MLB Season-Long Free Picks: NL Predictions, Win Totals, and Betting Insights
Based solely on the transcript from RJ Bell’s Dream Preview
With Opening Day right around the corner, RJ Bell’s Dream Preview crew – Munaf Manji and Griffin Warner – sat down to give their National League (NL) picks for division winners and regular season win totals. Here's a detailed breakdown of their discussion, analyzed quote by quote, with key statistics and betting insights included.
NL East: Phillies Get the Nod, Doubts Around Braves and Mets
[0:00 – 0:40]
Griffin Warner kicked things off with a bold pair of calls:
“I’m going to go with Philadelphia Phillies to win the East and… under 93.5 wins on the Atlanta Braves.”
His pick implies strong belief in the Phillies’ consistency and doubts about Atlanta living up to high expectations. The Braves’ 93.5 projected wins was seen as a number worth fading.
Munaf Manji echoed the Phillies love but turned his skepticism toward the Mets:
“I am going to go with the under on the New York Mets… a lot of question marks… pitching rotation.”
Here, Munaf raised red flags around the Mets’ rotation depth and durability, opting to “sell” on a team that hasn’t solved those key issues.
? NL Central: Brewers Backed, Cardinals Could Collapse
[0:41 – 1:42]
Griffin showed betting savvy in choosing the Milwaukee Brewers at +285 to win the division, while also recommending a fade on the Cubs:
“Chicago Cubs under 86.5 wins… maybe 85.5 depending on where you shop.”
Munaf doubled down on the Brewers and outlined a deeper analysis based on recent consistency:
“They’ve won 90+ games… 86+ wins since 2017 outside the COVID year.”
He then delivered a stark warning on the Cardinals:
“Under 76.5… I think they’ll be sellers… Sonny Gray… Nolan Arenado could be moved.”
This suggests not only a weak overall roster but a potential fire sale midseason, turning the under bet into a strategic fade.
NL West: Dodgers Dominance, but Padres Present Value
[1:43 – 3:33]
With the Dodgers heavily favored (around -750), Griffin joked before getting serious:
“The Colorado Rockies. No, just kidding… The best chance to dethrone the Dodgers are the San Diego Padres… 9 to 1 out there.”
Though not confident enough to guarantee it, he advised Padres as the best long-shot option to disrupt LA’s control of the division.
Munaf agreed:
“It would be the Padres for me. I’m really high on this team.”
Both analysts avoided backing the Dodgers due to lack of value and instead leaned on upside with the Padres – particularly their offense and trade potential.
Griffin circled back on win totals:
“Giants… over 79.5 wins… under with Colorado… lose 100+ games easily.”
He saw sneaky upside in the Giants while painting a grim picture for the Rockies, predicting a possible bottom-of-the-league finish.
Munaf closed strong with a specific betting angle:
“I would just unload on the Rockies’ road win total… Padres over 85.5.”
Final Summary
Division Winners (Consensus Picks):
-
NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
-
NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers
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NL West: San Diego Padres (value play over Dodgers)
Top Win Total Bets:
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Under: Braves (93.5), Mets, Cubs (86.5), Cardinals (76.5), Rockies (59.5)
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Over: Padres (85.5), Giants (79.5 potential)
Trade Watch:
Closing Thought:
While the Dodgers remain overwhelming favorites, this transcript reveals sharp, contrarian betting angles across the board — from division races to season-long win totals. If you're looking to make long-term plays before Opening Day, this analysis offers both rationale and risk management straight from experienced bettors.