The second half of the 2012 MLB season is scheduled to get underway tomorrow, but the current favorites list to win this year’s American League Pennant looks quite similar to the one issued during Spring Training. According to the latest 2012 MLB Odds, the Rangers, Yankees, and Angels are still the cream of the AL crop as they are listed at +200, +225, and +500 moneyline odds, respectively, to win the American League Pennant. The Tigers are still considered a contender at +1000, but their spotty first half has downgraded their potential in the eyes of the odds makers (Detroit was a +400 play prior to the start of the season). Conversely, the White Sox, a +3500 pick back in April, are now drawing +1000 odds to win the American League.
Texas Rangers (+200): The Rangers owned the best record in baseball much of the season, but, at 52-34, they trail the Yankees by a half game in the AL overall standings. Texas trails no team American League team in run differential (+79), runs scored (443), batting average (.280), on-base percentage (.343), and total bases (1352). Ron Washington’s pitching staff has also been exceptional with the team ranking third in the AL with a 3.72 ERA. Texas has won the last two AL Pennants, and while the competition is thick this season, it certainly looks capable of registering a third straight ALCS title.
New York Yankees (+225): New York went into the break with an MLB best 52-33 record and it also ranked first in baseball in road wins with 27. Long an offensive powerhouse, the Yankees continued that tradition in the season’s first half ranking second in run differential (+65), fourth in runs scored (412), second in on-base percentage (.336), and first in slugging percentage (.459). New York has also fielded a more consistent rotation this season and it presently ranks fourth in the American League with a 3.73 team ERA.
Los Angeles Angels (+500): The Angels, a +350 moneyline play back in April, got off to a wretched start as its big free agent acquisition, Albert Pujols, sputtered out of the gates. Pujols has since come around, though, making a formidable offensive trio with two of the brightest young offensive stars in the game in Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout. Los Angeles has its work cut out for it in catching the Rangers in the AL West, but it is almost guaranteed a wild card spot in the postseason should it continue to perform like it has over the past month and a half.
Want to dominate the books with winning Pro MLB Plays in the 2012 MLB Season? Get with some of the best MLB Odds experts in the business, sign up right now and receive Free MLB Plays!
2012 MLB Odds: American League Pennant (Provided by TopBet.com)
Texas Rangers +200
New York Yankees +225
Los Angeles Angels +500
Detroit Tigers +1000
Chicago White Sox +1000
Tampa Bay Rays +1000
Boston Red Sox +1200
Cleveland Indians +2200
Baltimore Orioles +2200
Toronto Blue Jays +3000
Oakland Athletics +12500
Kansas City Royals +15000
Minnesota Twins +20000
Seattle Mariners +40000
