Monday’s Powerball jackpot is approaching $2 billion, but the Giants — and their Major League Baseball competitors — are playing a different lottery.
For the first time ever, MLB is using a lottery system to determine the amateur draft order. MLB and the MLB Players Association agreed to the new structure in an effort to curb tanking during last winter’s work stoppage.
Here’s a cheat sheet for exactly how the new system is set up.
Picks 1-6: Lottery teams
Picks 7-18: Non-postseason, non-lottery teams in reverse order of the previous year’s standings
Picks 19-22: Wild Card Series losers
Picks 23-26: Division Series losers
Picks 27-28: Championship Series losers
Pick 29: Philadelphia Phillies (World Series loser)
Pick 30: Houston Astros (World Series winner)
The clubs that finished with the three worst records — the Nationals, Athletics and Pirates — each have a 16.5% chance at landing the top pick.
Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, Vanderbilt outfielder Max Clark and LSU outfielder Max Crews are among the prospects who could go first overall.
Since the Giants missed the playoffs but didn’t completely bottom out, their chances at the top pick are slim. San Francisco has 0.5% odds at the top spot.
The Giants will most likely get the 15th pick. Last year, the Giants selected pitchers with their first six picks, including first-rounder Reggie Crawford — who both hits and pitches.
The draft lottery will take place on Dec. 6 at the winter meetings in San Diego.
Below is a full list of lottery odds, via MLB.com.
1. Nationals (55-107), 16.5 pct
2. A’s (60-102), 16.5
3. Pirates (62-100), 16.5
4. Reds (62-100), 13.2
5. Royals (65-97), 10.0
6. Tigers (66-96), 7.5
7. Rangers (68-94), 5.5
8. Rockies (68-94), 3.9
9. Marlins (69-93), 2.7
10. Angels (73-89), 1.8
11. D-backs (74-88), 1.4
12. Cubs (74-88), 1.1
13. Twins (78-84), 0.9
14. Red Sox (78-84), 0.8
15. White Sox (81-81), 0.6
16. Giants (81-81), 0.5
17. Orioles (83-79), 0.4
18. Brewers (86-76), 0.2