The Arizona Diamondbacks kick off the first full MLB season since sports betting in Arizona launched Thursday against Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres.
The D-backs enter the 2022 MLB season with little in the way of expectations, as oddsmakers expect the squad to miss the postseason for a fifth straight year.
Arizona will look to eke its way above .500 for the first time in three years with a hodgepodge assortment of youthful prospects and wily veterans, such as southpaw Madison Bumgarner, who will be the Diamondbacks' opening day starter at Chase Field on Thursday evening.
Here’s a rundown of the D-backs’ World Series and playoff odds, in addition to a few pointers for those looking to get in on the online MLB betting action in the year ahead.
Diamondbacks Home Underdogs on Opening Day
The D-backs celebrate Thursday’s Opening Day festivities by facing San Diego at 6:40 p.m. Arizona time.
Torey Lovullo’s squad is currently listed at +126 to beat the Padres on FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona, while San Diego is at -148.
Arizona is 13-16 against the Padres since 2019, going 8-11 against the Friars during the 2021 regular season.
Arizona Faces Low Preseason Expectations
Few expect the D-backs to do much of anything on the diamond this season.
The folks at DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona and FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona peg Arizona over/under wins at 66.5, which seems to be the baseline across the board.
Oddsmakers at BetMGM Arizona and Caesars Sportsbook Arizona see a similar future for the 2001 World Series winners — with each putting the D-backs at +25000 to win the World Series and +12500 to win the franchise’s first National League pennant in 21 years.
The D-backs standing on those operators’ World Series and National League odds boards is tied for last, along with Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
The team’s outlook in both categories isn’t any rosier on the other sites, with DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona and FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona putting the team at +25000 to capture their second championship.
FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona gives the D-backs the 2nd-longest NL odds (ahead of the Pirates) at +15000, while DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona has them at +12500.
Trends to Watch for Diamondbacks Bettors
One thing for MLB bettors on Arizona betting apps to keep in mind is the regular season is a grind, and any team can beat another on any given night.
Even overlooked squads like the D-backs are virtually guaranteed to win more than a third of their games, which means they can’t be counted out, regardless of their record.
That means bettors should make sure to pay extra attention to the moneyline and run spread, as everything from the team’s starting pitcher to the players a team’s manager decides to give a day off to can be the difference between an easy win and a painful loss.
With 162 games on the schedule, it’s safe to say wagering on a single contest can be a crapshoot for MLB bettors. But there are plenty of opportunities if you strike at the right moment.
Take, for instance, last year’s no-hitter from rookie Tyler Gilbert against the Padres, which came on a night where the D-backs were a +190 underdog, according to DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona.
Such a feat is among the rarest in sports, but points to the fact no team can be counted out regardless of its record.
With all that being said, it’s time to take a seat in the ballpark (or your living room recliner), and enjoy the nation’s pastime, with Thursday’s Opening Night serving as the first taste of D-backs baseball in 2022.
