MLB Betting – World Series Futures Update
Hard to believe we’re almost a third of the way through the Major League Baseball season. That means it’s probably time to revisit World Series futures.
Who are the top contenders? Risers? Fallers?
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CONTENDERS
New York Yankees (+340)
The Yankees have shown minor cracks in the armor – Alex Rodriguez looks old and Javier Vazquez has been nothing short of a bust – but the tremendous depth will keep the Bronx Bombers in the hunt all season. I wouldn’t call them the frontrunners right now, though, despite their listed odds.
Tampa Bay Rays (+405)
Obviously, the Rays would be leading the “Risers” category, but they’ve risen above “Riser” status. They’ve been far-and-away baseball’s best team. Given their young, athletic talent on offense with Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and veteran contributors like Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett and Carlos Pena, the effort should continue. Their young pitching staff, featuring Matt Garza, James Shields, Jeff Niemann, David Price and Wade Davis, is the envy of baseball. They may take their lumps eventually but the Rays are here to stay as contenders.
Philadelphia Phillies (+545)
They’re like the Yankees in that (a) They’re loaded with talent and (b) a few key guys have disappointed (see Hamels, Cole) but the difference is that the Phillies are younger. I like their chances better than New York’s.
(Holding: St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers)
RISERS
Florida Marlins (+3050)
They’re often overlooked but the truth is that these guys have plenty of young talent. Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Jorge Cantu and Mike Stanton (soon) on offense? Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco leading the pitching staff? That ain’t half bad.
Cincinnati Reds (+4050)
I’ll pat myself on the back for this one. Now that pitching staff is finally blossoming thanks to Mike Leake (with Aroldis Chapman on the way), the potent offense, led by MVP candidate Joey Votto, has some help. They could win the Wild Card.
San Diego Padres (+5250)
The outstanding pitching effort they’ve gotten is more or less for real – Mat Latos is a legit prospect and PETCO Park masks the flaws of guys like Jon Garland – but this team can’t score. It’s a poor man’s San Francisco. The success won’t last.
Toronto Blue Jays (+6050)
Picked by most pundits to finish 30th overall in the majors…and they’re ahead of the Red Sox plus on pace to set a single-season homer record? Huh? Love Cito Gaston but this is smoke and mirrors.
FALLERS
Boston Red Sox (+1215)
Did their slow start – coupled with Tampa’s fast one – doom them already? This is still a good baseball team but Boston was supposed to have the AL’s best rotation. That hasn’t been the case so, unless guys like John Lackey and Josh Beckett bounce back, the Red Sox will miss the playoffs.
Los Angeles Dodgers (+2050)
The odds slipped based on their putrid April, but we should expect to see them trend back upward. The slump is over and Chad Billingsley’s return to form bodes extremely well. Clayton Kershaw needs that partner in crime.
Los Angeles Angels (+3550)
On one hand, the Angels are the most likely of the fallers to stay down. Their rotation has imploded; Scott Kazmir epitomizes that. On the other hand, they play in baseball’s weakest division, so they may have better odds to reach the playoffs than Boston. There’s another argument for realignment.
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