[h=1]Best 2016 World Series value bets[/h]Dave TuleyESPN Staff Writer
ESPN INSIDER
LAS VEGAS -- The modus operandi with major team sports futures here at ESPN Chalk: We offer up our value bets before the season, of course, but then take an updated look during the middle of the season. The All-Star break is the logical time for Major League Baseball.
In March, I took a $100 bankroll and put $40 on the Kansas City Royals at 16-1, $40 on the Toronto Blue Jays at 14-1 and $20 on the San Francisco Giants at 10-1. If you made those plays, you'd have a nice ticket on the Giants, who have an MLB-best record of 57-33 at the break and are currently only available at 6-1 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. (The Chicago Cubs, who have traditionally been one of the most-bet teams even when they didn't have a real chance, got off to a great start and are still the betting favorites at 7-2.)
The Royals and Blue Jays aren't doing as well. After an 8-2 start, the Royals have stayed right around the .500 mark and are seven games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. They have to climb over the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox to even start thinking about a wild-card spot (though they are only 2.5 games out of the AL's second wild-card spot). The team holding that position is the Blue Jays, who are just two games behind theBaltimore Orioles in the AL East. Toronto is currently offered at 12-1 at the Westgate, while the Royals are 60-1.
So, how do we attack the current futures board? Here's what I would do with $60 to add to our initial investment (which still leaves a tidy overall profit if the Giants complete their even-year trend after winning the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014).
[h=3]Washington Nationals (6-1, $35 to win $210)[/h]The Nationals have a six-game lead in the NL East and their starting pitching, especially with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, matches up with any team. Plus, the offense is capable with Bryce Harper getting help from the rest of the lineup. This gives us two quality teams (the Giants being the other) with legitimate chances to overtake the Cubs. (Disclaimer: I'm a lifelong Cubs fans but approaching this objectively.)
[h=3]Texas Rangers (10-1, $20 to win $200)[/h]The Rangers have the best record in the American League, yet are still offered at 10-1 to win the World Series. I'll take that. They have a fairly comfortable 5.5-game lead on the Houston Astros, who don't look as good as they did last year. Some people (including my colleague Joe Peta) say the Rangers are doing it with mirrors as they rank only eighth of the 15 AL teams in ERA, but they make up for it with timely hitting and defense. There's still a very good chance they'll be in the postseason and anything can happen in the playoffs (and I like their chances as much as the Orioles or Indians, who are both offered at 6-1).
[h=3]Kansas City Royals (60-1, $5 to win $300)[/h]The Royals were my top value play as defending champions, so with them now at 60-1, I'm going to add a little in case they're able to bounce back in the second half and justify my love. They certainly have the position players to do it -- further evidenced by their seven All-Stars and MVP Eric Hosmer andSalvador Perez lifting the AL to another win on Tuesday night -- but the question is whether they can acquire at least one more quality starting pitcher or have their current staff improve. With so much playoff experience on the team, plus manager Ned Yost, I believe it's worth a small investment at these odds, especially with the Royals just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot.
Good luck the rest of the season.
ESPN INSIDER
LAS VEGAS -- The modus operandi with major team sports futures here at ESPN Chalk: We offer up our value bets before the season, of course, but then take an updated look during the middle of the season. The All-Star break is the logical time for Major League Baseball.
In March, I took a $100 bankroll and put $40 on the Kansas City Royals at 16-1, $40 on the Toronto Blue Jays at 14-1 and $20 on the San Francisco Giants at 10-1. If you made those plays, you'd have a nice ticket on the Giants, who have an MLB-best record of 57-33 at the break and are currently only available at 6-1 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. (The Chicago Cubs, who have traditionally been one of the most-bet teams even when they didn't have a real chance, got off to a great start and are still the betting favorites at 7-2.)
The Royals and Blue Jays aren't doing as well. After an 8-2 start, the Royals have stayed right around the .500 mark and are seven games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. They have to climb over the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox to even start thinking about a wild-card spot (though they are only 2.5 games out of the AL's second wild-card spot). The team holding that position is the Blue Jays, who are just two games behind theBaltimore Orioles in the AL East. Toronto is currently offered at 12-1 at the Westgate, while the Royals are 60-1.
So, how do we attack the current futures board? Here's what I would do with $60 to add to our initial investment (which still leaves a tidy overall profit if the Giants complete their even-year trend after winning the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014).
[h=3]Washington Nationals (6-1, $35 to win $210)[/h]The Nationals have a six-game lead in the NL East and their starting pitching, especially with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, matches up with any team. Plus, the offense is capable with Bryce Harper getting help from the rest of the lineup. This gives us two quality teams (the Giants being the other) with legitimate chances to overtake the Cubs. (Disclaimer: I'm a lifelong Cubs fans but approaching this objectively.)
[h=3]Texas Rangers (10-1, $20 to win $200)[/h]The Rangers have the best record in the American League, yet are still offered at 10-1 to win the World Series. I'll take that. They have a fairly comfortable 5.5-game lead on the Houston Astros, who don't look as good as they did last year. Some people (including my colleague Joe Peta) say the Rangers are doing it with mirrors as they rank only eighth of the 15 AL teams in ERA, but they make up for it with timely hitting and defense. There's still a very good chance they'll be in the postseason and anything can happen in the playoffs (and I like their chances as much as the Orioles or Indians, who are both offered at 6-1).
[h=3]Kansas City Royals (60-1, $5 to win $300)[/h]The Royals were my top value play as defending champions, so with them now at 60-1, I'm going to add a little in case they're able to bounce back in the second half and justify my love. They certainly have the position players to do it -- further evidenced by their seven All-Stars and MVP Eric Hosmer andSalvador Perez lifting the AL to another win on Tuesday night -- but the question is whether they can acquire at least one more quality starting pitcher or have their current staff improve. With so much playoff experience on the team, plus manager Ned Yost, I believe it's worth a small investment at these odds, especially with the Royals just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot.
Good luck the rest of the season.
