Spring training has started and the 2019 MLB season is less than a month away. The clock is ticking to get your World Series futures bets in before the season starts. Oddly enough, the offseason is still playing out as a number of impactful free agents are still on the market, so make sure you keep an eye on the news. Let’s take a look at the World Series futures as of now.
The Favourites
While a lot has been made about the New York Yankees (+600) and even the Boston Red Sox (+600) in the American League, the Astros (+600) might be the best bet of the trio of favourites. Houston certainly has the easier path out of the American League West where PECOTA projections suggest that everyone else in the division will be below .500.
Meanwhile, the Astros offence is absolutely loaded with Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and George Springer being joined by Michael Brantley and Robinson Chirinos. Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole lead a rotation that is capable of helping Houston navigate its way to a pennant.
The Red Sox are the defending champions but typically, teams that win the World Series take a step back the following season – as the Red Sox have done after each of their last three World Series campaigns. Of course, the Yankees are getting a lot of love after acquiring Jamie Paxton in the offseason and they’ll be in contention too.
NL: Los Angeles Dodgers +700
The Dodgers appear to be the clear favourite to win the National League this season with an absolutely loaded roster that is currently projected to finish with more wins than this club had last season. Despite a relatively quiet offseason, all of the big boys will be back in Los Angeles this season with Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenta Maeda leading an impressive pitching rotation that led the NL in ERA last season. Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson, A.J. Pollock and Chris Taylor make up a decent lineup.
The other main contender is the Philadelphia Phillies, who have had a banner offseason. Not only did they sign Bryce Harper, they also traded for J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura. They’ve added three All-Stars to a team that was already close to contending.
The National League is far more of an open race than the American League. While the AL has the three favourites to win the World Series, the NL has nine teams inside of 25/1 to win the World Series.
The Longshots
Could the Indians (+1400) offer some value for World Series futures? This team lost in the World Series two years ago and then choked away the ALDS to the New York Yankees after initially taking a 2-0 series lead. They’re in what many believe to be the easiest division in baseball, so they’ll surely be back in the playoffs – especially with one of the league’s best rotations anchoring the team.
In the NL, the Nationals (+2000) could be offering some value after Harper left for to the Phillies. They’re rumoured to be the favourite to sign Craig Kimbrel and if they can secure their bullpen, which has been leaky for years, they could finally emerge as the contender many thought they could be. The offence is still loaded with rising star Trea Turner joining Ryan Zimmerman, Brian Dozier, Anthony Rendon, Victor Robles and Yan Gomes. Meanwhile, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg lead a pitching staff that is as still talented as any. It’s possible they’re being overlooked given how talented they still are.