Teams to watch that could surprise this MLB season

MLB 2026 Win Totals & Potential Surprises

Every Major League Baseball season brings teams that outperform expectations and others that fall short of the hype. With win totals now set, there are a few clubs that stand out as potential surprises for bettors. Here’s a closer look at three MLB teams drawing strong opinions from the experts at gamblersWORLD.

Atlanta Braves O/U 88.5 wins

The Atlanta Braves were crushed by injuries last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017. With this roster fully healthy, they’re right back in the contender conversation. Their win total is set at 88.5, and with the Philadelphia Phillies as the only true threat in the division, there should be plenty of opportunities to stack wins.

MLB betting expert Sean Higgs weighed in on Atlanta’s outlook:

“Sure, the Waldrep news hurts. But with Chris Sale and Spencer Strider at the top of the rotation, I’ll take my chances. This lineup has already shown it can perform at a World Series level. The Phillies are aging, Miami is still developing, Washington is rebuilding, and I’m not intimidated by the Mets’ pitching staff. There are a lot of winnable games on this schedule for Atlanta.”

If this team stays healthy, 88.5 wins feels very attainable for a Braves squad with legitimate postseason upside.

Houston Astros O/U 85.5 Wins

The Astros’ run in the AL West is over, and after missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years, expectations are clearly lower. They have done a solid job retooling the rotation over the years, replacing arms like Framber Valdez with Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and new additions Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows. But after Brown, this staff feels thin and injury prone.

Offensively, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez lead the way, and Carlos Correa is back, but the lineup lacks the depth that once made Houston dangerous.

Gamblersworld betting expert Sean Higgs is fading them saying:

“I took the Houston Astros for NO PLAYOFFS +150. After Hunter Brown, where is this staff? Injury plagued. The lineup? I like Pena + Yordy. Then – roll those dice baby! No thanks”.

St Louis Cardinals  O/U 73.5 Wins

The Cardinals were active this offseason, but not necessarily in ways that move the needle. The headline move was trading Nolan Arenado to Arizona for pitching help, signaling a shift away from their veteran core. They added arms like Ryne Stanek, George Soriano, Zak Kent, and Jack Martinez while cycling through waiver claims and minor league signings, but most of the moves feel like depth plays rather than impact upgrades.

According to gamblersWORLD expert handicapper Doug Upstone, he says that “For decades, St. Louis didn’t always win its division, the National League, or the World Series, but there was a steady stream of very good to above-average talent coming through the farm system. It was known as – The Cardinals Way. With the current win total at 73.5, that is like looking at your stove in the OFF position. St. Louis has few hitters, even fewer pitchers, and they won’t have many runs saved on defense, with not enough speed or players who catch the ball. Maybe not the Rockies’ bad but headed that direction. UNDER for win total”. 

As Spring Training rolls on, we at gamblersWORLD will be tracking injuries, roster battles, and line movement to spot value early. Expect more updates, sharper opinions, and betting insights as MLB Opening Day approaches.