aren’t substantive leads this early in the season, it is unexpected as teams embark on this marathon 162-game campaign.
That makes it an ideal time to reflect on the BetMGM data to see where the money is flowing in every division market, as we head further into the regular season.
American League
There is no shortage of contenders across the American League. The AL East always features a litany of elite teams, the AL West has provided the most recent World Series Champions, and the AL Central is a gamble year after year.
AL East
The Toronto Blue Jays were hoping to carry their momentum from last season. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case early in 2026. The defending AL Champs are off to a sluggish start, tied for the fewest wins in the division. That puts them at an immediate disadvantage as they try to usurp four teams for the AL East crown.
Predictably, Toronto’s division odds have fallen. After opening with the second-shortest odds on the board (+425), the Jays have been priced down to +550. More concerningly, the money they have attracted has come from the betting public. Their 16.0% handle pales in comparison to their 18.6% ticket count, suggesting the outlook may be bleaker than anticipated.
The story so far this season has been the Tampa Bay Rays. Currently staked to a modest lead, the Rays have moved from +2200 to +1600. Correspondingly, the Yankees and Red Sox have seen slight decreases in their odds. New York has moved from -120 to -110, with Boston nudging down from +475 to +500.
AL Central
The Cleveland Guardians have claimed dominion over the AL Central. Winning three of the previous four division titles, the Guardians were expected to compete again this season. But the Minnesota Twins have staked themselves to an early lead, with the betting money flowing in the Royals and Tigers’ direction.
Few people expected the Twins to compete this season, but the people who did were all on the sharp side of the spectrum. Minnesota has a paltry 4.2% market share in terms of ticket count, albeit while accounting for 9.4% of the handle. Some sharp bettors predicted the Twins would compete, and they’re already seeing closing line value emerge from their early-season wagers.
Still, the Royals and Tigers have accounted for the lion’s share of the betting action. Collectively, they represent 64.6% of the incoming money. Kansas City’s 33.3% handle is marginally above Detroit’s 31.3% share, but the Tigers hold a modest advantage in terms of betting price. As it stands, the Tigers are priced as +140 favorites, with the Royals close behind at +260.
AL West
The Seattle Mariners were the trendy pick at the outset of the season, but some expected results have shifted the betting market.
The Athletics head into the fourth week of the season with the AL West lead, and the public’s adoration. The A’s have earned a mighty 22.1% ticket share, dwarfing their 3.0% handle. With long +900 odds, the public betting is looking for a quick payday at the end of the campaign.
This is still the Mariners’ division to lose. The Texas Rangers are the only other team with a ticket count above 14.3%, but 95.1% of the handle has been dumped on Seattle.
Like every other division, the AL West will be a war of attrition, but the betting odds are clearly aligned with the M’s long-term.
National League
The Senior Circuit has become 14 teams chasing the Los Angeles Dodgers. But as we’ve seen early this season, there’s plenty of fight from some of the top contenders.
NL West
More aptly named the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Division to lose, the NL West has become a race for second-place. The San Diego Padres are the closest contender to the Dodgers, but the betting market has taken an unsuspecting stand on another squad.
The San Francisco Giants have emerged as a safe haven for longshot odds. Sitting a distant +3500 on the betting board, San Fran is still collecting 14.8% of the tickets and 13.2% of the handle. While that appears to be mostly public money, there is some intersecting sharp money.
The Padres and Giants will do their best to compete, but the Dodgers (-1200) are the deserving favorite. Barring a plethora of injuries, there’s limited value out west.
NL Central
Parity is the name of the game in the NL Central. Excluding the St. Louis Cardinals, the four other teams are priced from +220 to +450, with three of those teams separated by 30 betting points.
The Cubs (+240), Brewers (+220), and Pirates (+240) are all competing for top spot in the division. Still, the Cincinnati Reds (+450) currently find themselves at the front of the pack. While the sharpest bets are coming in on the Cubs and Brewers, the betting public has lended its support to the Pirates and Reds.
Keep a close eye on the NL Central. The victor will be determined by whichever team performs best in intra-division action, and we’ve got a limited sample size to go off this early in the season.
NL East
Finally, a trio of contenders will undoubtedly be locked in a season-long race for NL East supremacy.
The Atlanta Braves have the early lead out east, jumping from +230 to +175 to win the division. However, their market share doesn’t compare to the Philadelphia Phillies or New York Mets. As it stands, the Phillies lead in terms of ticket count (33.5%), whereas the Mets have collected a triumphant 51.1% of the betting handle.
There is a clear sharp vs. public dichotomy forming in the NL East. The Phillies represent the public side of the spectrum, with the Mets being dubbed the sharp team. All of this on the overlay of an early Braves’ lead and a hefty amount of money backing Atlanta to win the division.
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