With the first couple of months of the 2017 MLB season in the books we now have a fairly large sample size to work with when it comes to breaking down the numbers. While a lot can change throughout the course of the season, we should have a pretty good indication of which teams are more explosive offensively and which teams rely more on pitching and defense to win lower scoring games. It is the latter group in particular that we are relying on when it comes to picking the under when betting on totals this season. Here is a look at the best teams to bet on for under bets so far this MLB season.
Kansas City Royals (16-28-2)
Kansas City is off to a terrible start this season with the worst record in the American League through 46 games. It’s no secret that a severe lack of offense has been the biggest reason for the Royals struggles. Kansas City ranks 30th in the AL with 153 runs scored. The Royals also rank 29th in batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage. Mike Moustakas, Alex Gordon, Alcides Escobar and Brandon Moss are the hitters that have struggled the most. Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have all been good but they aren’t superstars that can carry the Kansas City offense on their own. 28 of Kansas City’s 46 games have stayed under the total this season. There is a good chance that trend continues based in large part on their lack of hitting talent and the fact that they will likely be sellers at the trade deadline if they don’t turn things around soon.
Cleveland Indians (16-26-3)
Nobody expected the Royals to be among the league leaders in runs scored this season. The same cannot be said about Cleveland. The Indians added Edwin Encarnacion to a talented lineup with hopes that they could contend for a World Series championship this season. However, Encarnacion has struggled in his new digs and the Cleveland offense has failed to live up to expectations. The Indians are tied for 22nd in the majors with 196 runs scored and they rank in the bottom-third of the MLB in batting average this season. Cleveland is talented enough to turn things around on offense. However, to this point they have been the second-best team in the majors to wager on when it comes to betting the under.
Los Angeles Angels (19-28-3)
It seems strange that the team with the leading early season MVP candidate could be among the lowest scoring teams in baseball. Mike Trout is hitting .344 with 15 home runs and 35 RBI this season. However, the Angels rank just 19th in the majors in runs scored. Part of the problem is that Los Angeles ranks 25th in batting average and 26th in slugging percentage. At the same time, the Angels just haven’t capitalized on opportunities when they have had them. The pitching staff has helped keep Los Angeles in most games and it’s a big reason why they are hovering around the .500 mark through 50 games. The under has hit in 28 of the Angels 50 games so far this season, which makes them the third-best team to bet on for under wagers so far this season.
Minnesota Twins (19-20-4)
There is a substantial drop off from the top three teams on this list to the Twins in terms of successful under bets so far this season. However, Minnesota has still participated in lower scoring games about 50-percent of the time this season. The Twins pitching staff ranks around the middle of the pack in terms of ERA but their offense has struggled with consistency and ranks 21st in runs scored. Minnesota’s ability to grind out wins in lower scoring games is the biggest reason why they have the best record in the AL Central through 43 games. The Twins have also been one of the best teams to bet on for hitting the under bet.
Chicago White Sox (21-21-3)
The White Sox are five games below .500 through 45 games but they are exactly .500 in terms of producing under results on their sports betting totals. Chicago’s pitching staff has registered a solid 3.82 ERA that ranks sixth in the majors this season and ranks fifth in BAA. Meanwhile, the White Sox offense ranks in the bottom-third of the majors in OBP and slugging percentage while ranking 18th in runs scored. The combination of a low scoring offense and a solid pitching staff usually favors the under wagers and so far this season Chicago has produced an even split in terms of over and under bets.
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