While the MLB standings are still mostly the same, there has been a significant shift in the sentiment of who is going to win the World Series this year. For a huge part of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked like they were untouchable. However, they enter Thursday on a six-game losing streak. They just got swept at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who pounded them by a combined score of 19-2 in the three wins. But that’s not it for the Dodgers as they’ve now lost 11 of their last 12 games. That’s shocking considering that to see their 11 losses before that, you’d have to go back all the way to June 15th.
Even so, the odds makers view this as a slump and that the Dodgers are still the team to beat. That’s why you see them posted at +200 while everyone else still lags behind.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +200
The Dodgers are 10.5 games ahead in the National League West as they lost three of four in San Diego and then were swept by Arizona at home, and now they’ll host Colorado before visiting San Francisco. Cody Bellinger hit .214 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs for the Dodgers, who hit .197 as a team. The Dodgers had a 5.70 ERA as a team, but Clayton Kershaw returned from injury to get the Dodgers’ lone win, tossing six scoreless innings with a two-hitter in San Diego.
2. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +400
The Indians lead the American League Central by 11 games after sweeping Detroit and they’ve won the first three of four against the Chicago White Sox, both on the road. They’ll return home to host Baltimore and Detroit next. Jose Ramirez had a huge week, hitting .423 with five home runs and seven RBIs, while the Indians had a 2.00 ERA overall. Carlos Carrasco was 1-0 in two starts and allowed two runs over 16.0 innings.
3. Houston Astros
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +500
The Astros top the AL West by 14.5 games as they won three at home over the New York Mets (the fourth was postponed) and then swept Seattle on the road. They’ll travel to Oakland next, and then visit the Los Angeles Angels. Josh Reddick batted .478 for the week with no home runs, but he did drive in nine runs. Justin Verlander earned a win in his Houston debut, allowing a run over six innings for a victory in Seattle.
4. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Nationals lead the NL East by 18 games after splitting four games in Milwaukee, and then they swept Miami on the road. Next, Washington is home to Philadelphia and Atlanta. Ryan Zimmerman hit .409 with a pair of homers and four RBIs for the week. The Nationals had an ERA of 2.09 overall, with Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer combining to win both their starts, giving up one run over 11.0 innings.
5. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Red Sox are four games clear in the AL East after losing three of four in New York to the Yankees, and then winning two of three at home against Toronto. They’ll stay home for Tampa Bay and Oakland this week. Eduardo Nunez batted .273 with a home run and five RBIs for the Red Sox, who hit .204 as a team. However, Doug Fister won both starts this week and allowed two runs over 14.0 innings.
6. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Cubs are four games up in the NL Central as they won three of four at home over Atlanta, and they’ve lost two of the first three of four games in Pittsburgh. Next, it’s home for Milwaukee and the New York Mets. Javier Baez hit .278 with a home and three RBIs for the Cubs, while Kyle Hendricks was 1-0 in two starts on the mound, giving up three runs over 13.1 innings of work.
7. New York Yankees
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
The Yankees trail by four games in the AL East, but they’re in the top wild-card spot by 2.5 games after winning two of three at home against Boston, and they’ve split the first two of three in Baltimore. Next, the Yankees will head to Texas and Tampa Bay. Starlin Castro hit .370 with a home run and six RBIs, and C.C. Sabathia went 1-0 in two starts for the Yankees this week, even though he gave up six runs in 11.1 innings.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +2000
The Diamondbacks are 10.5 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West, but they’re firmly in the top wild-card spot by 7.5 games as they swept San Francisco and the Dodgers, both at home. Next, the Diamondbacks will head to Colorado and to Los Angeles to visit the Dodgers. J.D. Martinez had a monster week for the Diamondbacks, hitting .320 with five home runs and 11 RBIs. On the hill, the Diamondbacks had a 1.73 ERA as a team with Zack Greinke and Taijuan Walker combining to go 3-0 in four starts. The two allowed three runs in 24.0 innings.
9. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +5000
The Rockies are 18 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, but they’re in the second wild-card spot by two games as they were swept at home by Arizona, but they then won two of three against San Francisco, again at home. The Rockies now go on the road to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers, and then Arizona. The Rockies hit just .226 as a team, but Charlie Blackmon hit .333 with two home runs and three RBIs. Kyle Freeland had a tough week for the Rockies, who had an ERA of 6.14, as he lost both starts and was knocked for six runs in 7.1 innings.
10. Milwaukee Brewers
Last Week: —
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
The Brewers are 4.5 games back in the NL Central, and 2.5 games back of the second wild-card spot after winning three of four at home against Washington, but then they were swept in Cincinnati. They’ll travel to Chicago to take on the Cubs next, and then back home for Pittsburgh. Domingo Santana batted .263 with a pair of homers and three RBIs for the week, while Zach Davies split a pair of starts and gave up three runs in 12.2 innings.
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