The MLB regular season is roughly at the 60-game mark of an extended 162-game schedule and it is really anyone’s guess as to which team is going to rise through the crowded pack to win the 2016 American League Pennant. TopBet weighs-in on the discussion with its recently updated futures odds to claim the title.
AL East Top Pick
In what would have to be considered the second-tightest division race in the Majors, the Boston Red Sox continue to set the pace as +450 favorites to make a return trip to the World Series after winning it all in 2013. Through their first 58 games they are 34-24 and a half-game in back of Baltimore (+700) for the AL East lead. Toronto (+800) is 4.5 games off the pace at 31-29 followed by the New York Yankees (+1400) and Tampa Bay (+2500).
I would go chalk with Boston winning the division behind a bruising lineup that leads the AL in runs scored, but I am not sold on the fact that the Red Sox can go on and win the AL Pennant. There are some definite holes to fill in a pitching staff that is 12th in the league with a team ERA of 4.35.
AL Central Top Pick
The AL Central is the tightest division race in baseball by far. With the exception of Minnesota, the other four teams are separated by just 3.5 games. Cleveland has the best record right now at 32-25 and its odds to go on and win the pennant are set at +750. Next on the list in this division is Kansas City at +800 and the Chicago White Sox at +900. Detroit is 2.5 games off the pace and its betting odds to win the AL are set at +1400.
Somebody has to come out on top in the Central so it might as well be the team with the best overall pitching in the American League. The White Sox are going to need to find a way to score more runs, but right now their 3.67 team ERA is keeping them competitive at an even 29-29 on the year.
AL West Top Pick
Texas is a +500 second-favorite to win the AL Pennant and with a 36-22 record through 58 games it has a four-game lead over Seattle (+800) in the division race. Houston is nine games back and its odds to turn things around and win the AL are set at +1600. The Mariners are probably the most well-rounded team in this division with an average of 5.1 runs a game supporting a team ERA of 3.70 that is second only to Chicago in the AL. However, Texas has also put up some solid stats as well with 4.8 runs a game and a 3.91 team ERA.
Projecting this race over the long-haul of 100 or more regular season games, I would take the better value in Seattle’s +800 odds to go on and win the pennant out of the AL West.
Overall Prediction
There are probably four or five teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the AL this season, but I am opting for the White Sox to keep things going on their end to turn the Fall Classic into an extended Crosstown Classic against the Cubs.