MLB World Series Futures

MLB betting isn’t just confined to moneylines and run totals. Baseball bettors can put money down on who they think will feature in the Fall Classic this October. And with the season inching towards the halfway point, now is a good time to find value in World Series futures.

New York Yankees

The defending World Series champs are picking up steam in June, running neck and neck with the Tampa Bay Rays for the No. 1 spot in baseball. The Yankees’ powerful offense is just as potent as ever, leading the majors in runs scored (5.55 per game) and sitting second in batting average (.279). New York’s high-priced pitching staff started out slowly but is rounding into form with July on the horizon. The staff is ninth in collective ERA (3.84 ERA) with veteran lefty Andy Pettitte leading the way with eight wins and a 2.46 ERA. Injuries have shuffled the Yankees’ lineup more than once this season, but as the roster gets healthy and the pitchers settle in New York should be an overall favorite to win its second straight World Series title.

Minnesota Twins

With a new stadium and two of the best bats in the bigs, the Minnesota Twins are riding atop the American League Central and currently sit sixth in all of baseball. Sluggers Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer headline a so-so offense for the Twins. The team is just 14th in runs (4.58 runs per game) and seventh in batting average (.270), relying on its defense to make the difference. Minnesota’s staff posts a collective 3.67 ERA with veteran starter Carl Pavano leading the team with seven wins. The Twins’ bullpen has been stellar in the late innings, owning the best bullpen ERA in the American League (2.87 ERA) with closer Jon Rauch having picked up 17 saves heading into Thursday.

Tampa Bay Rays

Another American League monster tops the World Series futures odds. The Tampa Bay Rays are proving that 2008′s World Series run wasn’t a fluke, jumping out to the top spot in baseball. The Rays’ young lineup is providing a ton of pop, scoring 5.31 runs per game – third most in the majors. Tampa Bay has also been a danger on the basepaths, stealing 75 bases as of Thursday. Outfielder Carl Crawford, who is hitting .297 with 36 RBI, is responsible for 23 of those swipes. On the other side of the diamond, the Rays’ rotation is among the best in the bigs. Tampa Bay has a collective ERA of just 3.50 with starter David Price leading the team in wins (10), ERA (2.31 ERA), and WHIP (1.23).