2023 American League pennant odds: Astros favored to repeat; sportsbook exposed on top-seeded Orioles

How unusual were this year's Wild Card series? All four series were sweeps, with one road team winning in each league. Unfortunately, that now means there's no MLB playoff action until the Division Series begin Saturday. In the Junior Circuit, the Orioles are the top seeds and host the Rangers in Game 1. But the second-seeded Astros, who host the Twins on Saturday in their opener, are the favorites to win the AL pennant for the third straight year. See the SportsLine Projection Model's sims below.

At BetMGM, Houston is +180 and Baltimore +270 to win the AL pennant, but the book is by far most exposed on the O's, who have made the postseason for the first time since 2016. Baltimore is taking the most tickets at 24% and the most money at 20.2%.

Wednesday was the second time in MLB history that four teams were eliminated in the same day, with the seasons ending for the Rays and Blue Jays in the AL and Brewers and Marlins in the NL. The only other time was Oct. 5, 1996.

Minnesota (+375 to win the pennant) knocked out Toronto to complete its first sweep in postseason franchise history. The Twins had lost nine consecutive playoff rounds entering this year, one shy of tying the longest streak all-time. Texas (+300) knocked out Tampa Bay and became the first team to open a postseason with consecutive road wins by at least four runs since the 2010 Rangers, also against the Rays.

Fans in Texas got rather hosed for Saturday's Game 1 starting at 1 p.m. ET in Baltimore, though; it couldn't be played at night because a concert featuring Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel will be playing at 7 p.m. next door at M&T Bank Stadium and parking and traffic would obviously be a nightmare. The Oklahoma-Texas Red River Rivalry game kicks off at noon ET, so I'm not sure Rangers-Orioles will do much ratings action in the Dallas area until that game is finished.

Both Baltimore and Texas are -110 to win the series. The teams split six regular-season matchups, each winning a series on the road. It's the second-ever playoff meeting between them, with the Orioles winning the 2012 Wild Card game.

Houston is a -160 series favorite with Minnesota at +140. The Twins won the season series 4-2. It's the second-ever playoff series between them, with the Astros winning the 2020 Wild Card series. One huge storyline this year will be former Astros star and 2015 AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa facing off against his former club. He was arguably the best player on Houston's first title team.

On the AL straight forecast, the Astros over the Rangers or Orioles in the ALCS are both +400. The longshot is Minnesota over Baltimore at +800. 

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