Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
AL West Odds - Outright Winner
The Mariners remain the favorite with steep -154 odds at MLB betting sites. The Rangers sit at +299, while the Astros (+623) and Athletics (+946) are considered long shots.
Mariners (-154)
It certainly hasn’t been a banner year for the Mariners. As of Sunday, they’re playing .500 baseball with a 42-42 record. That’s mostly due to the dominance of the pitching staff, who own an impressive 3.68 ERA. That ranks fifth in the big leagues. Offensively, Seattle is towards the bottom of the Majors in numerous offensive categories. The likes of Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, and JP Crawford are struggling at the dish. But this team has tons of playoff experience and talent, hence why they’re still expected to win this division.Rangers (+299)
The Rangers aren’t one to overlook at +299. Skip Schumaker’s ball club is only a half-game behind the Mariners, and they also have the experience to win ballgames when it matters most. Pitching has also been the strength for Texas, sitting 12th in team ERA. Offensively, they’ve also struggled to find consistency, scoring just 4.1 runs per contest. Corey Seager is one player who really needs to find a rhythm at the dish, given his importance to the team. A staff anchored by Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom are certainly capable of helping the Rangers win the division.
Astros (+623)
The Astros can never be counted out. While some of their most experienced players are no longer around, several also remain, including Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Yordan Alvarez, but Correa is currently injured. Houston’s offense continues to thrive, led by the powerful Alvarez, who is hitting .314 with 25 home runs. Pitching is likely going to be the downfall for Houston if they can’t win the division. Only of their starters has an ERA below four. That’s a recipe for disaster, especially considering the strong rotations both Seattle and Texas have.
AL West Picks
The Athletics are only 1.5 games out of first, but I don’t believe they have enough experience or consistency to compete for the AL West title. This will come down to the Mariners and Rangers. Seattle needs to get their act together offensively if they’re going to make a World Series run, but I believe they’re deservingly the favorite for the divisional crown. Given the Rangers’ odds, there’s also value while they’re still priced at plus money.
Picks: Mariners (-154), Rangers (+299) /TonyBet
