Updated 2018 World Series Odds – February 15th

Pitchers and catchers are reporting to MLB spring training camps in Florida and Arizona as we speak, which means that it’s time to take a look at one of the national pastime’s most popular futures in sports betting — picking odds to win the 2018 World Series in the fall. Last year, the Houston Astros edged the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling seven-game series — and those two teams sit as two of the three top favorites. They’re both behind the New York Yankees, though, who raised eyebrows when they nabbed slugger Giancarlo Stanton from Miami, giving them a scary batting order. Let’s look at the updated World Series odds that each team has to take home the Commissioner’s Trophy next November.

Updated 2018 World Series Odds – February 15th

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N.Y. Yankees

• 2018 World Series Odds: +500

With Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton does give the Yankees a feel that hearkens back to the “Murderers’ Row” era of the 1920s, featuring Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and others. But what about the pitching? Yes, Luis Severino is a rare young talent, but C.C. Sabathia is a year older, and Masahiro Tanaka showed mixed results in the rotation when the team had big games to play. I’m not sure that one more big bat makes the Yankees the favorite.

Houston

• 2018 World Series Odds: +550

It’s been 18 years since the Yankees pulled off a World Series threepeat, winning in 1998, 1999 and 2000 (and then appearing again on the losing side in 2001 and 2003). The MLB regular season is a marathon, and with three round of playoffs after that long season, winning the trophy is more of a grind than it has ever been. Houston does have a young team, and they haven’t lost any of their major contributors from a year ago. But will they be as hungry?

L.A. Dodgers

• 2018 World Series Odds: +600

Yu Darvish, whose mysterious collapse in the World Series basically gave Houston two of their four wins, is now a Chicago Cub with a huge contract. Clayton Kershaw remains one of the most dominant pitchers of all time and will anchor the Dodger rotation. However, there are plenty of other arms in that rotation to fill Darvish’s place and lead the Dodgers back. Can they stop a bashing club like the Astros or the Yankees if they get to the Series?

Cleveland

• 2018 World Series Odds: +750

The Indians may have left Chief Wahoo behind, but they still have Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar and Carlos Correa as one of the best 1-2-3 combos atop a pitching rotation anywhere in baseball. They also have an opportunistic lineup — and they haven’t lost any major pieces in their batting order. They face an AL Central that will be soft again, so expect Cleveland to arrive in the postseason with less stress than the winners of the East and the West.

Chicago Cubs

• 2018 World Series Odds: +900

Do the Cubs really think that replacing Jake Arrieta (who remains unsigned) with Yu Darvish makes their pitching rotation better? The Cubs need one more starting pitcher before they’re done with the free agent market, and their hitters have to do better than they did last year.

Boston, Washington

• 2018 World Series Odds: +1000

The Red Sox need David Price to figure out how to pitch at an elite level once again. The Washington Nationals need to figure out how to get out of their own heads once they reach the Division Series. Both teams have the talent to push deep into the postseason, but their heads haven’t looked on straight in a few seasons. Both teams come in with new managers and new mindsets — will it pay off?

L.A. Angels

• 2018 World Series Odds: +1600

Shihei Otani is an interesting addition, as the team will go to a six-man pitching rotation and possibly DH Otani on some of his days in between starts. That means that the team will either be one man short in the bullpen or on their fielding bench. Does the addition of Otani make the Angels ready to contend? Not by itself.

Milwaukee, N.Y. Mets, San Francisco, St. Louis

• 2018 World Series Odds: +2000

It wasn’t that long ago that the Mets were taking on the Royals in the World Series. However, that lineup absolutely fell apart. The Brewers have some solid role players but aren’t ready to challenge the Cubs for a full season. The Giants and Cardinals feel like they’re about ready to enter rebuilding mode.

Arizona, Colorado

• 2018 World Series Odds: +2500

Remember when these two teams were the NL wild card teams a year ago? Their free agency losses haven’t been that severe — and they can both still hit. Can their pitching rotations match their performances from a year ago?

More 2018 World Series Odds

• Minnesota, Toronto +2800
• Seattle +3300
• Texas +4000
• Baltimore, Tampa Bay +5000
• Kansas City +6600
• Atlanta, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh +8000
• Chicago White Sox, Miami, Oakland +10000
• Cincinnati, Detroit, San Diego +12500