Specify the baseball teams with best odds to win the AL Pennant this season?

Question

American league penants 2011 is about to start, and the baseball betting circles are all looking for the profitable baseball teams, on whom they can place winning bets. Can you specify, the baseball teams with best odds to win the AL Pennant this season.

Answer 1

It is interesting that the teams with the three best odds to win the AL Pennant this season are all from the AL East.

The Yankees not only have the lowest odds to win the AL Pennant at (+140 at Sportsbook.com), but the lowest odds for World Series as well. Their staff was solid last year and may be better this season with the addition of Javier Vazquez. The team signed OF Curtis Granderson, but they did lose World Series MVP Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon. A-Rod has to put up numbers and so does Derek Jeter, who is no spring chicken any longer.

The Red Sox (+300) had a solid off-season with the addition of ace John Lackey and defensive studs Mike Cameron and Adrian Beltre. They did lose Jason Bay, who led the team in HR’s, to the Mets, but their offense should be ok. David Ortiz had a terrible start last season and it will help Boston if he does not repeat that performance.

The Rays (+700) have a good young staff that will be tested in the AL East. James Shields and Matt Garza have great stuff and a ton of potential, but have to show it this season after each was below .500 last one. Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist have to repeat on the solid seasons they had last year. Signing closer Rafael Soriano was huge, as Tampa finally has a legit closer.

The Twins (+900) made C Joe Mauer the richest one in baseball, but they lost closer Joe Nathan for the season and that may really hurt them. 2B Orlando Hudson was a great pick up in the off-season and Minnesota should have no problem scoring runs, but their pitching staff has some issues.

The Mariners (+1000) made some great off-season moves adding ace Cliff Lee, 2B Chone Figgens, and OF Milton Bradley. Lee begins the season injured and he has to pitch well and Bradley has to produce and not be a distraction for the Mariners to unseat the Angels atop the AL West.

The White Sox (+1000) have the pitching, especially if Jake Peavy can stay healthy, but the team lost a lot of pop in the off-season and their HR output should go down. However, picking up the underrated OF Juan Pierre was a great move, as all he does is produce. A lot of things have to happen, but the White Sox have the talent to challenge the Twins for the AL Central crown.

The Angels (+1200) will have a tough time winning their 6th AL West title in the last 7 years, as they lost staff ace John Lackey, Chone Figgins, and OF Vladimir Guerrero. New addition DH Hideki Matsui has to have a good season and Tori Hunter has to stay healthy. The Angels had many young players step up last year on offense and will need that again to win the AL West crown. Starters Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders, and Joel Pineiro all had at least 15 wins last season and if the trio can pitch well again in Scott Kazmir improves on last season’s 8 win total the Angles have a good shot to stay atop the division.

The Rangers (+1200) only had their second above .500 season in the last decade last season and for them to win the AL West Michael Young and Josh Hamilton have to stay healthy and off-season additions P Rich Harden and DH Vladimir Guerrero have to produce.