MLB

MLB Computer Simulation Predictions 2017-08-22

Photo of author
Original Publish Date:

We are monitoring computer simulation picks from fivethirtyeight.com.  In their own words on how they pick the games…

This forecast is based on 100,000 simulations of the season and accounts for starting pitchers, travel distance and rest. It updates after each game.

What they do is they provide probability of winning for each team each day according to their computer simulations.  In our opinion, there’s two ways to interpret these picks:

  1. Compare their probability to the actual odds of the game and find the perceived value.
  2. Take the pick “as is” and select the team with the higher probability as the selection.

MLB Computer Simulation Predictions Record

Value Pick Record (since 5/27/17)

Units W L Total Units %
5 133 186 -82.87 42%
4 52 68 -22.84 43%
3 77 83 1.24 48%
2 92 102 2.17 47%
1 166 171 -9.33 49%
Total 520 610 -111.63 46%

“As Is” Pick Record (since 5/22/17)

Odds W L Total Units %
 -250 or Greater 26 9 1.20 74%
 -200 to -250 67 30 2.50 69%
 -150 to -200 178 113 -10.91 61%
 +100 to -150 340 308 -40.30 52%
Underdogs 49 81 -22.97 38%
Total 660 541 -70.48 55%

MLB Computer Simulation Predictions

You need a login access to see these picks.  If you don’t already have a login, simply sign up for our EYO Insider Membership to get access to the picks below.

[restrict userlevel=”nbaseason”]

Derived Value Picks

Here we take the computer simulation probability and compared to the actual odds, the further away from the actual odds, the more value to the pick (i.e. if computer simulation suggests 60% chance of winning and the actual odds suggests 55% change of winning, then there’s a perceived 5% value in taking the favorite in this scenario).  We give higher units to higher value plays, and the units are capped at 5 units.

538 Value Pick Odds Risk Units To Win Units Value
LA Dodgers -103 5.15 5 13%
Miami 112 4.46 5 13%
Boston 170 2.94 5 12%
NY Mets 153 3.27 5 9%
Toronto 180 2.78 5 9%
Chi. White Sox 115 4.35 5 8%
Texas 130 3.85 5 6%
Washington 162 3.09 5 5%
Detroit 160 2.5 4 4%
St. Louis -185 5.55 3 3%
Seattle -105 2.1 2 2%
Cincinnati 150 1.33 2 2%
Oakland 143 1.4 2 2%
Kansas City -121 1.21 1 1%
San Francisco 100 1 1 1%

“As Is” Picks

These picks are more straight forward, basically which ever team has the higher probability of winning according to the computer simulation would be the selection.  We make all picks as 1 unit plays.

538 As Is Pick Odds
Tampa Bay -200
Cleveland -185
St. Louis -185
Houston -174
NY Yankees -170
Arizona -166
Chi. Cubs -160
Baltimore -153
LA Angels -140
Kansas City -121
Milwaukee -110
Seattle -105
LA Dodgers -103
Miami 112
Chi. White Sox 115

[/restrict]

Leave a Comment