The Tampa Bay Rays are tied with the San Diego Padres for the best record in baseball. They have scored the third most runs this season, and their pitching is top-10 in ERA and WHIP. Wander Franco, the number one prospect in MLB, could be called up at any given moment.
Despite all these positives, sportsbooks seem to really hate the Tampa Bay Rays. Both William Hill and Fanduel Sportsbook have them behind nine teams in the odds to win the World Series. The latter actually has the Rays at +2200 to take home the title. That’s tied with a very flawed Boston Red Sox side who seem like they are going to fall out of contention at any given moment.
Even if you don’t think Tampa Bay has what it takes to claim the championship, the disrespect they get in American League betting is off the charts. We looked at why the Rays were an interesting wager to win the American League at +1000 in March. All they have done since then is be one of the two best teams in the baseball.
And yet their odds have barely shifted. William Hill bumped them down to +850 while Fanduel still has them at +1000 to advance to the World Series. The thing is, both sportsbooks have moved teams up and down the board. The Toronto Blue Jays had shorter odds than Tampa Bay before the season started and have since grown.
On the other hand, the Boston Red Sox were an afterthought to clinch the pennant before spring training and now have the same odds as the Rays. What is going on here?
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We haven’t even mentioned the New York Yankees who remain the clear cut favorite to win the American League. This is a team with a paltry run differential of +10 and currently sit 4.5 games back of Tampa Bay in the AL East. They look more likely to miss the playoffs than win the pennant.
Speaking of missing the playoffs, if they began today, the Houston Astros would be on the outside looking in. However, they still have odds of +700 to win the American League. And let’s not forget those trash can banging cheaters lost to Tampa Bay in last year’s ALCS.
Sportsbooks really, really hate the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s not such a bad thing. Place your bet on them and hopefully this blind hatred pays off for you.
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