Anytime you have twice as many wins as losses in Major League Baseball,
you’ve got dominance and that’s exactly what the red
hot New York Yankees have accomplished through their first 67
games, posting a stellar 46-21 record. This is really an amazing feat considering that Giancarlo Stanton is only hitting .242, Gary Sanchez .190 and the team doesn’t have a productive first baseman.
On the flip side, the pitching has been outstanding. Luis Severino has become a true Ace with a 10-2 record, 2.09 ERA and is only allowing opposing hitters a .189 batting average. New York has also received an unexpected resurgence from C.C. Sabathia, who has looked great with a respectable 3.27 ERA.
The true reason the Yankees have been dominant is their bullpen. Aroldis Chapman’s velocity and control are back and he’s only allowed a .126 average to opposing hitters. Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren all have ERA’s under 2.32 as well. This has allowed NY to win a ton of games while not needing high scoring outputs.
The Boston Red Sox are the only other team doubling up on their losses with a 48-24 record. As you probably know, these two powerhouses play in the same division, so we’re in for a doozy of a pennant race. Mookie Betts is putting up MVP numbers with a .346 average, 18 dingers and 13 stolen bases. Free agent signing J.D. Martinez has been large and in charge as wel with 22 homers and a .315 average. Benintendi is starting to look polished and Bogaerts is becoming the player Boston has expected him to be.
In the AL Central, the Cleveland Indians are the only team with a winning
record at 37-33. The Tribe have underachieved, but will surely be in the
mix by season’s end, as injuries and slow starts by multiple key players
have stunted their early effort.
The AL West is a dog fight between the Mariners and Astros. Seattle has been smokin’ as of late as GM Jerry Dipoto’s roster moves seem to finally be paying off. What’s even more amazing is that the club has done well despite losing Robinson Cano to suspension. The Astros have the better roster, but what will ultimately decide these teams’ fate is which team will be hot when it matters.
The National League has been full of surprises early on. Who predicted the Braves would be 42-29 at this point and the Dodgers only 37-32? The Nationals at 37-31 have been a disappointment as well, but it’s early.
With the all star break closing in, it’s too early to make any solid predictions but for those of you who like to roll the dice or start setting up hedging opportunities, the price is right on Mariners at 16-1 and you’re not likely to get any better odds from here on out on the Yankes at 5.5 to 1.
Odds to Win the 2018 World Series (Betting odds found at Bovada Sportsbook)
Houston Astros 5/1
New York Yankees 11/2
Boston Red Sox 6/1
Washington Nationals 15/2
Chicago Cubs 9/1
Cleveland Indians 10/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 14/1
Milwaukee Brewers 14/1
Seattle Mariners 16/1
Atlanta Braves 18/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 25/1
Philadelphia Phillies 25/1
San Francisco Giants 25/1
Colorado Rockies 28/1
St. Louis Cardinals 28/1
Los Angeles Angels 33/1
New York Mets 50/1
Minnesota Twins 66/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 66/1
Oakland Athletics 100/1
Detroit Tigers 200/1
San Diego Padres 200/1
Tampa Bay Rays 250/1
Toronto Blue Jays 300/1
Texas Rangers 500/1
