Updated 2018 World Series Odds – October 12th Edition

There are four teams left in the chase for the Commissioner’s Trophy, given to the winner of the World Series, as Milwaukee swept Colorado and Los Angeles eliminated Atlanta in four games in the two National League Division Series. In the American League, Houston swept Cleveland, and Boston beat New York in four games to extend the Red Sox winning streak in postseason play at Yankee Stadium to four. Now Houston opens the American League Championship Series in Boston, and the Dodgers will be in Milwaukee to face the Brewers to start the National League Championship Series. We’ll give you the 2018 World Series odds for each of the four teams to win the whole thing as well as our thoughts about each squad.

Updated 2018 World Series Odds – October 12th Edition

Four teams still playing for 1 goal. Here is a World Series Titles breakdown for the teams still alive! pic.twitter.com/oiVntjCmBu

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 11, 2018

Houston Astros

• 2018 World Series Odds: +195

Houston didn’t finish the regular season with the best record of these four teams, but their 103 wins were second most in the majors, and they return as the defending champions. They faced Boston in the ALDS in 2017 and won in four games. The first two starters for Houston (in Saturday and Sunday’s games) will be Justin Verlander, who has had a microscopic ERA well below 2.00 since the start of September and who easily outpitched Corey Kluber in Game 1 of the ALDS, and then Gerrit Cole. The Red Sox have named Chris Sale as the Game 1 starter, with David Price to start Game 2, and Rick Porcello for Game 3. It is likely that Nathan Eovaldi would start Game 4 before the rotation starts over. The biggest difference for Houston in this series as opposed to last year is the addition of starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. The fact that Houston outscored Cleveland by 15 runs in the three games — remarkable given the Indians’ terrific starting rotation — shows that their offense is clicking, with the notable exception of shortstop Carlos Correa, who spent a long time on the DL this year due to back issues and just hit .180 after his return, going just 1 for 10  during the series, with that one hit a home run in Game 3. Given that the Astros hardly noticed his cold bat, the Astros are primed for another deep run.

Boston Red Sox

• 2018 World Series Odds: +250

The Red Sox led the major leagues with 108 wins during the regular season, but their bullpen had some issues that emerged during the ALDS. Closer Craig Kimbrel is normally a dominant late-innings pitcher, and Alex Cora had planned to use him for multi-inning saves during the postseason. However, Kimbrel permitted a home run to Aaron Judge in Game 1 and walked two batters and hit another one in Game 4, allowing a run on a single. Ryan Brasier is another option in the bullpen; he put up a 1.60 ERA in 34 appearances between July and the present. Another issue for the Red Sox is David Price, who is notorious for his struggles in the postseason, and who took the only loss in the ALDS against the Yankees, losing Game 2. The Red Sox do have the deeper offense, at least on paper, but the momentum that the Astros have a way of building make it tough to bet on Boston even to make the World Series, let alone win it.

Los Angeles Dodgers

• 2018 World Series Odds:+290

The Dodgers’ resume for rolling to a World Series title begins with their starting rotation. They have already named the first four starters for the NLCS, beginning with Clayton Kershaw and then continuing with Hyun-jin Ryu or Walker Buehler in Game 2, the other of the two in Game 3 and Rich Hill in Game 4. The Brewers will counter with Gio Gonzalez, Wade Miley and Jhoulys Chacin in the first three games. The fact that Gonzalez, with his 10-11 and 4.21 ERA), stands at the front of this rotation suggests that the Dodgers could have plenty of opportunities to open games up with their bats in the early innings. Lefties Joc Pederson and Max Muncy, who combined for three Dodger home runs in the NLDS, will have lefthanded starters against them in the first two games, but it’s hard to argue against an offense that also added Manny Machado at the trade deadline.

Milwaukee Brewers

• 2018 World Series Odds: +400

Milwaukee doesn’t stick with their starting pitchers very long in the postseason. Wade Miley took a shutout into the fifth inning but didn’t finish that inning, as manager Craig Counsell had a short leash. Also, the lack of the DH makes the pitcher’s spot much more valuable as a potential place to stick a pinch-hitter. Josh Hader is a bullpen weapon that Counsell will have at his disposal, with 143 strikeouts in 81 ⅓ innings, but during the season he would pitch multiple innings and then get a day of rest. Since Games 3, 4 and 5 all come on consecutive days, that approach might need to change. Hader also gave up eight home runs to righthanded batters during the season. With Kenta Maeda and Kenley Jansen lurking in the Dodger bullpen for the eighth and ninth innings, the Brewers will need to strike early if they want to get to the Fall Classic.