MLB expert picks for the second half of the season

Truist Park in Atlanta just played host to the annual All-Star Week festivities. The Midsummer Classic marks the halfway point in the MLB season, and boy what a season it’s been. We’ve seen on the 19th player ever to hit 4 homeruns in a game by Eugenio Suárez back in April, Jacob Misiorowski showed out with an 11 inning no-hitter his first time on the mound in the MLB, not to mention Shohei Ohtani pitching for the first time as a Dodger, almost 2 years after elbow surgery. Our MLB experts have found four picks they think could be very interesting and make the second half of the 2025 season even more exciting. 

NL MVP: a battle of the power hitters and base stealers

Speaking of Ohtani, the elite two way player is looking to repeat as NL MVP following his amazing 50-50 season last year. He’s currently the favorite at -500 according to Draftkings, and our MLB experts think he could easily have another 50+ home run season in 2025. His biggest competition for MVP, at least so far this season, is Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. In only his second full MLB season, PCA already has 21 home runs and 23 stolen bases. Draftkings have Pete as a +600 underdog, but his odds are much better than those of Pete Alonso +3000 or PCA’s teammate Kyle Tucker +3000.  

NL and AL Champions: a comeback story or continued dominance

As you might expect, the National League is pretty much a one horse race. The defending World Series Champions the LA Dodgers are the clear favorite to take the NL pennant again this year at +150. Vegas likes the Dodgers so much they’re the favorite to win it all as well at +260 ahead of the Yankees, Tigers and the Phillies. Surprisingly, despite their record and having 2 potential MVPs on the roser, the Chicago Cubs aren’t getting much love from the sportsbooks who have them at +800 to win the league. With odds like those, savvy bettors may be cheering for the Cubbies in the second half of the season. 

One year ago, the Detroit Tigers only had about a 1% chance of even making the playoffs, but a late season surge saw them finish the season 86-76 and make it all the way to the Division series. The Tigers have continued their run in 2025 and currently have one of the best records in all of baseball. At +295 to win the AL this season, only the Yankees are getting better odds at +265 on Draftkings.

AL Cy Young: Can last year’s Triple Crown Winner make it two in a row?

A large part of the Tigers comeback story in 2024 was the lights out pitching from Tarik Skubal, with his 18 wins and 2.39 ERA in 31 games. His stats were enough to win him the Triple Crown and the AL Cy Young Award. He’s on pace to have an even better 2025, his ERA is lower and he could very well finish the season with more strikeouts, which is likely why he’s the clear favorite at -300. However, our MLB experts are looking very closely at Houston Astros pitcher, Hunter Brown +800. He’s currently leading the AL in ERA and is 1 win away from leading the league for the most wins this season. With the Astros securely leading the AL West, Brown really isn’t the long shot he might look like just from the sportsbook odds. 

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