Updated American League Divisional Odds Following MLB Trade Deadline

Steve DomineySteve Dominey | September 1, 2020
The Cleveland Indians surprisingly traded ace Mike Clevinger to the Padres at the deadline despite being just a game back in the AL Central. Photo courtesy: @BleacherReport (Twitter)
  • Get updated Division-winner odds for all 15 American League clubs following the MLB trade deadline
  • The Rays (-300), White Sox (+150) and Athletics (-250) are the favorites to win their respective divisions
  • The Indians (+200) were sellers at the deadline despite being in the thick of the AL Central race

Like everything about life these days, the Major League Baseball trade deadline felt a little strange this year.

With the season shortened to 60 games due to the pandemic, teams only had five weeks to evaluate their roster before the deadline and now there’s only another month before the onset of an unprecedented 16-team postseason.

Let’s look at the updated odds in each American League division and pick the winners.

ODDS TO WIN AL EAST

Teams Odds at Betway
Tampa Bay Rays -300
New York Yankees +250
Toronto Blue Jays +2000
Baltimore Orioles +5000
Boston Red Sox +6600

RAYS LEADING DIVISION (-300)

Way back in March, we predicted the Rays would knock off the heavily-favored Yankees in the AL East at +350. With a 4.5-game lead over the Bronx Bombers, Tampa Bay is now -300 chalk to win the division.

Both the Rays and Yankees (+250) stood pat at the deadline, but the third-place Blue Jays (+2000) loaded up, adding three new starting pitchers in Taijuan Walker, Robbie Ray and Ross Stripling.

While it will be difficult to make up 5.5 games on Tampa, Toronto is currently red hot and could continue their push once Bo Bichette, Ken Giles and Nate Pearson all return from the injured list.

ODDS TO WIN AL CENTRAL

Teams Odds at Betway
Chicago White Sox +150
Cleveland Indians +200
Minnesota Twins +210
Detroit Tigers +2500
Kansas City Royals +5000

WHITE SOX ON TOP (+150)

In the same article mentioned above, we recommended the White Sox at +350 to win the AL Central over the Twins and Indians. Chicago (+150) now sits just a game up on Cleveland (+200) and 2.5 games ahead of Minnesota (+210).

The White Sox chose to not to dip into their impressive prospect pool for starting pitching help and the Indians were actually sellers, dealing ace Mike Clevinger to the Padres in the biggest trade of the deadline.

The Twins are in the midst of an ugly six-game losing streak, but should soon be buoyed by the return of Michael Pineda from PED suspension and Josh Donaldson from a calf injury.

ODDS TO WIN AL WEST

Teams Odds at Betway
Oakland Athletics -250
Houston Astros +175
Los Angeles Angels +7500
Texas Rangers +7500
Seattle Mariners +7500

ATHLETICS FAVORED (-250)

You guessed it – we also picked the Oakland A’s at +300 to dispatch of the cheating Astros in the AL West, so we’re trending towards going a glorious 3 for 3 in our American League picks.

Oakland (-250) bolstered their rotation with the addition of Rangers lefty Mike Minor, but the impending free agent will have to greatly improve his 5.60 ERA to be any help down the stretch.

Houston (+175) is only two games back in the division after beating the Athletics twice over the weekend, but they might have a hard time making up any more ground with 11 players on the injured list, including Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander.

A looming four-game series with Oakland starts next Monday and could go a long way in determining who wins the AL West.

Steve Dominey

Steve has almost 15 years of experience in marketing, PR and sports television. After acquiring a Journalism degree from Carleton University, he assembled highlight packs for Canada's most-watched sports network (TSN) before transitioning to a career in communications. He describes himself as a good father, great dog owner, and mediocre gambler and husband.