MLB Pick: Astros to Miss the Playoffs (+180) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Updated playoff props are available at BetOnline, simple yea or nay wagers for whether or not a team will make the playoffs this October, and our handicapper is looking at a few of the more intriguing squads, including the defending World Series champion Houston Astros.
Key Facts
- The Rays are the biggest favorite to make the playoffs (-1600).
- The Pirates currently lead the NL Central and are +350 to make the playoffs.
- The Yankees are last in the AL East, but still -210 to make the playoffs.
Playing MLB teams to win their divisions, a pennant or even to go all the way and capture a World Series can pay off in big ways for bettors who get down prior to a season beginning when the baseball future odds are a little fatter.
But it isn’t necessary to make the right picks with traditional futures by picking the right division or league winners. Betting teams to just get to the playoffs – or miss them after being favored – can provide its own reward.
Astros to Miss October Baseball
Let’s begin with the team everyone loves to hate, my beloved Houston Astros. Got to admit having fun the last few years winding up the haters, raising their blood pressure, and putting them on the edge of foaming at the mouth when I talk fondly of the 2017 trash can bangers.
Baseball has a way of evening out, however, and this is looking like it could be the end of a nice ride for Houston. The pitching staff has been rocked by some recent injuries to Jose Urquidy and Luis Garcia, plus Lance McCullers Jr. is still iffy on his return.
Maybe the return of sparkplug Jose Altuve will help an offense that ranks below average in scoring and near the bottom of the AL in HR. Playing the Astros to miss the postseason entirely is worth +180 at BetOnline.
MLB Pick: Astros to Miss the Playoffs (+180) at BetOnline
Phils Won’t Repeat as NL Champs
Houston’s opponent in the Fall Classic last year was Philadelphia, and the Phillies are off to an even worse start than the Astros. Name just about any stat, and the Phillies probably suck.
Philadelphia sports a 5.03 ERA, which is better only than the Cincinnati Reds in the National League. That’s right, Phillies pitchers have a higher ERA than the Rockies. Even though stolen bases are up across the board, the trend hasn’t caught on with Philadelphia (2nd-fewest in NL).
Yes, the Phillies are another team from last year’s postseason that won’t be involved with October matchups this time. Playing the Phillies to miss the playoffs is running -125.
MLB Pick: Phillies to Miss the Playoffs (-125) at BetOnline
Rangers, Pirates & Orioles Exceeding Expectations
If the Astros are not going to win their sixth AL West flag in seven seasons, then who replaces them in the division? Well, it’s hard to ignore the Texas Rangers at this time.
Texas owns the 2nd-highest run differential (+86), leading the AL in scoring and ranking sixth in ERA. The bullpen’s a little shaky, but playing the Rangers at -115 to make the playoffs and coupling that with a +350 second betting pick to win the AL West will provide a nice little return.
The Rangers are joined by the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates as this season’s best success stories. Having six teams in each league advancing to the postseason certainly helps their chances, but I’m not getting excited about a reprise of the 1979 World Series just yet.
Rotation depth is a concern for both teams. Baltimore and Pittsburgh each have a nice balance with power and speed on offense, and are using that combo to rank top 5 in scoring in their respective leagues.
Working against both, however, is that we can’t rely on either’s front office to go out and swing a big deadline deal to add a power hitter or top arm. If you’re so inclined to think either is for real, the Orioles are +150 to make the playoffs, while the Pirates are a juicy +350.
MLB Pick: Rangers to Make the Playoffs (-115) at BetOnline
Are Rays a Lock? Is There Value on the Yanks?
No team has provided a better return for anyone to follow than the Tampa Bay Rays. Owners of a 29-7 record through May 8, the Rays are up about 10 units at the top US sportsbooks through the first 5+ weeks, and they own the most powerful lineup (73 HR) and the stingiest pitching staff (2.93 ERA).
It would take a monumental collapse for the Rays to miss the playoffs (+800), and it would take a big outlay to make a wager for them to make the playoffs profitable at -1600, the chalkiest of all prices on this prop.
Way down in last place of the AL East are the New York Yankees, who were the favorites on the preseason odds to win the division. It’s not a great price at -210, but I do suspect that manager Aaron Boone will be blaming a stadium roof – or whining about something – for a Yankees postseason loss come this October.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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