Astros Still Favored to Win World Series Despite Losing MVP Candidate George Springer

• Houston has the best odds to win the 2019 World Series at +350
• Alex Bregman is having another All-Star season with a WAR of 2.6 to go along with 48 hits, 15 home runs, and 35 RBIs
• George Springer’s 1.032 OPS was seventh among all qualified Major League hitters before his injury

The Houston Astros look every bit like World Series contenders as they stand atop the AL West currently with a 36-19 record. They were thrown a big curveball, however, as George Springer left Friday’s game against the Red Sox with an injured left hamstring.

Is there still value in betting on the Astros’ World Series odds?

2019 World Series Odds

Odds taken 05/27/19

Springer Sidelined Indefinitely

Astros Manager AJ Hinch said that after a Saturday reevaluation Springer will be sidelined indefinitely, much longer than the prescribed 10 days he must stay on the injured list.

Springer entered Saturday the AL leader in home runs with 17 and total bases with 119.  Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs both valued Springer at 2.7 wins above replacement – higher than any of his Astros teammates.

Bregman and Brantley Should Shoulder Offensive Load

Picking up the slack will be Alex Bregman, who has a WAR of 2.6 to go along with 48 hits, 15 home runs, and 35 RBIs. He has an OBP .390, is slugging .546, and his OPS is .937

Alex Bregman with a good view of “staying inside” the ball. Arms, hands, barrel staying tight to his body as lower half establishes direction. Release of barrel happens same time lower half finishes clearing. pic.twitter.com/QDQ7SBNxcD

— LineDrivePro (@LineDrivePro) May 23, 2019

Michael Brantley is also having a strong season as well with a WAR of 2.0, 10 HR, and a .320 batting average to go along with 34 RBI.

Michael Brantley 162 game pace for 2019:

.336 BA, 44 2B, 34 HR, 117 RBI#Astros

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) May 6, 2019

Pitching Still a Strong Suit for Astros

The Astros are ranked second in wins in the American League and have the second best ERA at 3.39. They are first in strikeouts as well.

2,800 career strikeouts for @JustinVerlander. #TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/PtyeSOewbk

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 26, 2019

Justin Verlander is the ace of this staff and has the stats to back that up with an 8-2 record and a 2.38 ERA. Brad Peacock is 5-2, with a 3.19 ERA, and 58 strikeouts.

Robert Osuna has been lights-out as a closer too, with a 3-0 record and 1.54 ERA and 13 saves.

The Best Bet

The Astros have enough depth at all positions to cover for Springer in the short term. They are clearly a better team with him, but they’re more than capable of weathering the storm in his absence. Pick Houston to win the World Series.

Pick: Houston Astros (+350)