Setting the line on Phillies’ win total in 2022, Bryce Harper’s MVP chances, and more

LAS VEGAS — The consensus line for the Phillies’ projected win total this season is 86.5. Hitting the over would be a decent improvement on last season’s 82-80 mark and would mark the most wins the club has had since setting the team record in 2011, when the Phils went 102-60.

One other thing about that line of 86.5 wins: DraftKings’ line, at least earlier this week, was 85.5. Sports betting is all about the number. Shop around.

» READ MORE: Bryson Stott, Ranger Suárez, and Seranthony Dominguez will decide Phillies’ 2022 fate

DraftKings has Bryce Harper at +900 to win his second consecutive MVP. Washington’s Juan Soto is +280, followed by returning Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. at +700.

“He’s not favored, but he’s certainly in the mix,” Draftkings director of operations Johnny Avello said, referring to Harper. “The guy’s from my hometown here [Las Vegas], so I follow him kind of closely. I actually thought he would have won a couple by now anyway because of the talent he has.”

Acuna is working his way back from a torn ACL and might not be in the lineup until May.

Over in the American League, Anaheim’s Shohei Ohtani is tops on the MVP board at +400. This is a marked change from last season, when the bookies got caught opening him at 60-1. Caesars got stung with a $30,000 bet when he was at 30-1, which spokesperson Adam Pullen called their biggest loss ever on an MVP future.

The big news in the National League — particularly the NL East — was the Mets’ losing ace Jacob deGrom indefinitely with an injury to his scapula area, and Max Scherzer limping around with a cranky hamstring. Their odds were only slightly modified, however, because the bookies know the baseball season is a grueling marathon, not a 10-second sprint.

» READ MORE: Who’s going seven? Throwback mentality of starting pitchers suits Phillies’ needs in 2022.

“We made a couple of adjustments — on the Mets,” Avello said. “Not necessarily to win the championship, but we had them at 90.5 wins, and we dropped them to 88.5. It’s a tough loss. Could be six weeks, could be more. The feeling is, ‘OK, the Mets won’t have him early, but they will have him late.’ We don’t know how a team is going to play without him or how they’re going to react.”

It’s worth noting that 10 of the Phillies’ 19 games against the Mets are within the first month of the season. That’s probably two or three deGrom starts they’ll miss right there.

NL East win totals/Odds to win division

Braves: 91.5 wins/+115

Mets: 88.5 wins/+200

Phillies: 85.5 wins/+330

Marlins: 76.5 wins/+1600

Nationals: 71.5 wins/+5500

To win National League: +1200 (Dodgers favored, +230)

To win World Series: +2200 (Dodgers, +475)

To have best record in MLB: +2500 (Dodgers, +215)

To make playoffs: Yes -120, No +100

Bryce Harper MVP: +900

Zack Wheeler Cy Young: +1000

Aaron Nola Cy Young: +2000

» READ MORE: Matt Vierling keeps proving he belongs, this time as the Phillies’ center fielder

Harper HR: 34.5

Nick Castellanos HR: 31.5

Kyle Schwarber HR: 31.5

Wheeler wins: 13.5

Wheeler strikeouts: 209.5

Nola wins: 12.5

Nola strikeouts: 215.5

Lines as of Monday afternoon.