Yankees & Red Sox 2019 Win Totals Both Set at 95.5; What’s the Best Bet for Each?

The thing that stands out most is that both the Boston Red Sox (95.5, -115o/-115u) and New York Yankees (95.5, -115o/-115u) share identical totals. Thankfully, you don’t need to pick the winner in the division, you just need to zero in on whether each team is headed north or south of that projection.

The Case for the Boston Red Sox

Boston won 108 games in the regular season, en route to winning the American League pennant and ultimately the World Series.  The status of closer Craig Kimbrel is still up in the air, but the Red Sox did make a major move signing Nathan Eovaldi to a four-year extension.

Step 1: Get traded to the Red Sox.
Step 2: Dominate & win World Series.
Step 3: Return to the Champs.
Step 4: ? pic.twitter.com/19XNMVcFui

— Red Sox (@RedSox) December 6, 2018

He was a key piece to last year’s World Series victory and will help round out the Red Sox rotation that includes Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, and Eduardo Rodriguez.  That is definitely a staff capable of not only winning more than 95 games, but of blowing it out of the water once again.

In the field and at the plate, Boston projects to look exactly like it did in 2018.  Many times World Series winners lose player after player in free agency, and while the bullpen did lose some of it’s depth, the offence did not.  Name a stat and Boston likely led the majors in it last year – AVG, OBP, runs, total bases, RBI – they were first in all of them.

Name a stat and Boston likely led the majors in it last year – AVG, OBP, runs, total bases, RBI – they were first in all of them.

Could there be a World Series hangover? Sure. But thankfully the folks at sportsbooks have built in a 12.5 win cushion on last year’s win total for you, so it shouldn’t be much of a concern.  The Red Sox may not repeat as champs or even as division winners, but the over here looks great regardless.

Pick: Red Sox over 95.5 wins (-115)

The Case for the New York Yankees

The Yankees won 100 games in the regular season last year, a monster total overshadowed only by Boston’s historic run. Could they match that total, or for the sake of this bet, come within four games of it in 2019?  It certainly seems likely.

New York has a history of amazing bullpen arms, none more spectacular than Mariano Rivera, who just became the first player unanimously voted into Cooperstown.

Enter the Greatest. pic.twitter.com/0E3CYd2VqB

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 22, 2019

That said, the Yankees bullpen in 2019 projects to possibly the best in team history.  Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and Zach Britton return, while Adam Ottavino signed in free agency. Any game the Yankees get to the 6th inning is almost as much of a lock to be closed out as a 9th inning lead was in the Rivera Era. As for the rotation, New York is much more likely to get to those late innings with a lead after adding James Paxton and re-signing deadline acquisition JA Happ.

Any game the Yankees get to the 6th inning is almost as much of a lock to be closed out as a 9th inning lead was in the Rivera Era.

At the plate, expect the Yankees to mash just like they did in 2018.  Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton still headline a lineup more than capable of providing run production. The lineup, as is, has a good chance of going over the number, but now imagine they land Manny Machado, which is a definite possibility.

Where will Manny Machado call home this season? pic.twitter.com/C3SMLo4rMu

— ESPN (@espn) January 14, 2019

Much like Boston’s total, oddsmakers were conservative in setting the number where it is, and you should take advantage.

PICK: Yankees over 95.5 wins (-115)