Steve Starr
- BetOnline has updated 2019 World Series odds for all 30 Major League Baseball clubs
- The Houston Astros are now favored to win the World Series (+600)
- Odds have surged for the Brewers (+1200), Mariners (+2500), Mets (+1600) and Rays (+2000) since Opening Day
The Major League Baseball season is often described as “a marathon, not a sprint,” but that’s almost under-selling the 162-game slog. At the very least, the campaign is one of those ultra-marathons where dudes lose toes from hypothermia and die of dehydration.
Now that we’re just about a month into the season, let’s look at BetOnline to see what teams’ odds have improved and declined the most.
2019 World Series Odds
| Teams | 2019 World Series Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Houston Astros | +600 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +700 |
| New York Yankees | +700 |
| Boston Red Sox | +1000 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1000 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +1200 |
| Cleveland Indians | +1400 |
| New York Mets | +1600 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +1600 |
| Atlanta Braves | +2000 |
| Chicago Cubs | +2000 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +2000 |
| Washington Nationals | +2000 |
| Seattle Mariners | +2500 |
| Minnesota Twins | +3300 |
| Oakland Athletics | +3300 |
| San Diego Padres | +3300 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +4000 |
| Colorado Rockies | +5000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +6600 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +6600 |
| Chicago White Sox | +10000 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +10000 |
| Detroit Tigers | +10000 |
| Kansas City Royals | +20000 |
| San Francisco Giants | +20000 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +25000 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +15000 |
| Texas Rangers | +15000 |
| Miami Marlins | +50000 |
*Odds taken on 04/14/19
Rising: Seattle Mariners (+2500)
Since the season began, no club’s odds have improved as much as the Mariners. Once given a 100-1 shot to win the World Series, Seattle is all the way down to 25-1 after swatting a home run in 18 straight games (and counting) to start the season – a new MLB record.
As noted by CBSSports.com, entering Sunday, Seattle leads the league in runs (124), hits (174), home runs (38), RBI (122), batting average (.284, T-1 with Houston) and slugging percentage (.537). Will the rebuilding Mariners end their 17-season playoff drought?
The @Mariners are on ?.
They join the 2018 @RedSox as the only AL teams since 1988 to start a season with a 13-2 record. pic.twitter.com/upQDrzFtuy
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) April 11, 2019
Despite sitting a few games back of Seattle in the AL West, the 2017 champion Astros are the current World Series favorites at +600.
Falling: Chicago Cubs (+2000)
The Cubs’ odds are down from 12-1 in the preseason to 20-1. Sitting at only five wins, Chicago is proving PECOTA right after Baseball Prospectus’ projection system forecasted the Cubbies to finish last in the NL Central.
Following a controversial loss to the Angels on Saturday, manager Joe Maddon suggested that check swing calls be taken away from umpires. However, after leading the Cubs to the 2016 World Series title, it’s increasingly looking like his job will be taken away from him.
The Angels won on a Kyle Schwarber check swing third strike call and Schwarber was not happy with the third base umpire about it. pic.twitter.com/5YAyC4nMQ9
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) April 13, 2019
Worth Keeping An Eye On: Brewers (+1200), Mets (+1600) and Rays (+2000)
After recommending Milwaukee as a good value at 18-1 before the season, my oversized ego obligates me to point out that the NL Central leading Brewers now sit at 12-1 to win the World Series as reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich continues to amaze with elite production: .377 batting average with five homers and a 1.213 OPS.
While the Phillies signing of Bryce Harper stole the offseason headlines, it is the Mets and social media smack-talker Noah Syndergaard who own the best record in the NL East. New York is now at 16-1 after starting the year at +2000.
That’s Assault in 63 States. https://t.co/lyUpp0OzMh
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) April 12, 2019
With a record of 12-4, Tampa Bay is the only team in the much-hyped AL East with a better than .500 record; which makes me proud to report that I heavily endorsed the Rays 84.5 Win Total as an OVER, and sad to say that I didn’t recommend Tampa at 8-1 to win the division. (My head forever hangs in shame).
The Rays might be one of the least valuable franchises in Major League Baseball, but they are poised to make a lot of money for any bettors who showed faith back in March.
