The Texas Rangers became the first team to advance to the League Championship round after sweeping the Orioles in the ALDS. No one had been playing better than Baltimore, making the Rangers easy series win even more impressive.
The Rangers are now 5-0 in the 2023 playoffs, and MLB betting sites have taken notice. Below we will provide updated World Series Odds, how the Rangers got to the ALCS, and their chances to win their first Championship in team history.
DraftKings Sportsbook now has the Rangers as the second-biggest favorite to win the 2023 World Series at +275. However, their odds are behind that of the Houston Astros, who they will likely be facing in the ALCS. DraftKings has the Astros at +210 to repeat as Champions, while the Phillies are in third at +340.
Texas entered the playoffs at +1700 to win the World Series.
The Rangers were the best team in baseball in the first half of the season, but a slump late in the year cost them the AL West and almost a playoff spot. Texas edged out Seattle by two games for the final AL playoff spot, thanks in part to playing them in seven of their ten final games.
The biggest weapon for this team has been their lineup. Corey Seager had an MVP-level season at the plate despite injuries, finishing the season with the sixth-best batting average (.327) and second-best OPS (1.013). He was supported by fantastic campaigns by veterans Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia and rookie Josh Jung. The Rangers’ lineup helped them finish ranked in the top three of the league in home runs, RBIs, and batting average.
The lineups success in the postseason is hardly a surprise, but their pitching has been. They lost ace Jacob deGrom to injury early in the season, and newly acquired Max Scherzer to injury late in the year. Their absences haven’t been felt of yet, thanks to great outings from Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery. Texas pitchers have allowed just 11 earned runs over five playoff appearances.
The hottest team usually claims the MLB crown, and no one has been hotter than the Rangers. As discussed above, their offense is one of the best in the league. They have outscored their opponents 32-12 so far in the postseason, including against a Baltimore team that had been incredible to finish the season.
Another positive sign for Texas is that four of their five playoff wins have come on the road. They will open the ALCS on the road regardless of who they play, so their success is a very positive sign.
The biggest threat to a Rangers World Series Title is their pitching. While they have been great so far, they fell apart a bit in the second half of the season. The loss of deGrom and Scherzer hurts, even if it hasn’t been felt yet. While Eovaldi and Montgomery have filled in admirably, it’s hard to say how long they can keep it up.
Then there is the Texas bullpen, which has struggled to find a reliable closer. That could be a scary problem to have in the ALCS, especially against the Astros.
Michael is an avid sports fan and a veteran bettor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He learned the trade from his grandfather in Las Vegas as a kid. As an adult, Michael started picking games for a small sports betting site and has built it into a career. His experience allows him to provide tips and information to help other bettors improve their game. Michael cheers for all Wisconsin pro teams, the Arizona State Sun Devils (his alma mater), and the Ottawa Senators. He specializes in baseball betting but has extensive experience in football, basketball, and hockey. When he isn’t pouring over stats, he’s spending time with his two young children or hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
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