5 World Series Futures Best Bets: Phillies and 4 Dark Horses
Ben DiGiacomo
Host · Writer
Boston Red Sox (+4000)
The Boston Red Sox are playing elite baseball right now, and they aren’t getting the recognition they deserve, given all the hype swirling around the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox now sit just 4.5 games back of the AL East lead, and who is to say they won’t continue to make up ground in the coming weeks, especially given how both the O’s and Yankees looked leading into the trade deadline? The Red Sox are a dangerous team with enough pitching and elite bats to make noise come playoff time. I still view the AL as wide open, and at +4000, there isn’t a team I have more confidence in than the Boston Red Sox right now.
Cleveland Guardians (+1800)
Across the entire season, has there been a more consistently great team than the Cleveland Guardians? Both the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles have had their rough patches, but the Guardians haven’t had any severe rough patches. Their offense keeps on producing, their bullpen is continually elite, and the starting pitching staff is never a liability despite the lack of great starting pitchers. People keep on waiting for the Guardians to collapse, but they keep on defying expectations. When else will you get the AL’s No. 1 seed at +1800 to win the World Series at the All-Star break?
Philadelphia Phillies (+400)
Backing the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series at +420 may not seem like the ideal value bet, but let’s dive into it. Looking at the expected playoff field, the Phillies just swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have mounting pitching issues, the Atlanta Braves have struggled to get over the hump all season, and the Milwaukee Brewers don’t come off as a true World Series contender despite their record. The Phillies have arguably the league’s best starting rotation, a star-studded offense producing at an elite level, and a track record of winning in October. At +420, the Phillies' price to win it all will only continue to get shorter, so you might as well get it at +420 while you still can.
Houston Astros (+2000)
The Houston Astros sit only a game back of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, and I believe it’s fair to expect the Astros to overtake the Mariners by the beginning of August, given how they’ve been playing. Looking at their recent postseason runs, it’s clear that all the Astros need is a chance, and they can do something special. This is the same core group of players that’s gone to the ALCS countless times, and it’s not like the AL pennant is either the Yankees or Orioles to lose. It’s wide open. At +2000, you’re not going to find a more proven team in the AL playoff field than the Astros, and I can’t remember a time when we could get +2000 on this team to win it all.
San Diego Padres (+4000)
In the NL, despite our faith in the Philadelphia Phillies to make the World Series or even the Los Angeles Dodgers to add pitching reinforcements to bolster their case, Wild Card teams have made the World Series in the past two seasons. Analyzing the potential Wild Card bids, you won’t get a better value for the price than with the San Diego Padres. They’ll need pitching additions at the trade deadline to start, but judging in recent years, the Padres’ front office isn’t afraid to make a move when necessary. At the plate, this is a very underrated lineup with enough elite bats to go against elite pitchers come playoff time. Given the price we’re getting at +4000, the Padres certainly deserve a sprinkle here.
Boston Red Sox (+4000)
The Boston Red Sox are playing elite baseball right now, and they aren’t getting the recognition they deserve, given all the hype swirling around the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox now sit just 4.5 games back of the AL East lead, and who is to say they won’t continue to make up ground in the coming weeks, especially given how both the O’s and Yankees looked leading into the trade deadline? The Red Sox are a dangerous team with enough pitching and elite bats to make noise come playoff time. I still view the AL as wide open, and at +4000, there isn’t a team I have more confidence in than the Boston Red Sox right now.
Cleveland Guardians (+1800)
Across the entire season, has there been a more consistently great team than the Cleveland Guardians? Both the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles have had their rough patches, but the Guardians haven’t had any severe rough patches. Their offense keeps on producing, their bullpen is continually elite, and the starting pitching staff is never a liability despite the lack of great starting pitchers. People keep on waiting for the Guardians to collapse, but they keep on defying expectations. When else will you get the AL’s No. 1 seed at +1800 to win the World Series at the All-Star break?
