The final out of the World Series was recorded less than 24 hours ago, but already oddsmakers are turning their gaze toward the team that will hoist the trophy in 2018.
Naturally, the Houston Astros, who captured their first ever title on Wednesday night, are the team to beat next season, with 5-to-1 odds of becoming the first back-to-back World Series winner since the New York Yankees accomplished that feat in 2000.
For Chicago fans, the Cubs and White Sox are on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Cubs, despite some looming changes thanks to free agency, have the fifth-best odds in baseball, checking in at 11-to-1 odds of winning their second title in three years, according to Bovada. Those odds tie them with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, but leave them behind the Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Nationals.
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For the White Sox, their road is even tougher, as they have 50-to-1 odds of winning the title. It’s still better than the odds of eight other teams, including the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres, who share the worst odds in baseball with an 100-to-1 shot of winning it all.
For fans looking forward to how their teams will do, there are just over 100 days until teams report to spring training in Arizona and Florida.
