Best MLB Spring Training Bets Today: Thursday's Feb. 26 Slate

Spring training betting is a different animal than the regular season, and that’s exactly what makes it profitable if you approach it the right way. The lines are tighter, the information is messier and the outcomes can swing wildly based on who gets innings in the middle and late frames. Managers aren’t optimizing for wins the way they will in April, and star players might only get one or two plate appearances before calling it a day.

The other challenge is volume. There are a ton of games every day, and it’s not realistic to research them all at the level you need to feel confident. You have split squads, backfields, minor league-heavy lineups, and constantly changing pitching plans. The edge comes from narrowing the slate down to a small group of games where pricing, roster depth, and early-camp momentum all line up.

With that context in mind, here are five moneyline MLB best bets to consider for Feb. 26.

via BetMGM

Atlanta Braves ML (+150) at New York Yankees

This one is a great example of why spring training prices can get a little too brand-driven. The Yankees have started well, the Braves have started well, and both teams have already stacked up three wins. In other words, this isn’t a mismatch. It’s two strong organizations with deep systems, both playing quality baseball early on.

So when you’re getting +150 with Atlanta in a game that profiles closer to a true toss-up, that’s where the value shows up. The Braves’ depth is real, and it usually translates in spring settings where innings 4-8 matter more than the first inning headlines.

Washington Nationals ML (+185) at Philadelphia Phillies

Spring training records don’t define a team, but they can reflect early rhythm. And right now, Washington and Philadelphia are trending in opposite directions. The Nationals are 4-0 to open camp, while the Phillies are 0-3. Again, that doesn’t mean Washington is better in this setting, but it does mean they’ve had a cleaner early process and are getting productive innings across the roster.

Washington has a lot of players fighting for roles, and that tends to show in sharper at-bats late and higher-effort innings from pitchers trying to stick. At +185, you’re not asking the Nationals to dominate. You’re simply taking a big number in a game that doesn’t deserve a near-200 price gap.

Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-225) vs. Chicago White Sox

The Dodgers are one of the heavier favorites on the spring training board today, and normally, I’m cautious laying this kind of number in February. But this is the exception spot, because no team carries depth like LA, not just on paper, but in terms of the real innings you’re going to see in a spring game.

Los Angeles is 4-0, the White Sox are 4-1, so this isn’t a play fading the team that's losing most in spring training. It’s more about trusting organizational depth. Even when the Dodgers’ top-end guys aren’t playing much, they’re still rolling out high-end farm talent.

Chicago Cubs ML (-115) at Los Angeles Angels

The Cubs haven’t been great early, but this is more about the opponent than Chicago suddenly being a sure thing. The Angels have really struggled, and while that can flip any day in spring training, this is a reasonable spot for the Cubs to stabilize and get one.

At -115, you’re basically playing a pick’em with the team that has been the steadier overall profile and is facing an opponent still searching for traction. In a sport where spring games can snowball late once the benches empty, I’ll lean toward the side that feels more likely to play cleaner baseball across the full nine.

Cleveland Guardians ML (+130) at Seattle Mariners

This is a nice underdog angle because the Guardians are priced like a team that’s behind the curve. But they’ve actually been solid early. Cleveland is 4-1 to open spring training, and they’re still catching plus money in a matchup that should be fairly tight.

Cleveland’s calling card is almost always pitching development and organizational structure, and that translates well in these games where you need multiple arms to throw competitive innings. Seattle has upside, but at +130, the better value is backing the Guardians to keep it tight and give themselves a chance late.

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Spring training is never going to be as clean as betting a regular-season slate, and that’s the point. The market is thinner, the information is noisier, and the edges are more situational. As always, be sure to check multiple sportsbooks to ensure you're getting the best odds.

All Odds as of 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 25