MLB postseason and pennant race odds updates 9/11/23
Fewer than three weeks remain in the Major League Baseball season. While some already have their eyes on NFL betting, the pennant races are heating up.
There are sure to be many important, thrilling games the rest of the way, which is why the Best Sportsbooks for Baseball is a valuable resource that could help you put winnings in your pocket.
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We won’t know the playoff matchups for a while, but odds are available for the pennant and World Series winners now. Our choice for best bet on the AL flag may surprise you.
The defending champion Houston Astros (+240) are the favorites according to the odds experts at Caesars. But even as favorites, you can win more than 2-to-1 on the Astros, if you think they’ll get back to the Fall Classic.
The Baltimore Orioles at +350 is a bad play, in our view. The young team is undermanned in the bullpen and with starting pitching. The O’s might play in the World Series in the next few years, but not this season.
Once upon a time in May, the Rays looked unstoppable. The team was on pace for 110+ wins almost two months into the season. But, in July the Rays went 8-16, sagging beneath a slew of losses. Still, Tampa righted its ship and has gone 23-12 since August 1. Though they may lose the AL East to Baltimore, the Rays have plenty of postseason experience, and arguably the best lineup, top-to-bottom in the AL. If you lay $100 on the Rays now, and they win the pennant, you’ll win $450 plus your stake.
The 2023 Atlanta Braves may go down as the best in franchise history. They lead the National League in runs and are second in preventing runs. No other Braves team has ever done that. The Atlanta offense is on pace for more than 300 home runs and 940 runs. As a result, oddsmakers list the Braves as favorites to win the World Series, at +275. You’ll get +115 for Atlanta to cop the NL flag. But there are better odds for your MLB postseason betting, including the defending National League champs.
Last October, most experts figured the Los Angeles Dodgers or maybe even the San Diego Padres would represent the NL in the World Series. But, the scrappy Phillies, with a rally-starting offense and multiple top-of-the-rotation aces, went on to the Series. This time, the team is even better, with starter Taijuan Walker on the staff, and shortstop Trea Turner in the middle of the field. Yes, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have faced adversity this season, but their bats are still capable of powering the Fightin’ Phils to many postseason victories. At +700 from Caesars, we love Philly as a longshot to win a second straight NL pennant.
Odds on the Dodgers, the other dominant team in the NL this season, are +200 to win the World Series, which would be their second in four years.
Even if the Braves don’t manage to get to and win the World Series, you still have the Phillies who could come through on this futures bet. Odds are more than 2-to-1 on one of the NL East teams to win the Fall Classic.
In this bet, you need to correctly pick both pennant winners AND the team to win the 2023 World Series. The Astros have played in four of the last six World Series, winning twice, including their victory last fall over the Phillies. The return of Justin Verlander to Houston at the trade deadline has given the Stros their ancient ace, with a proven track record of winning games in the playoffs. Add in a rejuvenated Joe Altuve and the offensive firepower of a trio named Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and Kyle Tucker, all on pace for more than 90+ RBI, and you have to like this team in October…again.
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