Wild card betting preview: Odds for each 3-game series
October baseball is here to kick off what many consider the best month in sports.
All four wild-card series begin Tuesday to determine who will advance to the divisional round.
Let's look at the betting odds for the four wild-card matchups. All odds via theScore Bet.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rays to win | -160 |
| Rangers to win | +150 |
| Total Games | Over 2.5 (+100) Under 2.5 (-120) |
| Correct Result | Rays 2-0 (+200) Rays 2-1 (+220) Rangers 2-0 (+340) Rangers 2-1 (+340) |
The Rays are favored over the Rangers with an implied win probability of 64.3%. Tampa boasted a 53-28 record at Tropicana Field in the regular season, while Texas went 40-41 on the road.
However, the Rangers won the season series 4-2 over the Rays this year.
Tampa claimed the first wild-card spot with a 99-63 record, the fourth most wins in MLB this campaign. The club finished two games behind the Orioles for the AL East title.
The Rangers held the AL West's top spot for most of the year, but the Astros passed them after Texas lost its last regular-season game. The club produced a 90-72 record.
Game 1 will feature a pitching duel between the Rays' Tyler Glasnow and the Rangers' Jordan Montgomery. Tampa is a -150 (60% implied probability) favorite to win the series opener.
Twins vs. Blue Jays
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Twins to win | -110 |
| Blue Jays to win | -110 |
| Total Games | Over 2.5 (-105) Under 2.5 (-115) |
| Correct Result | Twins 2-0 (+240) Twins 2-1 (+250) Blue Jays 2-0 (+290) Blue Jays 2-1 (+280) |
The betting market believes the Twins-Blue Jays series is a coin flip, giving both teams -110 odds to advance to the Astros.
Minnesota won the weak AL Central with an 87-75 record, victorious in 47 home games.
The teams split their six-game season series in 2023.
Despite stumbling down the stretch, Toronto held onto one of the final wild-card spots. The Blue Jays - led by one of the best rotations in baseball - went 89-73 in the regular season and had a better record on the road than at home.
Game 1's first pitch is scheduled for 4:38 p.m. ET. Kevin Gausman will take the mound for the Blue Jays to face Pablo López. The Twins are slight favorites at -115.
Brewers vs. Diamondbacks
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Brewers to win | -175 |
| Diamondbacks to win | +150 |
| Total Games | Over 2.5 (+100) Under 2.5 (-120) |
| Correct Result | Brewers 2-0 (+170) Brewers 2-1 (+220) DBacks 2-0 (+400) DBacks 2-1 (+360) |
The Brewers easily won the NL Central with a 92-70 record to set up this series versus the Diamondbacks. Their 49-32 home record was tied for fifth-best in the majors this year. Milwaukee also had the lowest ERA in baseball.
But the Brewers' pitching staff took a hit. The team announced Monday that Brandon Woodruff will miss the series and potentially the entire postseason with a shoulder injury.
The D-Backs won the season series 6-4 over Milwaukee.
Corbin Burnes will take the ball for the Brewers in Game 1. They are -185 favorites (64.9% implied probability) to grab a 1-0 series lead against Arizona and starter Brandon Pfaadt.
Phillies vs. Marlins
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Phillies to win | -210 |
| Marlins to win | +170 |
| Total Games | Over 2.5 (+100) Under 2.5 (-120) |
| Correct Result | Phillies 2-0 (+180) Phillies 2-1 (+200) Marlins 2-0 (+425) Marlins 2-1 (+340) |
The Phillies versus the Marlins is the most lopsided wild-card series according to oddsmakers, with Philadelphia a -210 favorite.
This is the only wild-card series featuring two teams from the same division. Despite a 5.5-game gap in the standings, Miami surprisingly won the season series 7-6.
Neither team had a chance at chasing down the Braves for the NL East title. However, the Phillies were one of only four NL clubs to crack 90 wins this campaign.
Game 1 will feature a matchup between Phillies' Zack Wheeler and Marlins' Jesús Luzardo. As -165 favorites, Philadelphia is expected to take the opener. The winner of this series plays the Braves, the World Series favorites.