Yu Darvish had exceeded expectations in his 1st 3 seasons with the club. Based on his 6 YRs/$56 MIL contract, he was considered seriously underpaid in the last three years of his contract. Since that value created cash for other deals, the team was able to sign Fielder and Choo last winter, but those two sustained massive injuries in 2014 (along with the RHP – and about 57 others lin 2014) in what was a losing season, Darvish finished 2nd in AL Cy Young Voting with a 2.83 ERA and an AL Leading 277 for the 2013 season, but he has a torn UCL now – and will probably have to go under the knife for Tommy John Surgery, I call this a season ender for the Rangers playoffs chances even before we hit the MLB opener on April.5th.  Oddsmakers are on board with what I have said, with the team tied for the 22nd worst odd to win it all this campaign.

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With yesterday’s grim news on the 2015 season of Yu Darvish. I think it is safe to say the Rangers will have a tough campaign this year as well.

It was one thing having all of their top players coming back from injury already, but now you lose one of the true aces left in the American League.  This is a doomsday special.  I don’t think Yovani Gallardo will take on Darvish’s type of role and thrive.  If anything, the Rangers might be able to flip him later in the year.

Jon Daniels should not trade for another pitcher either.  This Division is the best in baseball, and if he were to do that, it would be bad money spent.  Hopefully Prince Fielder and Shin-soo Choo can have bounce back seasons for you, and at least the future will look up beyond 2015.

Washington keeps being hammered by the sharp gambler.  I am lucky to have plunked the money down on them when I did.  With the Giants losing Hunter Pence for a lengthy spell to start the year, the NL is becoming even more top heavy.

Tentatively I have completed a rough draft of my season picks for Division Winners, Records, and the playoffs, and let’s just say the Nats, Dodgers, Cardinals and Pirates may be the only 4 clubs to be well over .500 by the year’s end.

I expected the San Francisco Giants to stick around and contend for a Wild Card Spot, but I am now hedging on them suffering your the World Series hangover again.

No faith at all in the Bucs, has the Cubs listed higher for a World Series odd them this team. I don’t get it with 94 and 88 wins respectively in the last 2 years, and an improving lineup. Can gambling pundits really project so much of the clubs success was based solely on Russell Martin in 2013 and 2014? Jump at this odd and thank me later.

Therefore, my best bet of the week is the Pittsburgh Pirates to win Fall Classic at +2500.  Let my clarify again, I have the Nationals to win the World Series on bets already, but I love the new odd for the Bucs at +2500.

Last week Pittsburgh was at +2200, and all that has happened from last week to this week is the Pence injury.

This club will do with a motivated Cespedes, so you may expect them to reel in a 5th straight AL Central Division Crown this season. They are certainly a better bet than the Angels or Red Sox in terms of Strength of Schedule, and least path of resistance to a playoff spot. Bet them before the oddsmakers wise up.

Another odd I am baffled on is how the Tigers have dropped all the way to +1400, after coming in at +1200.  Count me in for some more cabbage in on the “Motown Boys”.  There is something to be said about their 3-4-5 lineup being so far ahead of the Division it is not funny.  It also not like they are devoid of pitching either.

I am most down on the odd the White Sox have reeled in this week at +2200.  I think this club is improved sure, but Sale is out for a while, and they moved up?  Seriously!  Not wise gamblers.  Of course, I am still hellbent on the ballooned odds for the Padres and Cubs are horrible wagers as well.  At +1800 and +2200 respectively, it shouldn’t wet anyone’s beak to throw down some hard earned dollars.

If you followed my advice last week by betting the Mariners, would should give yourself a pat on the back right this instant.  They jumped from +1500 to +1200 this week.  They are pretty much where they should be for gambling.

The Jays quickly moved up to +1800 which is to be expected.  I think that is a fair odd for the club.

KC and SF both lost some steam in the market, and like their Pennant wins last year. they are joined at the hip for confidence in a repeat performance.

Rounding out odds I like this week are the Baltimore Orioles at +2200.  I still can’t fathom the Red Sox  are up on the list on these guys by so much.  If Chris Davis has a monster season, the O’s are capable of an AL East repeat.  There should not be much separating them odds wise, from Boston (or Toronto) for that matter, and they yield the highest return if you select them right now.

I am not putting any money down on the Mets, however I am a little higher on them to make a playoff spot with the Pence injury.  I won’t be surprised if the 2nd Wild Card team in the NL has between 81 – 85 wins to its name.

If you love the longshots to select, how about the Brewers and the Reds sitting at +5000.  At least the NL Central is a little bit easier to win than the NL West and NL East are going to be in 2015.

I have to give the oddsmakers credit for most of their AL odds in any team I haven’t mentioned above this line.

The betting public reacted swiftly towards the Darvish injury, as they fell from +4500 last week to +5000 now.

Odds To Win The 2015 World Series.

1. Washington Nationals +500

2. LA Dodgers +600

T3.  Los Angeles Angels +1100

T3.  St. Louis Cardinals +1100

5. Seattle Mariners +1500

T6.  Detroit Tigers +1400

T6.  Boston Red Sox +1400

T8. Toronto Blue Jays +1800

T8.  San Diego Padres +1800

T10. San Francisco Giants +2000

T10. KC Royals +2000

T12. Baltimore Orioles +2200

T12. Chicago White Sox +2200

T12. Cleveland Indians +2200

T12. Chicago Cubs +2200

T16. Pittsburgh Pirates +2500

T16.   Oakland A’s +2500

18. NY Yankees +3000

19. NY Mets +3300

T20.  Miami Marlins +3500

T20. Atlanta Braves +3500

T22.  Cincinnati Reds +5000

T22.  Milwaukee Brewers +5000

T22.  Texas Rangers +5000

T22.  TB Rays +5000

26.  Houston Astros +8000

T27.  Minnesota Twins +12500

T27.  Arizona D’Backs +12500

T29.  Philadelphia Philies +15000

T29. Colorado Rockies +15000

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Odds are courtesy of www.bet365.com

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A Big thanks goes out to our chief writer Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s feature post.

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