The Boys of Summer are back! Old Man Winter may still have his grip on two-thirds of the US, but it is time to think spring as all 30 MLB teams will be heading to Spring Training this week.

Hope springs eternal

The best thing about spring training for the fans and players alike is that it is a chance to start over. A clean slate. Everyone is 0-0, and you never know how the year will play out.

According to a SI.com report, while some teams may not seem to have a chance to win the 2019 World Series, no one can be counted out this early in the preseason.

Sure, on paper, the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, LA Dodgers and Houston Astros seem to be head and shoulders above the rest. However, you can guarantee one thing in stone this summer – one or two teams that no one is paying attention to will make some noise this season.

Last year it was the long shot Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland A’s that shocked many by winning 90+ games. Also, not too many people had Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell pegged as the runaway Cy Young award winner one season ago. Even when you think you know, you never know!

The favorites

The defending champion Boston Red Sox are listed among the favorites to repeat as World Series champions this season. While they are the champs, they are listed as the second favorite to win another title in 2019.

The New York Yankees currently own the best odds in baseball to win the 2019 World Series at 11/2 or +550. The Red Sox are tied for second place with the Houston Astros at 7/1 or +700.

Last year these three teams did all the heavy lifting in the American League.

Boston defeated New York three games to one in last year's American League Division Series before beating the defending World Champion Houston Astros 4-1 in the AL Championship Series.

The Dodgers and Cubs round out the top five in terms of favorites to capture this season's World Series title.

Below is a look at the odds for every team to capture the 2019 World Series championship.

  • New York Yankees -- 11/2
  • Boston Red Sox -- 7/1
  • Houston Astros -- 7/1
  • Los Angeles Dodgers --15/2
  • Chicago Cubs -- 9/1
  • Cleveland Indians -- 12/1
  • Philadelphia Phillies -- 12/1
  • Atlanta Braves -- 15/1
  • St. Louis Cardinals -- 15/1
  • Washington Nationals -- 16/1
  • Milwaukee Brewers -- 20/1
  • New York Mets -- 30/1
  • Oakland Athletics -- 30/1
  • Tampa Bay Rays -- 30/1
  • Chicago White Sox -- 40/1
  • Colorado Rockies -- 40/1
  • San Francisco Giants -- 65/1
  • Los Angeles Angels -- 70/1
  • Minnesota Twins -- 75/1
  • Cincinnati Reds -- 90/1
  • Pittsburgh Pirates -- 100
  • San Diego Padres -- 125
  • Seattle Mariners -- 250
  • Texas Rangers -- 250
  • Toronto Blue Jays -- 250
  • Arizona Diamondbacks --350
  • Kansas City Royals -- 500
  • Baltimore Orioles -- 1000
  • Detroit Tigers --1000
  • Miami Marlins -- 1000
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED