Steve Starr
- BetOnline has updated its 2019 AL and NL pennant odds with about a quarter of the MLB season still to play
- The Astros (+110) have a slight edge over the Yankees (+175) in the American League
- The Dodgers (-120) are heavy favorites to represent the National League in the World Series
This is the time of year when baseball really becomes fun. With about half of the MLB’s 30 franchises still vying for a postseason berth, the race for October is in full swing.
While anything less than a World Series victory will disappoint fans of powerhouse clubs such as the Astros, Yankees and Dodgers, let’s instead look at BetOnline to find four teams that could sneak into the playoffs and pull off an upset.
ODDS TO WIN AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT
| Team | Odds |
| Houston Astros | +110 |
| New York Yankees | +175 |
| Cleveland Indians | +900 |
| Minnesota Twins | +900 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +1400 |
| Boston Red Sox | +2000 |
| Oakland Athletics | +2500 |
| Texas Rangers | +12500 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +25000 |
| Chicago White Sox | +100000 |
| Seattle Mariners | +250000 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +500000 |
| Detroit Tigers | +500000 |
| Kansas City Royals | +500000 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +500000 |
CLEVELAND INDIANS
The American League is nowhere near as interesting as the senior circuit, but the Indians have certainly made the AL Central intriguing. After an ugly start to the season, Jose Ramirez has been on a tear since June 14, belting 15 of his 19 home runs on the season and 52 of his 73 RBI.
Jose Ramirez already has 2 HRs and 6 RBIs through 2 innings vs. the Yankees. ??
(?: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/HEyhJbNfyY
— theScore (@theScore) August 16, 2019
Not so coincidentally, Cleveland has a 39-14 record over that same time frame, pulling into a dead heat with the Twins in the division. With Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, Franmil Reyes, and new U.S. citizen Yasiel Puig in the lineup, the Tribe have the firepower to compete with the AL’s big guns.
ODDS TO WIN NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT
| Team | Odds |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -120 |
| Atlanta Braves | +600 |
| Chicago Cubs | +1000 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +1000 |
| Washington Nationals | +1000 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1400 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +1600 |
| New York Mets | +1600 |
| San Francisco Giants | +2500 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +5000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +8000 |
| Colorado Rockies | +25000 |
| San Diego Padres | +25000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +250000 |
| Miami Marlins | +500000 |
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Following their sweep of the Reds, Washington is a season-high 10 games over .500 after starting the year 19-31. Victor Robles is playing Gold Glove-deserving defense in centerfield and 20-year-old phenom Juan Soto is making fans in the nation’s capital forget they ever had Bryce Harper.
Around the NL East: Max Scherzer is days away from returning and it could completely change the NL East race @Britt_Ghirolihttps://t.co/BDNWhREF9T
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticATL) August 15, 2019
With Max Scherzer ready to resume his Cy Young-worthy season, the Nationals’ rotation is a recipe for October upsets, leading the National League in strikeouts and ranking second in ERA, on-base percentage and slugging percentage against.
NEW YORK METS
Similarly, if the latest version of the Miracle Mets can somehow secure a playoff spot, their pitching staff will be nightmare fuel for any opponent.
New York raised more than a few eyebrows when it acquired right-hander Marcus Stroman when they were five games under .500, but after winning 15 of 16 games during a recent stretch, FiveThirtyEight now gives them a 1 in 3 shot of making the postseason.
Polar bear plunge!
@Pete_Alonso20’s 39th dinger ties him with Cody Bellinger for the most HR by an NL rookie. pic.twitter.com/5H2JajcFWC— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) August 15, 2019
With rookie Pete Alonso in the midst of one of the greatest years a Mets hitter has ever had and studly starters such as Stroman, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, New York won’t be an easy out in October. They just need to get there first.
