MLB Trade Deadline Day Tracker – Astros World Series Odds Shorten After Acquiring Verlander
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Published:
- Returning ace right-hander Justin Verlander to their roster at the MLB trade deadline shortened the World Series odds on the Houston Astros from +800 to +700
- The average World Series odds of the Texas Rangers shortened to +964 following the MLB trade deadline addition of pitch Max Scherzer
- The Tampa Bay Rays are at a betting line of +350 to win the ALCS following the acquisition of right-handed starter Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians
The August 1 MLB trade deadline saw the Texas-based contenders in the AL West going all in. Both the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were both dealing for three-time Cy Young Award winners.
At the start of the season, veteran hurlers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were reunited as teammates in pursuit of a World Series title with the New York Mets. Today, they remain with the same goal in mind, but as opponents.
The AL West-leading Rangers picked up three-time Cy Young winner Scherzer. A half-game behind Texas, the Astros brought three-time Cy Young winner and former AL MVP Justin Verlander back into the fold.
MLB World Series Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | +330 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +500 |
| Houston Astros | +700 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +800 |
| Texas Rangers | +1100 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +1200 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +1500 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1700 |
| Minnesota Twins | +2500 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +2800 |
| San Francisco Giants | +2800 |
| San Diego Padres | +4000 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +4000 |
| Seattle Mariners | +4500 |
| New York Yankees | +4500 |
The impact on Houston’s World Series odds was immediate. The Astros have shortened from +800 to +700. They’ve leapfrogged the Tampa Bay Rays to become the AL club with the shortest World Series odds.
Acquiring Scherzer is certainly boosting the hopes of the Rangers. However the trade made minimal impact on their World Series betting line, as they are still +1100, though they have shortened slightly at some books. The Atlanta Braves are the current favorites at +330, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers at +500.
Likewise, the Los Angeles Angels remain a longshot to qualify for postseason baseball despite the fact they are insisting that they’ll be keeping impending free agent Shohei Ohtani.
In the rich get richer department, the Rays upgraded what is already baseball’s deepest starting rotation with the addition of right-hander Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians.
Odds as of August 1 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Access this DraftKings promo code to bet on MLB all summer!
Verlander Returning to Astros at MLB Trade Deadline
Apparently, Verlander believes that you can come home again. With the Astros from 2017-22, he won a pair of World Series and an equal number of Cy Young Awards. He was a 21-game winner as recently as 2019.
TRADE 🚨
The Astros are acquiring Justin Verlander from the Mets, per @BNightengale pic.twitter.com/jcIJPeWrld
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 1, 2023
Injuries delayed the launch of Verlander’s 2023 debut with the Mets. However, he’s 3-1 with a 1.85 ERA and 0.99 WHIP since the MLB All-Star break. Armed with a no-trade clause in his contract, Verlander chose the Astros as his destination, likely over a chance to go to the Dodgers.
Through his last six starts, Verlander is showing a 1.69 ERA. He’s holding opposing hitters to a .167 batting average and one home run in 37.1 innings over that span. Over his career, Verlander has made 35 postseason appearances and delivered 16 wins.
Scherzer to Rangers
Still the leaders in the AL West race, the Rangers were looking to lock down the division with the addition of veteran postseason performer Scherzer. He’s pitched in 27 MLB playoff games.
However, it hasn’t moved the needle much for Texas. On average, the World Series chances of the Rangers across the leading online sportsbooks shortened from +1079 to +964. DraftKings is still showing Texas at a betting line of +1100 to win the Fall Classic.
After adding Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, the @Rangers pitching staff gets even more crowded.#MLBCentral | @markdero7 pic.twitter.com/AToXwCUwKl
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 31, 2023
Acquiring Scherzer also hasn’t given Texas a boost in the MLB division odds. Houston remains the -130 odds-on chalk to be AL West champs. The Rangers are showing a +150 betting line in this market. Prior to the Verlander deal, Houston was -110 to win the division, while Texas was +140.
Scherzer was 9-4 for the Mets this season, but is displaying a 4.09 ERA, his highest number in that department since 2011. The Rangers are Scherzer’s fourth team since 2021.
Civale Boosting Rays Rotation Depth
Adding Civale is the kind of move that Tampa Bay has perfected over the years. His name might not carry the gravitas of Scherzer, but no hurler who’s been dealt so far is displaying better numbers this season.
Civale was 5-2 for the Guardians this season, with a 1.04 WHIP and a team-leading 2.34 ERA. His WAR is eighth among AL pitchers at 2.7.
The Rays are the +350 second betting choice to win the ALCS and represent the Junior Circuit in the World Series. They are +115 co-favorites with the Baltimore Orioles to capture the AL East crown.
Keeping Ohtani Not Helping Angels
The overwhelming -750 odds-on chalk to win the AL MVP odds, news that the Angels won’t be moving double threat Ohtani isn’t moving them closer to being a playoff team in the eyes of oddsmakers.
LA also made other changes to boost the club’s roster, including the addition of starting pitcher Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox. The Angels are 11-5 in their last 16 games and have moved ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card race.
However, they’re still three games out of a playoff spot and the Angels remain +450 longshots to be postseason participants in the MLB playoff odds.
Rodriguez Rejects Dodgers
In other deadline-day deals, the Toronto Blue Jays added infielder Paul DeJong from the St. Louis Cardinals, fueling speculation that the leg injury suffered Monday by Bo Bichette may be serious. The Philadelphia Phillies grabbed AL All-Star pitcher Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers.
Pipped for Verlander by the Astros, the Dodgers were also rejected by left-handed starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez from the Tigers. He invoked his no-trade clause to void a trade to the Dodgers. They’ve already added starter Lance Lynn and reliever Joe Kelly from the White Sox.
The World Series favorite Braves were adding lefty reliever Brad Hand from the Colorado Rockies.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
