Blue Jays Dip in World Series Futures Betting Despite Yankees' Health Issues
Maybe you can explain this: BetMGM has the New York Yankees currently at 8.5 to win the World Series, tied with the New York Mets and second to the Houston Astros (7.0) in their most updated futures.
That’s despite a string of injuries this spring that has crippled the Yankees' starting pitchers.
The latest hit was that Carlos Rodon would start the season on the injured list with a left forearm strain. Rodon was the Yankees’ big off-season signing – six years, $162 million.
Where Do Yankees Injuries Leave Blue Jays?
It’s considered a mild strain for Rodon, a similar injury to one he suffered last summer with the San Francisco Giants.
Relievers Lou Trivino and Tommy Kahnle also join Rodon on the injured list. And the Yankees’ starting rotation was already without Frankie Montas, acquired at the trade deadline last season, who had shoulder surgery in February and is likely gone for the season.
So where does that leave the Blue Jays, a team that, despite Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s minor knee issue, has had an injury-free spring training so far?
According to those BetMGM World Series futures, the Jays are currently at 15.0 to win the Series. They opened at 10.0. The Yankees opened at 10.0 as well.
The Jays sit behind the Astros, Mets, Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers (9.0), San Diego Padres (10.5), and Atlanta Braves (10.5).
BetMGM has the Jays at 3.1 to win the AL East, behind the Yankees at 2.05, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays at 4.5.
Not All Sportsbooks Are Created Equal
As a comparison, PointsBet Canada has the Yankees at 7.5, second to the Astros at 7.0.
It has the Jays at 15.0, seventh on their list of World Series outrights. Proline is a little more optimistic on the Jays’ World Series odds – 11.0, behind the Astros (7.0), Dodgers (8.0), Mets (8.0), Yankees (8.0) and the Braves (10.0).
The Yankees were the clear favourites going into spring training, also having re-signed slugger Aaron Judge. Rodon has a history of injury issues – he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019. All-Star Gerrit Cole is still fronting the rotation, but Luis Severino has only started 26 games over the past three seasons.
Consider the Jays’ starting four – Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios – and I know where I am putting my money, at least for the AL East Division title.
Lots of spring training buzz about Yusei Kikuchi for that fifth spot in the rotation, with the adjustments he has made and how well he has pitched thus far this spring (seven innings pitched and nine strikeouts), but that’s why they call it spring training.
That’s no guarantee of anything, considering how lost Kikuchi looked last year (6-7, 5.19 ERA, shunted off to the bullpen) when they were playing games for real.
