The odds to win the 2018 World Series do not look anything like they did back in March. Sure, the Yankees and Astros are still near the top, however, several spring training long shots are proving that they aren’t going anywhere as September arrives later this week.
Philadelphia, Atlanta ready for World Series run
If you asked most MLB experts back in March if they believed the NL East race would come down to the Phillies and Braves -- and not the Washington Nationals -- they may have questioned your baseball IQ. While there still is a month to go, right now it looks like the Phillies and Braves will race down to the wire in terms of clinching the division title, but both may make the postseason if they continue their great play.
The Phillies trail the Braves by three games in the NL East, while the Nationals are 8.5 games behind. While Philadelphia is three games out of the divisional race, they are just two off the pace behind St. Louis and Milwaukee for one of the two Wild Card spots. One thing is for sure, if these two teams get in, they will be a tough out for anyone they face.
In their latest MLB Power Rankings, HERO Sports has the Braves ranked No. 11 with the Phillies right behind at No. 12. It could be argued that they deserve to be even higher.
If the Phillies reach the postseason, their starting pitching staff could be one of the best outside of the Boston Red Sox. As indicated by HERO Sports, The Phillies ERA ranks fourth in the NL and has surrendered the second-fewest home runs so far in 2018.
Watch out for these two. If they get in, one of them may ride the wave all the way to the Fall Classic!
Vegas odds
As for Las Vegas sportsbooks, the Braves and Phillies have surged since March 1. Once listed as high as 40/1 to win the NL Pennant and 100/1 or higher to win the 2018 World Series, both Atlanta and Philadelphia are now among the favorites.
In the American League, the honor of two long shots that have a legit shot at making the World Series after being huge underdogs in March goes to the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s. The Astros and Red Sox are getting all the attention, but don’t sleep on the M’s and A’s. They are crushing the ball and appear to be peaking at the right time.
Below is a look at my top 10 MLB Power Rankings and the latest odds to win the 2018 World Series according to Wager Talk.
1. Boston Red Sox -- 11/4
2. Chicago Cubs -- 6/1
3. Houston Astros -- 6/1
4. New York Yankees -- 10/1
5. Los Angeles Dodgers -- 10/1
6. Cleveland Indians -- 10/1
7. Oakland Athletics -- 15/1
8. Philadelphia Phillies --15/1
9. Arizona Diamondbacks -- 20/1
10. Atlanta Braves -- 25/1