The MLB division series begin on Thursday in the National League, as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Wild Card winner, while the St. Louis Cardinals visit the Atlanta Braves.
The MLB division series begin on Thursday in the National
League, as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Wild Card winner, while the St.
Louis Cardinals visit the Atlanta Braves. The American League gets their series
underway on Friday, with the Houston Astros hosting the Wild Card winner, while
the Minnesota Twins visit the New York Yankees. Let’s look at the teams, World
Series odds and pennant odds, MLB Playoff schedule and MLB picks.
World Series Odds
Houston Astros +204
Los Angeles Dodgers +285
New York Yankees +475
Atlanta Braves +815
Washington Nationals +1475
St. Louis Cardinals +1565
Minnesota Twins +1750
Oakland Athletics +1950
Tampa Bay Rays +2900
Milwaukee Brewers +3000
Odds to Win 2019 NL
Pennant
Los Angeles Dodgers -123
Atlanta Braves +365
St. Louis Cardinals +600
Washington Nationals +615
Milwaukee Brewers +1300
Odds to Win AL
Pennant
Houston Astros -120
New York Yankees +250
Minnesota Twins +845
Oakland Athletics +870
Tampa Bay Rays +1150
Top Four Contenders
There are a clear top four contenders to win the World
Series in the Astros, Dodgers, Yankees and Braves. If one of those four teams
does not win the title it would be a major surprise. The Dodgers are favored to
win the National League but they might have the toughest Division Series
matchup if they end up having to face a Washington Nationals team that features
Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon. The Astros are the clear
choice in the American League, but they have to deal with either the Yankees or
Twins in the ALCS, assuming the Astros get past either the Rays or A’s in the
Division Series.
The Braves are the second choice to win the National League,
while the Yankees are the second choice to win the American League. Both teams
have potent offenses, but each team has some pitching questions.
Darkhorses and
Longshots
As I said earlier, if the World Series winner is not the
Astros, Dodgers, Yankees or Braves it would be a major surprise. That doesn’t
mean another team can’t win the title though. The Nationals have the pitching
and an MVP candidate in Rendon to take down any team. The Brewers probably
can’t keep their great run going without Christian Yelich, so their chances
don’t look good. The Cardinals are the darkhorse that I would consider, as they
have everything in place to give the Dodgers a real run for the NL title
including one of the best pitchers in the league in Jack Flaherty, and I think
they beat the Braves in the NLDS.
In the American League I don’t think any of the darkhorses
or longshots are worth taking. The American League is simply the Astros to lose
and I don’t even think the Yankees or Twins are going to threaten Houston. I
don’t give Oakland or Tampa Bay any real chance.
MLB Division Series
Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 3: NLDS Game 1: Brewers/Nationals at L.A.
Dodgers, TBS
Thursday, Oct. 3: NLDS Game 1: St. Louis at Atlanta, TBS
Friday, Oct. 4: ALDS Game 1: Rays/A's at Houston, FS1 or
MLBN
Friday, Oct. 4: ALDS Game 1: Minnesota at N.Y. Yankees, FS1
or MLBN
Friday, Oct. 4: NLDS Game 2: Brewers/Nationals at L.A.
Dodgers, TBS
Friday, Oct. 4: NLDS Game 2: St. Louis at Atlanta, TBS
Saturday, Oct. 5: Rays/A's at Houston, FS1 or MLBN
Saturday, Oct. 5: Minnesota at N.Y. Yankees, FS1 or MLBN
Sunday, Oct. 6: NLDS Game 3: L.A. Dodgers at
Brewers/Nationals, TBS
Sunday, Oct. 6: NLDS Game 3: Atlanta at St. Louis, TBS
Monday, Oct. 7: ALDS Game 3: Houston at Rays/A's, FS1 or
MLBN
Monday, Oct. 7: ALDS Game 3: N.Y. Yankees at Minnesota, FS1
or MLBN
Monday, Oct. 7: NLDS Game 4 (if necessary): L.A. Dodgers at
Brewers/Nationals, TBS
Monday, Oct. 7: NLDS Game 4 (if necessary): Atlanta at St.
Louis, TBS
Tuesday, Oct. 8: ALDS Game 4 (if necessary): Houston at
Rays/A's, FS1
Tuesday, Oct. 8: ALDS Game 4 (if necessary): N.Y. Yankees at
Minnesota, FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 9: NLDS Game 5 (if necessary):
Brewers/Nationals at L.A. Dodgers, TBS
Wednesday, Oct. 9: NLDS Game 5 (if necessary): St. Louis at
Atlanta, TBS
Thursday, Oct. 10: ALDS Game 5 (if necessary): Rays/A's at
Houston, FS1
Thursday, Oct. 10: ALDS Game 5 (if necessary): Minnesota at
N.Y. Yankees, FS1
Check out the latest MLB playoff odds at the online
sportsbook.
