American League Futures Overview
Back in April, it looked like the battle for this season’s American League pennant would probably come down to two teams, the Yankees and Orioles. New York went off as the favorite on most AL championship betting boards at a price of around +225, while Baltimore sat as the second choice at around +350. Both teams got off to good starts.
However, at the All-Star break, the race for the American League pennant was looking increasingly like a wide-open betting affair.
The Yankees began as the betting favorites on AL boards and remained the top choice heading out of the All-Star break. But a poor finish to the “first half” fostered the idea that the Bombers, despite the dangerous Soto-Judge combo, might not be invincible. Heading into the “second half,” the Yankees could be found getting +250 on Bet365’s AL championship board.
The Orioles led the AL East at the break by one game over New York. Heading into the second half, Baltimore was catching +310 on FanDuel’s AL pennant board.
This is where the betting gets a little more interesting.
The Cleveland Guardians, previously known as the Indians, went off this season as the third choice on most American League boards at around +600. After posting the best record in the league at the break, Cleveland was catching a tempting +700 at Bet365.
The Houston Astros, owners of three American League pennants over the last seven seasons, began this season getting around +800 to win another. After a slow start, playing sub-.500 ball for the first two-plus months, the Astros finished the “first half” with a 17-6 spurt, pulling them back into the playoff picture. Heading into the second half, Houston was still catching +800 on FanDuel’s American League board.
The Seattle Mariners began this season getting around +800 to win their first-ever AL championship. After leading the AL West into the break, the Mariners were catching +900 at Bet365.
The streaky Minnesota Twins, also off at +900, were getting +900 on Bet365’s AL board.
Next Tier of Contenders
The next tier on most American League boards consisted of:
- Boston Red Sox, who owned the third and final AL wild-card spot at the break, catching +2000 at FanDuel;
- Kansas City Royals, two games back of Boston in that wild-card race at the break, getting +2800 at Bet365;
- Defending American League champion Texas Rangers at +3000 on FanDuel.
