Angels On the Rise: LA Improves 2018 World Series Odds with Historic Start

• The Angels are off to their best start since 1979. Can they keep up their torrid pace?
• Do the Angels have enough pitching to get past the Astros in the AL West?
• Can Shohei Ohtani bounce back from his first subpar outing of the season?

Back in 1994, Walt Disney Pictures released Angels in the Outfield, a far-fetched flick about a foster child who asks for heavenly intervention to help his favorite Major League team win the pennant. His prayers are soon answered, and over a period of several weeks, the team’s pitchers suddenly become unhittable and its batters begin tearing the hide off the ball.

At the time, it seemed like the sort of thing that could only happen in a Hollywood film, but 24 years later it’s actually happening in real life. The LA Angels are off to their best start since 1979 and oddsmakers are starting to take notice.

The Angels are leading the Majors in runs, hits, total bases, RBI, and batting average, and are second in slugging percentage and OPS.

LA’s average odds to win the 2018 World Series have shortened considerably from +1700 on April 9th to +1000 on April 18th across a number of top online betting sites. The Angels are currently available anywhere from +800 to +1200 depending on the sportsbook.

Those number are a reflection of the team’s recent seven-game winning streak as well as its complete dominance at the plate. The Angels are leading the Majors in runs, hits, total bases, RBI, and batting average, and are second in slugging percentage and OPS.

LA has been producing one through nine, but the real revelation has been Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese sensation has put his Spring Training woes behind him and is hitting .367 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 30 at bats. The Angels have been managing his playing time carefully, but Ohtani is hopeful he’ll get more plate appearances as the season wears on.

Shohei Ohtani on playing time with Angels: “I would like to play more” https://t.co/M47zYoYWx9 pic.twitter.com/HsTL0u2yyS

— Bleacher Report MLB (@BR_MLB) April 12, 2018

Part of the issue is that the Angels need to keep Ohtani fresh for his regular outings. The 23-year-old only lasted two innings in his latest start against the Red Sox, but his raw numbers as a pitcher have been impressive. Ohtani is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA, and has struck out 19 in 15 innings pitched. His fastball consistently hits 100 MPH and his slider is among the best in baseball. The 6’4” right-hander is currently part of a six-man rotation, but has all the tools to become a future ace.

The Angels aren’t the only team whose odds have changed. Here are the biggest risers and fallers from April 9th to April 18th.

Biggest Risers

The Red Sox jumped from +950 to +725 after getting off to their best start in their 118-year history. Boston has won 14 of its first 16 games and crushed the Angels 10-1 on Tuesday night.

The Pirates’ odds have also shortened over the past week and a half from +6800 to +6300 after beating up on the Marlins and taking two of three against the Cubs. Pittsburgh has been led by leftfielder Corey Dickerson, who is hitting .328 with one home run and 12 RBI in his first year with the club.

Biggest Fallers

On the flipside, no team has experienced a more precipitous fall than the Rangers, whose World Series odds have gone from +13000 to +27000 after losing five straight against the Blue Jays, Angels and Astros. Texas’s pitchers are sporting a 4.47 ERA and are allowing opponents to hit a robust .270.

The Mariners’ fortunes have also fallen despite the fact that Seattle remains three games above .500 in the ultra competitive AL West.

The Mariners’ fortunes have also fallen despite the fact that Seattle remains three games above .500 in the ultra competitive AL West. Their longer odds have more to do with the success of the Angels and Astros rather than any onfield foibles of their own.

See all the movement across the Majors Leagues by visiting our 2018 World Series Odds Tracker.