Rays’ Playoff Odds Improve to -300 After 5-Game Win Streak

• The Tampa Bay Rays currently hold the first Wild Card spot with a half-game lead on Cleveland
• The Rays have won five in a row while the Oakland Athletics have lost five of nine and Cleveland has lost three of four
• The Oakland Athletics have just three games left against teams above .500

The Tampa Bay Rays have won five in a row and, while they’re still nine games back of the New York Yankees in the American League East, they look like they’re in great shape to make the playoffs via the Wild Card.

Sportsbooks list Tamps as a -300 favorite to make the playoffs. Is there value betting to make it or is it worth a flier to bet them to miss out at +250?

2019 MLB Playoff Odds For Wild Card Contenders

Odds taken 09/03/19 .

Rays Are On A Roll

Taking a look at the Rays’ MLB playoff odds, they’ve shortened of late thanks to a five-game win streak that vaulted them to the top of the Wild Card standings. They now have a half-game lead over Cleveland for the first AL Wild Card and a 1.5-game cushion on Oakland. The Boston Red Sox are six games back.

Schedule Not So Daunting

One of the reasons to like the Rays here is that their schedule isn’t all that daunting. Starting today, they start a two-game set with Baltimore, then visit Toronto for three games, and then Texas for three more. Each of those teams is below .500 and, while the Rangers are the best of the bunch, they’ve dropped six of 10.

From there, the Rays go on a Los Angeles road trip. Facing the Dodgers won’t be easy, but four games against the Angels shouldn’t be too bad. The Halos have lost eight of 10.

After that, they wrap up the season with the Boston Red Sox (whom they are 9-6 against this season), the New York Yankees, and the Blue Jays again. That’s a very manageable schedule.

A’s Also Face Soft Schedule

The A’s have cooled off, going just 4-5 in their last nine games, but they should be able to turn things around. They have six games coming up with the Angels and Detroit Tigers, which should lead to at least four wins.

After that, they’ll play the Houston Astros for three games, but that’s their only opponent above .500 the rest of the way.

What’s The Best Bet?

I actually do think the Rays end up making the playoffs but -300 is too much juice for a 1.5-game lead. There really isn’t much difference in terms of the A’s, Rays and Indians both in the standings and on the field.

The Indians definitely have the toughest schedule of the three teams but I also see them as the best overall squad. The A’s are quite a capable team and they only have three games left against teams with a winning record.

If the Rays were in the neighborhood of -150, I’d say bet them. At this -300 price, I’m tempted to take a flier on “No”. We still have a full month to go and they’re lead is miniscule. This Wild Card race will go down to the wire and I’m not certain enough to pay -300 to bet the “Yes”.