Updated 2018 World Series Odds, NL and AL Predictions

We’re just past the midpoint of the 2018 MLB regular season, so now is the perfect time to take a look at the updated 2018 World Series odds for each of the 30 teams to win this season’s World Series, as well as to make some predictions as to what will happen the rest of the way. At this writing, Boston has edged out to a one-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East, but that should go back and forth the rest of the way. Cleveland has started to pull away in the AL Central, leading Minnesota by 11 ½ games. The Seattle Mariners have closed back to within just a game of Houston in the AL West. In the National League, Washington is still six games back of Atlanta in the East — and five games back of Philadelphia, who continues to defy expectations. In the NL Central, Milwaukee is clinging to their 1 ½-game lead over the Cubs. In the West, the Dodgers have clawed all the way back into a die with Arizona for the division lead, despite two different stints for Clayton Kershaw on the disabled list.

Updated 2018 World Series Odds, NL and AL Predictions

MLB Power Rankings: Surging @SFGiants and @Athletics both in Top 15 (via @PavlovicNBCS) https://t.co/uiKND5KMqm pic.twitter.com/CBq0RL2g5O

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 2, 2018

Latest Odds

• N.Y. Yankees                                                                         +400
• Houston Astros                                                                     +450
• Boston Red Sox                                                                    +600
• Washington Nationals                                                          +700
• Chicago Cubs                                                                       +950
• Milwaukee Brewers                                                              +1100
• Seattle Mariners                                                                    +1200
• L.A. Dodgers                                                                         +1500
• Atlanta Braves                                                                      +1600
• Arizona Diamondbacks                                                        +1800
• Cleveland Indians                                                                 +2000
• Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals                         +3300
• San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies                          +3500
• L.A. Angels                                                                            +4000
• Pittsburgh Pirates                                                                 +10000
• N.Y. Mets, Minnesota Twins                                                +12500
• Detroit Tigers                                                            +25000
• San Diego Padres                                                                 +40000
• Oakland A’s                                                                           +70000
• Tampa Bay Rays                                                                   +80000
• Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers,                                   +90000
• Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds,Miami Marlins

Houston has come out of a recent funk with a 12-game winning streak. On the season, they have put up a +161 run differential, which is 56 higher than the next-best team, the Yankees. They lead MLB in batting average (.267) and have a .777 OPS that ranks second overall. Their team ERA (2.86) is also tops in the league — and the only one below 3.00. They won the whole thing last year with a team ERA of 4.12, which shows you that they have just improved this year. These numbers are the reason why they are the favorite to pull off a title, which would make the first time a team has repeated as World Series champions since 1998-2000, when the Yankees won three in a row. Pay attention to the numbers that Justin Verlander and Charlie Morton are putting up despite being in their mid-30s. Verlander’s ERA right now is a minuscule 1.60, while Morton’s is 2.74. However, both pitchers may be slipping a bit, as Morton posted a 4.29 ERA in June and Verlander has surrendered just 19 earned runs this season, but nine of those have come in his last four starts. If they can get back to their early form, Houston will have an unstoppable rotation in the postseason. The New York Yankees are the sexy pick to win the American League East, with the likes of young Luis Severino and ageless CC Sabathia in their rotation and Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge slugging home runs. However, don’t overlook the Boston Red Sox. They rank third overall with a +101 run differential and with an OPS of .773. However, against right-handed pitching, their OPS is an MLB-best .805. If Boston were to meet Houston in the postseason, they would find a rotation that has four right-handed pitchers. J.D. Martinez has made a huge difference for the Red Sox this season, giving them that right-handed bat they’d been missing. The National League is a little more problematic, with both Washington and the L.A. Dodgers showing some real issues, most significantly on offense. This is why the Chicago Cubs have emerged as a team to watch — the Nationals sit ahead of them in the odds, but they’re six games back in their own division right now and haven’t been hitting well enough to catch the Braves. Chicago is also still looking to catch Milwaukee in their own division, but they have a +99 run differential, best in the National League, and they have permitted the second fewest hits in MLB. The problem has come in terms of pitching control, as they permit 4.31 walks per game, worst in all of baseball.

Division Predictions

• AL East: Boston
• AL Central: Cleveland
• AL West: Houston
• AL Wild Cards: N.Y. Yankees, Seattle
• NL East: Atlanta
• NL Central: Chicago Cubs
• NL West: L.A. Dodgers
• NL Wild Cards: Washington, Arizona