MLB: betting preview for the 2019 season, TV channel & tips for the AL and NL

TV: BT Sport 2, from 5.05pm Thursday

After last week’s two-game series between Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics in Japan, an exciting Major League Baseball season begins in earnest on Thursday with every team in action.

There is added anticipation this year as it will be the first time British baseball fans can see a regular-season game played on this side of the Atlantic when the Boston Red Sox take on the New York Yankees at the London Stadium in June.

The opportunity to see the Bronx Bombers in the flesh could be even more of a treat because the men from New York look primed for a fantastic season and could be heading to the World Series.

American League best bets
The Yankees didn’t do a lot wrong last season when they won 100 games, although with the Red Sox putting up an incredible 106 victories that meant they finished second in the division and had to play in the wildcard game, which they won comfortably.

They lost out to Boston again in the Division Series but their fortunes may well be reversed this year.

All last year's stars return, so Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton should be racking up plenty of home runs again, while their bullpen is expected to remain the best, or close to the best, in baseball.

Their relief staff were extraordinary last year and starters Luis Severino and new signing James Paxton have the ability to enjoy top-class seasons with sub-3.5 earned-run averages.

It seems doubtful that Boston can get near their 2018 standard again this year as the adjusted standings, which take into account strikeouts, home runs, hits and more, suggest the Red Sox enjoyed some good fortune.

They should have been far closer to 100 wins, which would bring them back into the reach of the Yankees. With Boston looking likely to have some problems with their bullpen, the men from the Big Apple should take the American League East and go on to glory in the AL Championship Series.

Recommendations
New York Yankees to win the American League East
3pts 20-21 Hills
New York Yankees to win the American League
2pts 13-4 Ladbrokes

Key dates for the 2019 MLB season

March 28 Opening day of the regular season

June 29-30 London Series (New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox)

July 9 All-Star Game (Cleveland)

September 29 Last day of regular season

October 1 Start of the playoffs

October 22 Start of the World Series

National League best bets
The LA Dodgers are odds-on to win their division for the seventh straight year and it is not hard to see why.

There is not much competition in the National League West and they should make serene progress into the post-season. It is hard to see any of their rivals winning many more than 80 games while the Dodgers will be disappointed if they win fewer than 90.

They scored 804 runs last season, the highest in the National League, and although they won the division by one game, their run differential and underlying stats suggest they could have claimed more than 100 wins.

There is a lot to like about the consistent Dodgers. Ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw, when fit, remains one of the best in the game, although time is taking its toll on the left-handed starter and he will miss the start of this season with a shoulder injury.

The men from LA have had to learn to cope without Kershaw and they look as though they have managed that. If he pitches a full season then the Dodgers will win plenty of games but even if he doesn’t then Ross Stripling, Kenta Maeda and Walker Buehler all seem likely to have ERAs below four.

It is hard to know to what extent the team will be psychologically scarred by the disappointment of losing in back-to-back World Series.

However, barring injury, they should be back in the playoffs with a solid chance of gaining another crack at the Fall Classic.

Recommendation
LA Dodgers to win the National League
2pts 4-1 RedZone

Other markets
It might be worth having a small bet on Khris Davis to hit the most home runs in MLB. He struck the most homers in baseball last year with 48 and has been remarkably consistent, smashing 42 and 43 in the previous two seasons.

Any total over 40 would give him a shout of leading the league in long balls. Davis has got off to a good start by hitting one home run in Japan so the Athletics slugger is worth backing to repeat last season's effort.

Recommendation
K Davis to hit most home runs in MLB
0.5pt 12-1 Hills

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport