2019 World Series Odds – March 1st Edition

Spring training is here at last, which means that we’re about a month away from the first regular season games in the 2019 Major League Baseball regular season. When we think about sports betting on this fall’s World Series champion, the biggest news to come out this week is from Philadelphia, where the Phillies have linked their future to Bryce Harper, signing the former Washington Nationals outfielder to a 13-year, $330 million contract. That doesn’t shift the odds that much, though, because the oddsmakers had already assumed that Harper would be playing his home games in Citizens Bank Park next season. Here are the odds to win the 2019 World Series as well as our insights on some of the contenders.

2019 World Series Odds – March 1st Edition

#SpringTraining vibes. 😎 pic.twitter.com/bfSGgVb8J6

— MLB (@MLB) 1 de marzo de 2019

Odds to Win the 2019 World Series

• Boston Red Sox, N.Y. Yankees, Houston Astros                                     +600
• L.A. Dodgers                                                                                                 +700
• Philadelphia Phillies                                                                                     +850
• Chicago Cubs                                                                                               +1100
• St. Louis Cardinals                                                                                       +1200
• Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves                          +1400
• Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies                                                 +2000
• N.Y. Mets                                                                                                       +2200
• Oakland A’s                                                                                                   +2500
• Tampa Bay Rays                                                                                           +3500
• San Diego Padres                                                                                         +4000
• L.A. Angels, Minnesota Twins                                                                    +5000
• Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks                                                 +6000
• Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates                                                           +7000
• Chicago White Sox                                                                                       +7500
• Toronto Blue Jays                                                                                        +9000
• San Francisco Giants                                                                                   +10000
• Texas Rangers                                                                                              +20000
• Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers                                                            +25000
• Miami Marlins                                                                                                +35000
• Baltimore Orioles                                                                                         +60000

Boston is looking to go back-to-back — but they need to address their bullpen issues. Joe Kelly is now a Dodger, and Craig Kimbrel, last year’s closer, is still shopping around in free agency. The Red Sox might bring him back, but it would probably be just a one-year deal, and if they don’t repeat, that will be the reason why. They did re-sign Nathan Eovaldi to give their rotation depth. Can Eduardo Rodriguez stay healthy? If so, that increases the odds of another title in Beantown. The Yankees slugged 267 home runs as a squad last year. They stayed out of the bidding wars for Manny Machado (now a Padre) and Bryce Harper, but they did add D.J. LeMahieu to give themselves more infield depth and Adam Ottavino to a bullpen that was already stacked. They traded for James Paxton to bolster their rotation. So they’re not showering cash all around, but they are still building a contender. Houston couldn’t deal with Boston in the ALCS a year ago, but they still have a stacked roster. The front of the rotation has Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole; Cole had his best season in 2018, and Verlander’s career has been rejuvenated by leaving Detroit. However, after that, they no longer have Lance McCullers, Dallas Keuchel or Charlie Morton, as all of them are either injured for the season or have gone to other teams. Their bullpen is solid, and their other starters are all right — and the rest of the AL West is fairly soft. The Dodgers are hoping that Walker Buehler can give Clayton Kershaw some help in the starting rotation, and L.A. still has a stout bullpen. Their offense will suffer without Manny Machado and will hope that they can make up the difference. However, losing two straight World Series has to sap your confidence after a while. The Cubs didn’t do much to address concerns about a rotation that was elderly and underperformed a year ago. However, they have a strong core with their infield. The NL Central will be tough, as the Brewers and Cardinals have improved. St. Louis went and got Paul Goldschmidt from Arizona, one of the more underrated hitters in the game from the right side. With Matt Carpenter and Marcell Ozuna already in the lineup, the Cardinals should finally get enough offense. The pitching rotation lacks an ace, but Jack Flaherty will become an ace in a season or two. Could the Cards get back to the top of the division? Philadelphia has added Andrew McCutchen, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura — and Bryce Harper. Rhys Hoskins is already set to rake in the middle of the lineup, and they have Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta (who posted a video of himself cleaning house in a Speedo to welcome Harper) atop the rotation. The Phillies won it all in 2008 — can they do it again?