We’re winding down to the last two weeks of the 2018 regular season in Major League Baseball, which means that it’s time to start thinking earnestly about who will win the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the World Series. There are four teams in the American League that might be better than the best team in the National League, which makes betting interesting in the junior circuit, but it’s also important to consider how many teams have terrific regular seasons only to crash and burn. For example, the Cleveland Indians went 111-43 in 1954 and went to the World Series (the only round of playoffs at that time) but then were swept by the New York (now San Francisco Giants) in just four games. That record stood until the Seattle Mariners won 116 games in 2001, and while they made it past Cleveland in the American League Division Series, they lost the ALCS to the Yankees by a 4-1 margin, not even making it to the World Series. We have a list of 2018 World Series odds for each contending team as well as some sports betting perspective on the right choices.

2018 World Series Odds Update – September 14th Edition

8 out of the 30 MLB teams have been eliminated from postseason contention. RT if your squad still mathematically has a chance to win the World Series! pic.twitter.com/UKx0YJJCFo

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 10, 2018

• Boston Red Sox                                                                    +400
• Houston Astros                                                                     +450
• Chicago Cubs                                                                       +550
• L.A. Dodgers                                                                         +600
• N.Y. Yankees                                                                         +950
• Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves                                     +1000-
• Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers                             +1200
• Oakland A’s                                                                           +1400
• St. Louis Cardinals                                                               +1500
• Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies                  +3500
• Seattle Mariners                                                                    +30000
• Washington Nationals                                                          +35000

The Boston Red Sox simply show no signs of slowing down. They hit the 100-win mark for the first time since 1946 and keep on winning. The offense got a supercharge from the addition of slugger J.D. Martinez and lead Major League Baseball with an OPS of .799 since August 1. Holding the top seed in the American League would give them a Division Series against the Yankees, A’s or Mariners. They have taken 8 of 13 from the Yankees so far this season, four of seven from the Mariners and two of six from Oakland, so they would feel optimistic about their chances in any matchup. Houston has recovered nicely from an injury bug that bit the team around the halfway point of the season. They have won nine of 10, asserting their lead in the American League West and emerging once again as perhaps the most dynamic offense in the American League.

What about Chicago?

They are clinging to a lead in the National League Central, thanks in large part to the acquisition of Cole Hamels from the Rangers. The lefthander has gone 4-0 with a sub-2.00 ERA since arriving in the Windy City, giving the rest of the rotation some needed motivation. The team picked up a plucky win in Washington on Thursday, when they had to travel back to the nation’s capital to make up a rainout from last weekend — and before going back home to take on the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, scratching out a 10-inning victory. Right behind the Cubs in the NL Central is Milwaukee, who has won 11 of 14 — including four of six against Chicago — and who hold the second-best record in the National League, almost locking them into a wild card position. Right behind them is St. Louis, who has won 21 of 30 and has been raking in the last month. If the season ended today, the Cardinals and the Brewers would play in the wild card game, with the winner heading to Chicago to face the Cubs in a National League Division Series. When it comes to value, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a wild card come out of the National League, given how inconsistently the division leaders (Colorado, Atlanta and the Cubs). The betting market recognizes that, which is why the Dodgers have a moneyline just half the size of that of the Rockies despite trailing Colorado by 1 ½ games in their division — and based on the records of the Brewers and the Cardinals, second place in the NL West would be a ticket to the off-season.