Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Betting Odds: Most Popular Playoff Pick
The Pittsburgh Pirates have become the hottest ticket in MLB futures betting. BetMGM reports the Pirates are drawing more bets and more money to make the 2026 postseason than any other team in baseball. That surge of public interest is arriving despite the fact that Pittsburgh has not posted a winning record since the 2018 season.
Pirates Lead All MLB Playoff Betting at BetMGM
Most Bet Team to Reach the Postseason
BetMGM confirmed that the Pittsburgh Pirates are the single most bet team to make the 2026 MLB postseason [1]. That distinction covers both the volume of individual bets placed and the total money wagered on the outcome. No other franchise in baseball is attracting the same level of futures action on a playoff berth.
The Pirates’ current odds to reach the postseason sit at +220, according to the source material [1]. That number represents their most favorable playoff odds since 2017. For a franchise that has spent the better part of a decade near the bottom of the standings, that shift in market positioning is significant.
Bettors also selected Pittsburgh more than any other team when picking a winner of the NL Central division [1]. The combination of division winner support and overall playoff bet volume places the Pirates at the center of 2026 MLB preseason conversation.
A Team Emerging From Irrelevance
Pittsburgh has not recorded a winning record since the 2018 season, per the source material [1]. The Pirates also have not qualified for the full postseason bracket since 2013 [1]. Those two facts make the current betting enthusiasm all the more striking.
The gap between on-field results and bettor optimism is wide. Yet the market data from BetMGM tells a clear story: the public believes 2026 is different. Whether that belief is driven by roster construction, pitching talent, or simple narrative appeal, the money is moving toward Pittsburgh.
What This Betting Surge Means
Public Money Flowing to a Long-Shot Story
When a team with no winning season since 2018 becomes the most bet playoff pick at a major sportsbook, it signals that bettors are chasing a compelling story as much as a statistical probability. BetMGM’s data shows the Pirates are attracting both ticket count and dollar volume, meaning it is not just casual bettors placing small wagers [1].
The +220 playoff odds reflect a market that has already absorbed some of that public money. Sportsbooks adjust lines based on where action flows, so the current number already accounts for the wave of Pirates support. Bettors looking at this market should understand that the line has likely moved in response to demand.
Paul Skenes Adds a Star Power Dimension
One major driver of Pirates optimism is pitcher Paul Skenes. According to the source material, Skenes is a +220 favorite to win his second consecutive Cy Young award [1]. That makes him the frontrunner in the market heading into the 2026 season.
A back-to-back Cy Young favorite anchoring a rotation changes how bettors evaluate a team’s ceiling. Skenes gives Pittsburgh a genuine ace-level argument, and that argument is clearly resonating with the betting public. His individual award odds and the team’s playoff odds sitting at the same +220 number is a notable coincidence that underscores how central he is to the Pirates’ 2026 narrative.
Pirates Odds in Context
| Market | Pittsburgh Pirates | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Make Playoffs (BetMGM) | +220 | Best odds since 2017 |
| Win NL Central (BetMGM) | Most bet team | More bets than any other NL Central team |
| Paul Skenes Cy Young | +220 favorite | Seeking second consecutive award |
| Last Winning Season | 2018 | No winning record in six-plus seasons |
| Last Full Postseason | 2013 | Over a decade without postseason bracket appearance |
The table above draws directly from BetMGM data reported by Covers [1]. The contrast between the team’s recent history and its current market position is stark. Pittsburgh has gone more than a decade without reaching the full postseason bracket, yet bettors are backing them at a higher rate than every other MLB franchise heading into 2026.
The +220 playoff odds being the team’s best since 2017 adds another layer of context. That was the last time the market gave Pittsburgh this kind of credit, and the franchise has spent the years since rebuilding. The current odds suggest the sportsbook and the betting public both believe that rebuild is close to paying off.
Bettors choosing Pittsburgh to win the NL Central outright is the boldest signal of all. Division winner bets require a team to finish first in their group, a harder ask than simply making the expanded playoff field. The fact that more money and more tickets landed on the Pirates for that market than any other NL Central team reflects genuine conviction, not just casual interest.
Why Sports Bettors Are Watching This Market
For sports bettors, the Pirates situation illustrates a classic tension in futures markets: public narrative versus historical performance. BetMGM’s data shows the public is firmly on Pittsburgh’s side, which typically means the sportsbook is positioned to profit if the team falls short [1]. Bettors who follow sharp money rather than public money often look for situations exactly like this one.
The +220 playoff odds and the +220 Paul Skenes Cy Young odds give bettors two distinct entry points into the Pittsburgh story. One is a team-level bet on the franchise reaching October. The other is an individual award bet on a pitcher who is already the market favorite to repeat. Both carry the same implied probability at +220, meaning the market treats them as equally likely outcomes heading into the season.
Key Takeaways
- BetMGM reports the Pittsburgh Pirates are the most bet team to make the 2026 MLB postseason, leading in both ticket count and money wagered [1].
- The Pirates’ playoff odds of +220 are their best since 2017, according to the source material [1].
- Pittsburgh has not recorded a winning season since 2018 and has not reached the full postseason bracket since 2013 [1].
- Bettors selected the Pirates more than any other team to win the NL Central division at BetMGM [1].
- Pitcher Paul Skenes enters 2026 as the +220 favorite to win his second consecutive Cy Young award [1].
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Pittsburgh Pirates’ odds to make the 2026 MLB playoffs?
According to BetMGM, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ odds to make the 2026 MLB postseason are +220 [1]. That is their best playoff odds since 2017.
Why are the Pirates the most popular MLB playoff pick at BetMGM?
BetMGM reports the Pirates are drawing more bets and more money on a playoff berth than any other team in baseball heading into 2026 [1]. Bettors also picked them as the top choice to win the NL Central division.
What are Paul Skenes’ Cy Young odds for 2026?
Paul Skenes is listed as the +220 favorite to win the 2026 Cy Young award, which would be his second consecutive [1]. No other pitcher is listed ahead of him in the market based on the available source data.
When did the Pirates last have a winning record?
The Pittsburgh Pirates last posted a winning record in the 2018 season, per the source material [1]. They have also not qualified for the full postseason bracket since 2013.
The Bottom Line
The Pittsburgh Pirates have gone from an afterthought to the most bet team in MLB futures markets at BetMGM. Their +220 playoff odds, the best the market has offered them since 2017, reflect a genuine shift in how bettors are evaluating this franchise heading into 2026 [1]. That shift is happening despite a track record that includes no winning seasons since 2018 and no full postseason appearance since 2013.
Paul Skenes sitting at +220 to win a second straight Cy Young award gives the Pirates a credible on-field argument to match the betting enthusiasm [1]. The public has spoken clearly at BetMGM, and the numbers back it up. Whether Pittsburgh can convert that preseason optimism into October baseball is the question the entire 2026 season will answer.
Sources
- [1]: Covers – Pittsburgh Pirates BetMGM playoff odds, NL Central betting data, Paul Skenes Cy Young odds, and team historical record
