Red Sox Odds: Veteran Oddsmaker Says ’90’ Is Boston’s Key Number
Sox probably need to play over .500 down stretch to make playoffs
After a forgettable weekend in Toronto, the Boston Red Sox are searching for answers.
Manager Alex Cora's struggling starting rotation gave Boston every opportunity to leave Canada with a series win, but All-Star closer Matt Barnes served up devastating home runs Saturday and Sunday to morph the series loss to 1-3.
DraftKings Sportsbook literally doubled Boston's odds to win the American League East from Friday. The Red Sox were +150 to win the division and they're currently +300. So a $100 bet now makes you $300 if the Sox can weather the storm and win the division.
AL East odds via DraftKings
Tampa Bay Rays -140 ($140 wins $100)
Boston Red Sox +300 ($100 wins $300)
New York Yankees +550
Toronto Blue Jays +800
Baltimore Orioles +100000
We all love bigger payouts at the betting window, but the truth is that Boston's probability of winning the division has been slashed drastically. Odds of +150 imply a 40 percent chance, while +300 implies only 25 percent.
DraftKings also has a betting market on teams making the playoffs. For Boston, the "Yes" is -220 and the "No" is +180, so the Sox are still favored to punch a ticket to the postseason.
"I think they're in trouble because of the division they're in," longtime Las Vegas oddsmaker Dave Sharapan told NESN. "The AL East is the best division in baseball right now and Boston's path isn't an easy one down the stretch. The Sox have 10 games left against Tampa and six with the Yankees. Throw in three-game sets with the Mariners and White Sox, too.
"They have to go just over .500 the rest of the way," Sharapan said. "With 48 games left, 25-23 puts them at 90 wins and a likely postseason spot. But 21-27 is only 86 wins and likely out. A healthy Chris Sale could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs."
I personally refuse to believe that the Red Sox are a sinking ship. Sure, there's water in the boat, but Boston is so much better than this recent 2-9 slide. It's truly amazing the way some fans and sports radio callers are throwing in the towel with almost 50 games left in the regular season.
All eyes turn to Sale as the supposed savior who makes his season debut this Saturday. Remember, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and the brass hinted that Sale's return would be better than any deadline trade.
Time will tell if they're right.
