2021 AL Pennant Futures Odds
Just over a month into the 2021 MLB season, there have been a few changes in the American League futures odds.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the AL pennant favorite. At Bovada Sportsbook, the New York Yankees remain the AL favorites at +285. The Yankees have rebounded from their slow start and have won nine of their last 12 games.
Favored Yankees coming out of early offensive funk
Over that stretch, New York’s slumbering offense has awakened, led by power surges from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. If this is the real Yankees, and it looks like it is, the rest of the AL could be in trouble.
Following the Yankees in the AL futures at Bovada are the Chicago White Sox at +425 and the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics, both at +700.
The White Sox have climbed to the top of the AL Central but have been bit hard by the injury bug again. Already missing Eloy Jimenez, the White Sox recently lost Luis Robert for months to a hip injury. With two-thirds of their starting outfield down for the count, are the White Sox still as big a threat to the Yankees in the AL?
Athletics have best record in American League
Oakland somewhat surprisingly owns the best record in the AL right now despite starting the season 1-7. Of course, following that start with a 13-game winning streak helped. Oakland somehow seems to keep fielding a pennant contender despite losing impact players to free agency, but the Athletics haven’t actually won an AL pennant in over 30 years.
Houston started out the season 6-1 but has cooled off considerably, going 9-13 since then. Houston appears to have the bats to contend, but can its pitching build on what has been an unexpectedly solid start to the season?
Following the AL West duo are a pair from the AL East, with the Toronto Blue Jays at +900 and the Boston Red Sox at +1000.
Blue Jays could offer value in AL futures odds
The Blue Jays could be a value pick at +900 because they’re 14-14 despite missing key players for much of the season to date. Their biggest offseason acquisition, George Springer, has only appeared in two games while slugger Teoscar Hernandez, ace Hyun Jin Ryu and several of their big bullpen arms have all missed time. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. appears to be finally living up to his lofty potential and if he gets some help, the Blue Jays could be a legitimate contender.
The Red Sox may be the biggest surprise in the AL early this season. Written off as an afterthought by many in the AL East, Boston has climbed to the top of the division thanks to its league-best offense. Can they keep it up and fend off the Yankees with what can only be described as a mediocre rotation? Boston and New York don’t meet up for the first time until June. If the BoSox are still keeping pace with the Yanks by then, they may be a true contender.