MLB Playoffs Odds & Picks 2019: Astros The Team To Beat
Let’s have a look at the current MLB Playoff odds:
- BetOnline lists the Houston Astros are the +225 favorites to win the 2019 World Series
- The Los Angeles Dodgers (+300) own the best odds of any National League team
- The Dodgers have lost the last two World Series
The last time one of baseball’s major leagues produced three straight World Series winners was from 2010-2012, when the National League did so.
The San Francisco Giants won in 2010 and 2012, sandwiched around a victory in 2011 by the St. Louis Cardinals.
You have to go all the way back to 1998-2000, when the New York Yankees won three in a row, to find a run of three straight Fall Classic champions from the American League.
The Yankees are bumping up against a piece of franchise history that the team certainly wants no part of making.
The longest stretch between World Series wins by the Bronx Bombers is their 18-year drought between 1978 and 1996.
But it’s now been 18 years since they won in 2000, and another failure to do so this fall would set a new Yankees mark for franchise championship futility.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites to win the NL title in the MLB playoff odds 2019. If they do so, the Dodgers would also be making history.
They’ve never played in three successive World Series. Only the New York Giants (1911-13) and Detroit Tigers (1907-09) have ever lost three World Series in a row.
- 1Astros Picked to Take American League Title
- 2Braves to Upset Dodgers For NL Pennant
- 3Astros Over Braves In World Series
Astros Picked to Take American League Title
It’s difficult to find a flaw in the Houston Astros when considering the MLB Vegas playoff odds.
Houston finished with baseball’s best record at 107-55. Justin Verlander is favored to win the American League Cy Young Award. Gerrit Cole led MLB in strikeouts.
No wonder BetOnline lists the Astros as the -120 chalk to win the AL pennant.
Houston Astros (-120) – Houston also topped the AL in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. The Astros drew the most walks and struck out the fewest times. They finished second in homers and third in runs.
New York Yankees (+275) – The Yankees won 103 games and the AL East crown despite a never-ending rash of injuries that kept the team from fielding a healthy roster all season long.
Entering the postseason, pitcher James Paxton, third baseman Gio Urshela, designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion and catcher Gary Sanchez are all uncertain participants.
Minnesota Twins (+600) – The Twins won the AL Central and clouted a major-league record 207 homers. But Minnesota has lost seven straight postseason series since 2002, so it’s difficult to back them in the 2019 MLB playoff odds.
Oakland Athletics (+800) – The A’s could prove to be the sleepers in the MLB playoff odds. They won eight of 19 from the Astros, who they’d get in the ALDS if they win the AL Wild Card game. Oakland’s starting pitching is solid, and they won 52 home games.
Tampa Bay Rays (+1000) – A small market team, the Rays continue to defy the MLB odds to make the playoffs. But they’ve won only one of their past four playoff series.
Braves to Upset Dodgers For NL Pennant
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been to the World Series the past two seasons. They’ve never been to three Fall Classics in a row in franchise history but are BetOnline’s pick to win the NL penannt in the MLB playoff odds at +100.
Los Angeles Dodgers (+100) – With a NL-best 106 wins, all eyes will be on the Dodgers. The’ve won seven successive NL West titles but have nary a World Series title to show for it. LA hasn’t won a title since 1988.
Atlanta Braves (+300) – One of baseball’s brightest young teams, Atlanta will seek to overcome a checkered history in the Vegas MLB playoff odds. The Braves haven’t won a playoff series since 2001. They’ve lost eight straight playoff series.
St. Louis Cardinals (+500) – The Cardinals won their last game of the season to clinch the NL Central. It’s their first playoff appearance in four years. St. Louis is 47-26 since July 13.
Washington Nationals (+600) – The Nats opened a dismal 19-31 and then caught fire, going 74-38 the remainder of the season to post the best record in the NL over that span. In Max Scherzer, Steven Strasburg and Patrick Corbin they’ve got the level of starting pitching required to win in the postseason.
Milwaukee Brewers (+800) – With a chance to win the NL Central, the Brewers lost their last three games of the season. NL batting champion Christian Yelich (broken kneecap) is out. Outfielders Lorenzo Cain (ankle) and Ryan Braun (calf strain) are uncertain.
Astros Over Braves In World Series
Houston will win its second World Series title in three years at the expense of the Atlanta Braves. Houston’s starting rotation of Verlander, Cole, Zack Greinke and Wade Miley will be too much for the Braves to overcome.
Houston pitchers not only struck out the most batters in all of baseball this year (1671), Astros hitters struck out of the fewest of any team (1166).
That’s a recipe for success.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
