Red Sox, Astros Leading American League Pennant Race

by Fairway Jay

Less than 20 games remain in the MLB regular season, and the odds to win the American League pennant race and World Series have been bet into place at the sportsbook. The five playoff teams are essentially set, with the Boston Red Sox (99-46, AL East) holding a solid advantage over the trailing New York Yankees (90-55). The Cleveland Indians (82-63) have been sitting atop the AL Central for almost the entire season, while the Houston Astros ( sit out in front of the Oakland Athletics (88-57) in the AL West.

Both the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays sit 8.5 games back of the Athletics in the Wild Card standings, so this battle is over. We know which teams are going to the playoffs barring some insane miracles.

The current odds to win the American League Pennant race at BetAmerica show a tight fight and no clear-cut favorite to reach the World Series despite the Red Sox dominant MLB record.

The odds to win the American League pennant race won’t change much the rest of the way unless the A’s overtake the Astros. The Astros lead the A’s by 3 full games in the AL West. But in evaluating the rest of the regular season, know that the remaining games are far less important for the Red Sox and Indians. However, motivation is still stronger for the Astros and A’s, along with the Yankees, who would host the play-in playoff game if they maintain the better record as wild card.

The American League is also a -165 favorite to win the World Series while the National League is a +130 underdog in also a MLB futures.

Teams	AL Pennant	World Series
Boston Red Sox	+160	+335
Houston Astros	+180	+350
New York Yankees	+450	+800
Cleveland Indians	+500	+900
Oakland A’s	+700	+1600

Recognize too that the divisional series are best of 5 games, while the AL championship series to win the pennant is a best of 7 series.

Here are the remaining schedules for the teams who are still in the American League Pennant race starting the weekend of Sept 14. All are 3-game series unless noted. The Astros and A’s do not play each other the rest of the season, and both teams finish the regular season on the road for their final two series.

Boston Red Sox  - NY Mets (9/14 - 9/16), at NYY (9/18 - 9/20), at Cleveland (9/21 - 9/23), Baltimore (9/24 - 9/26), NYY (9/28 - 9/30)

NY Yankees – Toronto (9/14 - 9/16), Boston (9/18 - 9/20), Baltimore (9/21 - 9/23), at Tampa Bay (9/24 - 9/27), at Boston (9/28 - 9/30)

Cleveland – Detroit(9/14 - 9/16), Chicago (9/18 - 9/20),, Boston(9/21 - 9/23), at Chicago (9/24 - 9/26), at Kansas City (9/28 - 9/30)

Houston – Arizona (9/14 - 9/16), Seattle (9/17 - 9/19), LA Angles (9/21 - 9/23), at Toronto (9/24 - 9/26), at Baltimore (9/27 - 9/30)

Oakland – at Tampa Bay (9/14 - 9/16), at LA Angels (9/18 - 9/20), Minnesota (9/21 - 9/23), at Seattle(9/24 - 9/26), at LA Angels (9/27 - 9/30)