What Are Your Team’s Odds To Win It All This October?
The MLB regular-season has concluded and MLB playoff baseball is upon us.
It was an eventful year in baseball, one that saw a record season in Boston, a team of young 20 year old players helping guide a baseball franchise back to the postseason and a couple of wild NL division pennant races that came down to the last day of the regular-season.
Now that we’re here, we’ll preview the playoff field and evaluate title odds as the hunt for the World Series is now on.
Let’s get started!
The title odds are based off Oddshark sports betting***
American League
The Boston Red Sox (108-54)
Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
Won AL East
Have home-field advantage throughout MLB playoffs
Next game: Game 1 of ALDS vs New York Yankees or Oakland Athletics
Notable seasons from players:
Mookie Betts – .346 BA, 32 HRs, 80 RBIs, 129 R, 30 SBs
J.D. Martinez – .330 BA, 43 HRs, 130 RBIs
Chris Sale – 12-4, 2.11 ERA, 13.50 K/9, 237 Ks
Title Odds: +350
The Red Sox are tied for highest title odds of any team in the postseason. Boston led the MLB in runs this season as they won a franchise-record 108 games.
They’ll play either the New York Yankees or Oakland Athletics to begin the ALDS, two teams in which they have a decided edge against due to their starting pitching and ability to score runs in bunches.
Houston Astros (103-59)
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Won AL West
Next game: Game 1 of ALDS vs Cleveland Indians
Notable seasons from players:
Justin Verlander – 16-9, 2.52 ERA, 290 strikeouts
Alex Bregman – .286, 31 HRs, 103 RBIs
Jose Altuve – .317 BA, 13 HRs, 63 RBIs, 17 SB
Title Odds: +350
The Houston Astros are tied for the highest title odds of any team in the postseason. Coming off a World Series title a season ago, Houston was even better in 2018 as they led the MLB in run differential at +263.
They’ll be facing a difficult challenge in the Cleveland Indians, who have a strong rotation. If there’s any team capable of matching that rotation though, it’s the Houston Astros.
The Houston Astros rotation finished the regular-season with a 3.16 ERA, the best mark in the MLB.
Cleveland Indians (91-71)
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Won AL Central
Next game: Game 1 of ALDS at Houston Astros
Notable seasons from players:
Jose Ramirez – .270 BA, 39 HRs, 107 RBIs, 110 Rs
Francisco Lindor – .277, 38 HRs, 92 RBIs, 129 Rs
Corey Kluber – 20-7, 2.89 ERA, 222 Ks, 215.0 IP
Title Odds: +800
The Cleveland Indians have the fourth highest title odds among all 10 playoff teams. Much of that has to do with Cleveland starting a playoff series with arguably the MLB’s best team in the Houston Astros.
One thing Cleveland has going for them is a strong track record against Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander. Verlander is 2-8 since 2015 with a 5.76 ERA in 12 starts.
New York Yankees (100-62)
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Won First AL Wildcard
Next game: vs Oakland Athletics
Notable seasons from players:
Giancarlo Stanton – .266 BA, 38 HRs, 100 RBIs
Luis Severino – 19-8, 3.39 ERA, 220 Ks
Aroldis Chapman – 2.45 ERA, 32 saves, 16.31 K/9
Title Odds: +1000
The New York Yankees are tied for the fourth highest title odds despite their difficult road to get there. New York will have to get past a red-hot Athletics team in a one-game elimination matchup on Tuesday night before thinking about a ALDS slugfest with the Boston Red Sox.
It’s obvious why New York would make and win the World Series. Their offensive depth, propensity to hit home runs (MLB record 267 in 2018) and a lights out bullpen headed by Aroldis Chapman.
Oakland Athletics (97-65)
Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
Won Second AL Wildcard
Next game: at New York Yankees
Notable seasons from players:
Khris Davis – .247 BA, 48 HRs, 123 RBIs
Blake Treinen – 0.78 ERA, 38 saves, 11.20 K/9
Matt Chapman – .278 BA, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs
Title Odds: +1200
The Oakland Athletics are tied for the second worst title odds among all 10 MLB playoff teams this season given their path to the World Series.
If Oakland advances to the World Series, they will need to win a road playoff game at Yankee Stadium followed by going through the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros-Cleveland Indians ALDS winner.
One stat in their favor is their win-loss record in one-run games. Bob Melvin’s team went 31-14 this season in one-run games, the best mark in the MLB.
National League
Milwaukee Brewers (96-67)
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Won NL Central
Have home-field advantage throughout NL playoffs
Next game: vs Chicago Cubs or Colorado Rockies
Notable seasons from players:
Christian Yelich – .326 BA, 36 HRs, 110 RBIs
Josh Hader – 2.43 ERA, 21 HLD, 15.82 K/9
Jesus Aguilar – .274 BA, 35 HRs, 108 RBIs
Title Odds: +1000
The Milwaukee Brewers may have home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs, but there’s reason to be skeptical of them according to OddsShark, who have them tied for the fifth highest odds to win the World Series.
The Milwaukee Brewers strength is in their bullpen, which finished with the 5th best ERA in the MLB this season. What the Brewers don’t have in their starting pitching is made up for by a bullpen made up of the most dominant relievers in the MLB this season in Josh Hader, Jeremy Jefferies and Corey Knebel.
Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71)
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Won NL West
Next game: vs Atlanta Braves
Notable seasons from players:
Manny Machado – .297 BA, 37 HRs, 107 RBIs
Matt Kemp – .290 BA, 21 HRs, 85 RBIs
Clayton Kershaw – 9-5, 2.73 ERA, 155 Ks
Title Odds: +450
The Los Angeles Dodgers have the highest odds among all National League teams and third highest overall. The star power offensively combined with a stellar rotation and a NLDS matchup with a inexperienced Braves team give the Dodgers an edge over all other NL playoff foes.
The Los Angeles Dodgers led the NL with 799 runs scored this season.
Atlanta Braves (90-72)
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Won NL East
Next game: at Los Angeles Dodgers
Notable seasons from players:
Freddie Freeman – .309 BA, 23 HRs, 98 RBIs
Ronald Acuna Jr. – .293, 26 HRs, 64 RBIs
Mike Foltynewicz – 13-10, 2.85 ERA, 202 Ks
Title Odds: +1200
The Atlanta Braves return to the MLB playoffs see them tied with the second lowest title odds among all 10 MLB playoff teams. The Braves will have a tough task of defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, but this is a team that this season proved they can win on the road.
The Atlanta Braves finished this season 47-34 on the road, tied for the best road record in the National League with, you guessed it, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Chicago Cubs (95-68)
Photo by Getty Images
Won First NL Wildcard
Next game: vs Colorado Rockies
Notable seasons from players:
Javier Baez – .290 BA, 34 HRs, 111 RBIs
Anthony Rizzo – .283 BA, 25 HRs, 101 RBIs
Jon Lester – 18-6, 3.32 ERA, 149 Ks
Title Odds: +1000
The Chicago Cubs losing out on home-field advantage throughout the NL Playoffs to the Milwaukee Brewers have Joe Maddon’s club with tied for the fifth highest odds to win the World Series.
Chicago will have to outlast a potent offensive team in the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field to advance to play a Brewers team that gave them fits late in the season. The Cubs may have limped into the playoffs, but let’s not forget their strength in their rotation as well as bullpen, both of which finished among the top 5 in the MLB this season.
Colorado Rockies (91-72)
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Won Second AL Wildcard
Next game: at Chicago Cubs
Notable seasons from players:
Nolan Arenado – .297 BA, 38 HRs, 110 RBIs
Trevor Story – .291 BA, 37 HRs, 108 RBIs
Charlie Blackmon – .291, 29 HRs, 70 RBIs, 119 Rs
Title Odds: +2000
The Colorado Rockies’ title odds plummeted after losing their NL West tiebreaker game on Monday to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colorado has the worst odds among all 10 MLB playoff teams.
A Rockies team flawed with their starting pitching and bullpen makes up for it with their ability to hit. The Rockies scored 778 runs this season, the second highest mark in the NL behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What are your thoughts on the MLB playoffs? Leave your comments below!
Comments