Red Sox haven’t lost favorite role
Before the Major League Baseball season began, the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees were consensus picks to win the World Series.
Fast-forward to today and the Red Sox are still regarded as the team to beat after a strong opening half of the season. But it’s a much different story for the Mets, Tigers and Yankees, who have had their odds grow because of sub-par play.
According to updated odds at Bodoglife.com, Boston is listed as the favorite to repeat as World Series champion at 3-1. The Red Sox, who hold a half-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, had 9-2 odds at the start of the season.
The Chicago Cubs, who were 12-1 before the season, have the second-best odds at 7-2, followed by Tampa Bay at 9-2. The Rays were at 80-1 in April. The Angels are listed with 7-1 odds after opening the season at 11-1.
The Dodgers, who began the season with 16-1 odds, are now at 17-1 to win it all. However, the Dodgers have the best listed odds to win the NL West at 10-11.
* Updated proposition wagers: Odds to win the AL most-valuable-player award: Texas’ Josh Hamilton (2-1), Minnesota’s Justin Morneau (4-1), Texas’ Ian Kinsler (11-2), the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez (15-2) and Boston’s Manny Ramirez (15-1).
Odds to win the NL MVP award: Philadelphia’s Chase Utley (4-1), St. Louis’ Albert Pujols (9-2), Atlanta’s Chipper Jones (5-1), Houston’s Lance Berkman (11-2), Florida’s Hanley Ramirez (7-1) and the New York Mets’ David Wright (10-1).
AL Cy Young Award: Toronto’s Roy Halladay (3-1), Cleveland’s Cliff Lee (4-1), New York’s Mariano Rivera (13-2), Oakland’s Justin Duchscherer (7-1), and the Angels’ Ervin Santana (10-1), Joe Saunders (15-1) and John Lackey (20-1).
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