Here we are in mid-September and the postseason is almost here for Major League Baseball fans to enjoy. Things have changed in recent weeks, with some teams surging in the postseason hunt, while others are not. Take the Yankees for example. Will they even make the postseason? In this article, we have MLB futures picks with the playoffs almost here.
Unfortunately over in the Bronx, it’s panic time for the New York Yankees and their fans. How in the heck did this happen? Earlier this summer, the Yankees recorded an unreal 13-game winning streak. It was the longest streak in the majors this season. Following that hot stretch, New York fans believed this team could push for an AL pennant. Oh, how things have changed in recent weeks.
Following another loss to the Minnesota Twins on Monday, the Yankees are now 79-65 on the season and 2-8 in their last 10 games. This is nothing short of an embarrassment for manager Aaron Boone and his players. With their terrible stretch, the Yankees have now fallen behind both the Red Sox and Blue Jays in the Wild Card standings. Neither of those teams will catch the Rays for the AL East title.
MLB postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Yankees to make it | -145 | -145 | -145 | -145 |
White Sox win AL | +280 | +280 | +280 | +280 |
Astros win AL | +200 | +200 | +200 | +200 |
Dodgers win NL | +135 | +135 | +135 | +135 |
But if the postseason were to start today, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo and the rest of the sluggers would have to watch things from home. This is simply unreal to think about. Again, just about 2-3 weeks ago, the Yankees were looking like one of the best teams in baseball. Ever since then, though, the opposite has been the case for them.
According to the Las Vegas Sportsbooks, the Yankees have -145 MLB odds to make the playoffs this year. They’re only one game back, but the fact of the matter is that they’ve really looked terrible. Don’t forget that the Mariners and Athletics are also in the Wild Card hunt. From this chair, we think it will be too tough for New York to overcome their struggles. Our pick is for them to MISS the playoffs this year.
A question baseball fans all over the globe have on their mind is will anyone be able to take down the Houston Astros in the American League? Houston continues to look like one of the best teams in all of baseball, as they’re well on their way to recording another AL West title win. They can hurt you both with their outstanding pitching and their sluggers putting on a show as well.
Entering the postseason, Houston is considered the favorite to win the AL and move on to the World Series. The AL West club currently holds +200 odds. That of course doesn’t mean they’re alone in the hunt. The Tampa Bay Rays are also in the mix with their +270 odds, while the Chicago White Sox, the biggest surprise team this season, has been listed at +280.
On paper, yes, it might make sense to go with the Astros to win the American League, but let’s not rush to things there just yet. Both Tampa Bay and Chicago could really turn some heads this postseason. Both clubs feature loads of star talent, with the two lineups ready to try and cause major problems for Houston and whoever else they might meet in the playoffs.
While it may be hard to pick against Houston, we’re actually going with the White Sox to get to the World Series this year. It’s been a year to remember with Tony La Russa at the helm. The White Sox have also overcome so many injuries to get where they’re at today. Guaranteed Rate Field will be rocking to close out the campaign too. Chicago is our pick to win the AL. Agree? Check out our MLB betting sites, like Bovada, and get a wager in.
After winning it all last fall, the Dodgers should have no problems getting back to the World Series in 2021. Los Angeles holds the No. 1 odds to win the NL at +135. Behind them are the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies. Make no mistake about it, though, the Dodgers are the team to beat.
While it was announced that Trevor Bauer will be out for the rest of the season due to the disturbing sexual assault allegations against him, the loss of the reigning NL Cy Young winner won’t be enough to keep this LA team down. The fact that Max Scherzer made the move from D.C. to LA and has looked like an elite hurler is helping Dodgers fans rest easy.
Guys like Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Corey Seager and others know what it takes to record timely, big hits in the playoffs and that will continue in the coming weeks. At this point, it’d almost be a stunner if the Dodgers didn’t repeat as champs. We’ll see if that happens or not, but they’re certainly our pick to win the NL Pennant and get back to the Fall Classic.
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."