2013 American League Pennant Race
As the calendar turns the page to the month of March, all 30 MLB teams are busy preparing for a run at a World Series title. The following is a brief look at my top favorite, contender and longshot to break through the pack this season and win the American League Pennant.
All odds quoted have been provided by Cappers Picks’ top sportsbooks.
The Favorite
The team at the top of the list is Toronto at 15/4, but given the highly competitive nature of the AL East, my pick to win the AL is the Los Angeles Angels as 9/2 third-favorites. They finished the 2012 regular season in third-place in the AL West at 89-73 and five games in back of Oakland for the division title. This season they have been opened as the favorites to win the West at -160.
In an effort to improve a lineup that finished in the middle of the pack in the AL with a team batting average of .291, Los Angeles went out and signed Josh Hamilton as a free agent from division-rival Texas to join last season’s huge acquisition Albert Pujols.
When you add in Mike Trout, who had one of the most productive rookie seasons in recent history, the Angels are poised to be an offensive powerhouse this year.
The starting rotation will still be anchored by Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson but the addition Ryan Madson to the bullpen should add some much needed stability to the closer position.
The Contender
After a disastrous 2012 campaign, the new-look Boston Red Sox are primed for a return to the postseason with skipper John Farrell at the helm.
After deciding to clean house of some of the overpaid but underperforming players on the payroll, team GM Ben Cherington as added a nice mix of veteran talent along with some hot prospects that should be able to vastly improve upon last season’s 69-93 effort.
Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino and David Ross were brought in to add some depth to the lineup as well as Stephen Drew and Mike Napoli to fill some immediate holes.
Ryan Dempster was added to a starting rotation that still has Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz leading the way. If Lester can return to All-Star form and John Lackey comes back successfully from Tommy John surgery, the Red Sox could quickly find themselves back on top in the AL East.
The Longshot
With an overall record of 85-77, the Chicago White Sox finished just three games behind Detroit for the AL Central title last season. Despite parting ways with AJ Pierzynski, Kevin Youkilis and Brett Myers, the White Sox remain confident they have enough young talent to go along with some veteran leadership to close that gap in 2013.
The odds they go all the way to the aWorld Series are a bit long at 20/1, but the value is still there. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The bulk of the power that had Chicago ranked third in the AL last season with a .303 team batting average remains and the addition of Jeff Keppinger solidifies third base. The team is also looking to top prospect Tyler Flowers to fill Pierzynski’s place at catcher.
The White Sox’s starting rotation features Jake Peavy, Chris Sale, John Danks and Gavin Floyd. The key to winning the Central could lie in Peavy’s ability to stay healthy and Sale’s ability meet or even exceed last season’s 17-8 mark and 3.05 ERA.
Complete Odds to win the AL
Toronto Blue Jays 15/4
Detroit Tigers 4/1
Los Angeles Angels 9/2
New York Yankees 7/1
Texas Rangers 7/1
Tampa Bay Rays 11/1
Boston Red Sox 12/1
Oakland Athletics 16/1
Baltimore Orioles 20/1
Chicago White Sox 20/1
Kansas City Royals 28/1
Cleveland Indians 35/1
Minnesota Twins 50/1
Seattle Mariners 50/1
Houston Astros 125/1
