MLB’s 2nd Half

With the All-Star Break now a distant memory, it’s time to refocus on Major League Baseball before the NFL Preseason gets underway and football reassumes its place as king of the wagering world. MLB Futures and Odds have been adjusted for the stretch run, and the great thing is that no pennant race looks to be even close to over. Here is my division-by-division breakdown of Major League Baseball’s stretch run as well as what to look for in the season’s final two months.

The only division race where first and second place are separated by more than three games is in the AL East, where the Red Sox still have plenty of real estate between themselves and the hated Yankees. However, said lead is dwindling. Yet, Boston still has the best odds of winning the World Series. Even though they’ve been just a .500 team since Memorial Day (started 36-16), they’re going to win the AL East. New York, if they are to make the playoffs, will have to settle for a wildcard.

Over in the Central, the battle is between Detroit and Cleveland. Believe it or not, after a slow start, the Tigers now share the best odds of winning the Fall Classic with the Red Sox at 7/2. The Indians, with their MLB Best 34-16 home record (as of 7.24), are all the way back at 10/1. Despite being 5.5 games ahead of the Yanks in the Wildcard race, Cleveland actually has worse odds to win it all then does New York.

Even though they haven’t broken away from the pack just yet, I consider the Angels to be a lock to win the AL West. I also like them at 8/1 to win the World Series. Seattle had their manager quit on them, while Oakland doesn’t look as if they’ll be making their perennial postseason charge.

Likewise, I’d be stunned if the New York Mets didn’t win the NL East. At 6/1 to win the World Series, they are also being given the best chance of all teams from the Senior Circuit to win it all.

Milwaukee, who for most of this season has been last year’s Detroit, or the White Sox from two years ago, is going to have to hold on for dear life against the hard-charging Cubs. Remember, whoever winds up being the bridesmaid in this race likely gets left out at the playoff altar.

I say that because both San Diego and the Dodgers are going to wind up in the postseason. Did you know that the Padres have been in first place of the division at the All-Star Break just three times in their history? All three times they went onto win the division title. Guess where they were this season? That being said, I think the Dodgers are the better team!

Vegas Expert Scott Spreitzer has an excellent article that will change the way you handicap pitchers. You can read it right here.

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