Houston Astros Open The Season As The Favorite To Win The World Series At +500

Hot stove season is over, pitchers and catchers have reported and Spring Training is a few weeks away from its conclusion. That means that Major League Baseball's Opening Day is nearly upon us. But before the first batter (promptly) steps into the batter's box, sportsbooks have begun offering odds on who will win the coveted Commissioner's Trophy's at season's end. 

World Series Champions

The Astros need a big season from Lance McCullers, Jr. to make up for the Verlander-sized hole in their rotation, but they'll have to wait to see him in action (Elbow Strain). But don't feel too bad for the defending champs, they're loaded with live arms and a lineup that blitzed every staff on its way to the World Series title last fall (17 postseason HRs). The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping that Walker Buehler can return at some point in 2023, but they'll need to plan to replace the ace's production. The two-time All-Star had morphed into the Dodgers ace, so they'll need their offense high-powered offense (1st in OPS in '22) to provide his replacements with a ton of run support if they hope to vie for the NL pennant.

The Mets are banking on Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer staying healthy at their advanced age. Because if they do, they have the best 1-2 combination at the top of their rotation in all of baseball. Outside of Pete Alonso the Mets were a mediocre power hitting team last season. Will they look to add a DH through the season or are they sold on their lineup as is? Time will tell. The crosstown Yankees can't be satisfied with recent history. The Yankees haven't appeared in the World Series in 14 years and looked outclassed by the Astors in the ALCS during a sweep last October. They have three legitimate aces in their staff, but bullpen is questionable at the moment. We'll see how quick Brian Cashman is to upgrade his 'pen this spring and summer.

The Phillies proved last fall that two reliable starters and a lineup made for hitting the ball out of the ballpark is enough to get you into the World Series. Does that mean that a team like the Braves, Padres or Blue Jays could ride a barrage of long balls to the Fall Classic? They already have electric lineups in place for this season, but they'll each need to tweak their pitching staffs as the season progresses. The Braves have a decision to make on Charlie Morton who regressed last season and the Padres appear to be a bullpen arm away from having the best staff in baseball top to bottom. At +1000 they seem like a solid value, particularly if the Dodgers stumble out of the gates in the NL West.