Taylor Bicht
2 min read • July 16, 2024
Posted in
With MLB at the All-Star break, it's a great time to analyze the updated win totals. Injuries have plagued numerous teams as we at sicscore.com expected before the season began. We are holding numerous futures that are headed for success, including our Miami Marlins win total of under 78.5 wins. The break is a good time to analyze teams' injury concerns and find value in the updated totals. Here are a few free injury-based totals:
This all hinges on Mike Trout and his availability in the second half of the season. Trout underwent surgery for a torn meniscus and is expected back in late July. However, we at sicscore.com foresee a potential return closer to August. The offense and team overall have sputtered this year without him, holding a 41-55 record.
There are issues on the pitching staff as well, with Patrick Sandoval out for the year due to a UCL injury. Expect the Angels to continue their struggles in the second half.
One of our top MLB futures to start the year, as we alluded to, was based on the Marlins' starting pitcher woes. Four out of five starting staff were on the IL to begin the season. Pitchers like ace Sandy Alcantara and young star Eury Perez have missed the entire season and will not return.
The starting pitching issues have worsened with Jesus Luzardo, who was the lone healthy SP to start the year, now on the IL with a lumbar stress reaction in his back. We at SIC Picks will double down on the Marlins under win total.
One of our best calls of the 2023 season was the over on the Texas Rangers' win total, and they ended up winning the World Series while staying healthy. The Rangers have dealt with numerous injuries to start the 2024 campaign but are now rounding into good health at the right time. Ace and future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer has returned after missing the majority of the first half and has pitched well in his first five starts back from back surgery, posting a 2.96 ERA.
The offense should see new life soon with the returns of Evan Carter (back) and Josh Jung (wrist), who have missed big chunks of the first half. Expect the Rangers to improve in the second half with key players returning.
Written by Taylor Bicht
