While the 2026 MLB season felt like it got an early start with the World Baseball Classic, the official start to the season will take place on Opening Day on Thursday, March 26 for the majority of the league. Opening Day is on the horizon and the marathon of the 162-game regular season is near. Here at Pickswise, we are building up to the new season and you can check out our MLB Division winners best bets and MLB Player Award best bets before the season starts. For now, I’ll be breaking down my favorite MLB win totals that still have plenty of value as the season approaches. Featuring best bets from 3 different divisions, here are the MLB odds and my MLB picks for my favorite win totals on the board. Let’s get into it.
MLB Win Total best bet: Los Angeles Dodgers under 103.5 wins (-110)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Following a second consecutive World Series title, the Dodgers were not content to rest on their laurels over the winter break. In fact, for the third straight offseason, Los Angeles made multiple splash moves in free agency, as the Dodgers picked up outfielder Kyle Tucker for a massive 4 year, $240 million deal. This followed the signing of closer Edwin Diaz to sure up some of last season’s late-inning issues, as Los Angeles actually lost 24 games by 1 run during the 2025 regular season. Given the starpower already on this roster, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it goes without saying that the Dodgers are the best team in the game on paper. However, I just can’t get there with taking an over at this number.
Obviously it’s difficult to handicap motivation in professional sports, but for a Dodgers team that is coming off back-to-back long, grueling seasons en route to World Series titles, this regular season should be about anything but chasing wins. Los Angeles is already dealing with a couple of key injuries to its pitching staff and infield/outfield depth to start the season, and I could certainly see the Dodgers getting off to a relatively slow start following a shortened offseason and World Baseball Classic. It’s important to remember that last year’s team won 93 games and the 2024 team won 98 games, coming in well below 104 wins. This team has bigger fish to fry in October and should be focused on staying healthy and doing just enough to win the NL West once again.
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MLB Win Total prediction: Baltimore Orioles over 85.5 wins (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
The 2025 campaign was a very disappointing one for the Orioles, but it’s a regular season that many could have anticipated following the departure of Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander, to go along with a number of injuries in the starting rotation that were just too much to overcome. However, even in the hyper-competitive American League East, Baltimore is poised for a bounce-back season in 2026.
It’s hard to imagine the Orioles having a worse start to the season than they did a year ago, as Baltimore posted a 21-36 record over the first 2 months of the season, before finishing the year on a 54-51 pace. With that in mind, 86 wins is certainly on the table for an Orioles team that made a few significant additions in the offseason. In steps Pete Alonso to bolster a lineup that should see bounce-back seasons from Gunnar Henderson, Tyler O’Neill and (hopefully) Adley Rutschman. Elsewhere, Ryan Helsley comes in to bolster the back end of the bullpen, while Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz join a rotation that is led by Trevor Rodgers and Kyle Bradish, along with Zach Eflin on a 1 year prove-it deal. If everything goes right, Baltimore could flip the script and potentially win 90 games. As it stands, I’ll bank on Baltimore to simply clear this win total number.
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MLB Win Total pick: Detroit Tigers over 85.5 wins (-110)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
The Tigers win total has taken a bit of over money since these numbers were first released, but I still think there’s value in backing Detroit to exceed its win projection this season. After taking the Mariners to a Game 5 in the ALDS a year ago, the Tigers have the building blocks of a team that is going to end up right back in the postseason once again, especially in an AL Central that should see the Guardians take a step back, while the Royals clearly feel like a piece or 2 away from being true division contenders. It’s not quite Detroit’s division to lose, but it sure feels like something would have to go significantly wrong for the Tigers to miss out on the postseason.
After a contentious offseason full of rumors and conflicting reports, Tarik Skubal is back and in pursuit of his third consecutive AL Cy Young award. Arguably the best pitcher in the game, Skubal commands a staff that also welcomes in Framber Valdez to back up the ace, along with Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty and even Justin Verlander in what could be his swan song. At this plate, the Tigers should expect to see strong seasons from the likes of Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson and even highly-touted rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle. If Detroit can get decent campaigns from Gleyber Torres and Javier Baez, it’s entirely conceivable that the Tigers could exceed 90 wins in a relatively weak division.
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