World Series odds: Fade the Yankees, Dodgers in volatile season
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If the MLB season commences this summer, it'll look unlike anything we've seen before. It'll also provide significant value for bettors willing to dig deep in the World Series market.
Think about it: A sport that's already prone to randomness has long relied on a 162-game schedule to weed out the field. But what happens if that number is cut in half? What if players on top teams decide to prioritize health and skip the season? How will an abnormal summer and potentially unorthodox schedule throw off the rhythm of the Fall Classic favorites?
It's enough volatility to fade the shortest prices on the board, like the Dodgers' (+375) and Yankees' (+450), and find some value down below. After all, if last year was any indication, there's already plenty of reasons to look further down the oddsboard to find a World Series champion. A shortened season only promotes more uncertainty.
Here are the updated World Series odds with three teams that are worth betting outside of the favorites:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +375 |
| New York Yankees | +450 |
| Houston Astros | +1200 |
| Atlanta Braves | +2000 |
| Minnesota Twins | +2000 |
| Oakland Athletics | +2200 |
| New York Mets | +2500 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +2500 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +2500 |
| Chicago White Sox | +3000 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +3000 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +3000 |
| Washington Nationals | +3000 |
| Chicago Cubs | +3300 |
| Cleveland Indians | +3300 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +4000 |
| Boston Red Sox | +5000 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +5000 |
| San Diego Padres | +5000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +6600 |
| Texas Rangers | +10000 |
| Colorado Rockies | +15000 |
| San Francisco Giants | +15000 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +15000 |
| Detroit Tigers | +30000 |
| Kansas City Royals | +30000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +30000 |
| Seattle Mariners | +30000 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +50000 |
| Miami Marlins | +75000 |
Oakland Athletics (+2200)
We've already discussed the Athletics as being one of the best value bets in a potentially shortened season, and their odds have since tightened substantially. We still love the price. Oakland is coming off back-to-back wild-card berths and returns the core from those groups.
Slugger Khris Davis and MVP candidate Marcus Semien lead the lineup, while the rotation is full of positive regression candidates. A stable of young arms could push this club over the top. This is finally the year to buy.
Tampa Bay Rays (+2500)
The Rays' staff can contend with the best of them, and their 'pen was tops in the bigs last year by ERA (3.66). But can the lineup hit? That'll be the difference between Tampa Bay being a legit title contender or an early out.
Adding Hunter Renfroe and Japanese slugger Yoshi Tsutsugo should help offset losses to the Rays' lineup, and an overload of arms is a godsend in a year when pitching may take center stage. This is solid value on a team with very few holes entering 2020.
Arizona Diamondbacks (+6600)
Looking for volatility in a shortened season? The Diamondbacks have won 90 games just once since 2011 and haven't reached the World Series since 2001. But after a solid offseason, Arizona is primed to build off a surprising 85-win campaign in 2019.
The D-Backs added Starling Marte and Kole Calhoun to an order already led by breakout MVP candidate Ketel Marte, whose star turn a year ago headlined an impressive (and unexpected) offensive output for Arizona. The addition of Madison Bumgarner helps steady a young but solid rotation, which is enough to take a shot on this group at a stellar 66-1 price.
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.