Team with Odds to win World Series and Pennant with short blurbs.
1-
ASTROS +600 / +290 …They didn't make it through the spring unscathed with the losses of Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr., but they have reached six consecutive league championship series, and the defending champions just keep rolling no matter which stars they lose. George Springer’s gone? Now Kyle Tucker’s ready to make good on his potential. Gerrit Cole’s in New York? It’s OK, Framber Valdez is here. Carlos Correa’s departed? Well, Jeremy Peña can win a Gold Glove and World Series MVP as a rookie replacement. Verlander gone, who cares…Hunter Brown ready to fulfill promise.
2-
PADRES +750 / +400 …MONSTER Juan Soto season on the horizon. Let’s get ready to watch a lotta of the Padres this season. Especially after Tatis returns from his 20 remaining games of suspension, this lineup—which also includes new Padre Xander Bogaerts, MVP runner-up Manny Machado, a full season of the “explosive” Juan Soto, and the delectable DH platoon of Matt Carpenter and Nelson Cruz—will be an incredible team…both in production and entertainment value. Heck, even Blake Snell may be fun to watch, thanks to the pitch clock.
3-
BRAVES +700 / +340 …There's enough talent here to make me look dumb for not having them at the top heading into the year. They might be there for most of the season. There are a few questions, like is Arcia really the answer at SS and LF/DH are unsettled, but with 6 of their core stars locked up for 4-5 years, this will become an old story year to year…again
4-
METS +750 / +400 …The bullpen was the biggest question mark and the loss of Edwin Díaz was obviously major, but remember he was just pretty good in 2021 and horrible in 2019. It's a good illustration of how volatile relievers are. It's also the most acquirable position in front of the trade deadline. All this is to say, it's plausible to believe somehow the Mets end the season with a good bullpen.
5-
YANKEES +650 / +325…The Carlos Rodón injury, especially given his history of arm issues, is a huge concern going in. It's a bigger deal than the Díaz injury to the Mets, hence the swap. Still loaded, as usual.
6-
DODGERS +900 / +400 …The least talented Dodgers team in years…at least on paper, but it’s still the Dodgers and, well, look at the 2019 Nationals and 2021 Braves. Maybe this Dodgers team takes the title in a full season for the first time since ’88 but it would surprise me after losing Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Tyler Anderson, and others.
7-
BLUE JAYS +1000 / +600…Not as bullish on them as last year, but there is plenty of talent if Berrios adds quality innings to their rotation, as they already have a solid 1-2 in Manoah/Gausman and Bassit is probably OK as well…but after that it falls off hard.
8-
RAYS +2000 / +1000…On one hand, the Tyler Glasnow injury is a bummer, but on the other, I'm not sure how many innings he was really going to work this year. Maybe this oblique injury helps the Rays consolidate what would've been a full season of work into, say, 2/3 of the year. If they can muster a little more offense, say return to 2021 form of #2 RPG at 5.3 and best record in AL. There’s possibilities with Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe starting the season healthy after missing over half of last season and hampered with nagging recovery the rest of the way. The pitching however unknown, won’t be a problem top to bottom it’s well above average.
9-
PHILLIES +1800 / +900 …Awful news on Rhys Hoskins, that sucks. Perhaps it can be balanced out a little bit with a much faster return than expected from Bryce Harper? They seem to be, heading into spring, a better overall team this year than last anyway.
10-
M’S +1800 / +1000…One of the most exciting questions in baseball this year: What will Julio Rodríguez do for his encore?
[/LEFT][/TD]
4/1.81 BRAVES -221
2/1.49 Brewers -134
ointandlaugh:
2/2.10 Guardians o7 +105
