Which MLB teams are most, least profitable for bettors?
We're already through two-thirds of this MLB season, and some teams have emerged as clear cash cows for savvy bettors. Others have provided nothing but disappointment - which can be a boon for those playing the other side.
Here's a list of the 10 most and least profitable teams as of Tuesday, per Sports Database, along with their record and their cumulative return on $100 bets:
Most profitable teams
| TEAM | RECORD | RETURN |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | 71-41 | $2808 |
| Seattle Mariners | 58-54 | $1714 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 68-44 | $1705 |
| Boston Red Sox | 65-49 | $991 |
| Oakland Athletics | 64-48 | $931 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 61-51 | $917 |
| Detroit Tigers | 52-60 | $829 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 66-46 | $803 |
| Chicago White Sox | 67-45 | $564 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 57-52 | $369 |
San Francisco Giants (71-41, $2,808)
The only 70-win team in baseball has also been by far the most profitable, returning nearly 30 times the investment on $100 bets throughout the season. The Giants have been consistent winners, too, netting large positive returns in every month of the season.
Seattle Mariners (58-54, $1,714)
The Mariners own the dubious distinction of having the worst run differential (minus-51) of any team with a winning record. Unsurprisingly, they've also been MLB's most profitable underdog play on the season, returning $2,042 with a 47-43 outright record when priced as a 'dog.
Detroit Tigers (52-60, $829)
The Tigers are the only team in the top 10 with a losing record, which speaks to how efficient Detroit has been with its few wins. The key is coin-flip games: The Tigers are 24-14 with a $1,187 return when priced between +125 and -125, which is the most profitable run by any team in that spot.
Least profitable teams
| TEAM | RECORD | RETURN |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 35-78 | -$3527 |
| Minnesota Twins | 48-65 | -$2624 |
| Texas Rangers | 39-71 | -$1989 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 38-72 | -$1753 |
| New York Mets | 55-55 | -$1305 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 41-71 | -$1099 |
| Washington Nationals | 48-60 | -$1055 |
| New York Yankees | 62-50 | -$1003 |
| Miami Marlins | 47-65 | -$965 |
| Atlanta Braves | 57-55 | -$965 |
Arizona Diamondbacks (35-78, -$3,527)
It's been a season from hell for the Diamondbacks, who at one point lost 17 consecutive games and an MLB-record 24 straight on the road. Arizona lost bettors roughly $2,000 in May and in June, and the D-Backs are off to a 2-6 start to August with nothing left to play for.
Minnesota Twins (48-65, -$2,624)
The Twins aren't the worst team in baseball, but they're easily the most disappointing. Minnesota entered the year as a title contender and quickly fell by the wayside with a 12-24 start to the season. The Twins have also posted a 29-34 record outright with minus-$1,942 returned as a favorite - nearly double the amount lost by the second-worst team in chalk spots.
New York Yankees (62-50, -$1,003)
Condolences to anyone who placed faith in the Yankees, a team that's somehow lost bettors more than $1,000 despite owning the 10th-best record in baseball. The primary culprit? Losing in big spots. New York has been priced as a -230 favorite or higher 10 times - fourth-most in MLB - and owns a miserable 5-5 record with $750 lost in those 10 games alone.
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].