AL East Division futures trends: Bettors treating Yankees and Red Sox win totals very differently

The New York Yankees won 103 games last regular season and took the American League East Division title by seven games, the first time the Bombers had won the East since 2012. William Hill sportsbook oddsmakers clearly expect the Yankees to repeat in the coronavirus-shortened 60-game season that begins one week from tonight as New York has a division-high win total of 37.5. That about equates to 103 wins in a season that is 37 percent of the usual 162 games.

Bettors at William Hill are hammering the Over 37.5 wins for the Yankees as it is taking 78 percent of all money wagered on that prop and 70 percent of tickets sold. New York's win total actually opened at 37 but has been bet up to the current number of 37.5, which is second-highest in the majors behind the Dodgers' 38. New York's half-win move is tied for the biggest increase by any AL team from its opening number.

Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox essentially punted on this season back in the winter when they traded former AL MVP Mookie Betts and ex-AL Cy Young winner David Price to the Dodgers in a clear-cut salary dump. Boston also will be without ace left-hander Chris Sale this season following Tommy John surgery in late March.

William Hill opened the Red Sox at 31.5 wins and no AL team has seen its number drop more than Boston, which is now at 29.5. A total of 68 percent of all tickets sold are on the Sox's Under as well as 66 percent of the money wagered. Boston's win total is taking nine percent of all the MLB win total action, most in the American League.

Bettors are very optimistic on the Tampa Bay Rays at 34 wins with their terrific pitching staff. They are taking a division-high 81 percent of all money wagered on that prop along with 64 percent of tickets sold. Rays ace Blake Snell made noise in the winter about not playing this season because of a pro-rated salary, but he changed his mind.

The Toronto Blue Jays are given an Over-Under total of 28.5 wins and are taking an opposite split: 54 percent of tickets sold on the Over and 54 percent of money wagered on the Under.

Finally, the Baltimore Orioles have the lowest win total in the majors at 20.5, and even that small number isn't keeping bettors from hitting the Under with 78 percent of all money wagered and 67 percent tickets on that lean.

To win the division, the Yankees are -300 favorites with the Rays the only other realistic option at +300.

Ariel Cohen's Fantasy baseball projections are extremely high on a first baseman some are overlooking. He's set to hit double-digit home runs during the 60-game 2020 MLB season, but is being picked well outside the top 200 in early Fantasy baseball drafts. You ABSOLUTELY need to see what the ATC system has to say about each player before going on the clock.