MLB Divisional Playoff Odds

Betting on the MLB playoffs kicks off in style with a triple-header of Division Series matchups on Wednesday.

At 1:37 p.m. ET, the Tampa Bay Rays host the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field for Game 1 of the ALDS. With ace David Price on the hill, the Rays are ALDS odds favorites of -135. Price was a monster in 2010, going 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA. However, the Rangers will make for an intriguing upset play at +115 at Bovada, as Price’s career ERA against Texas is 7.45.

Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for the Rangers. Will he repeat his dominant 2009 playoff run in which he went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA? Team run totals are conservatively listed at 3 for Texas and 3.5 for Tampa – fitting with the two ace lefties matching up on the mound. [{URL=https://www.oddsshark.com/Stats/Matchup/Baseball/MLB/40014} Matchup Report{/URL} ]

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At 5:07 p.m. ET, the Cincinnati Reds hit Philadelphia as +175 underdogs at Bovada against the mighty Phillies (-210 favorites). Roy Halladay (21-10, 2.44 ERA) will make his first career playoff start against Edinson Volquez (4-3, 3.41 ERA).

Halladay will have to be careful against Cincinnati first  baseman Joey Votto, who could win the NL MVP after batting .324 with 37 homers and 113 RBI this season. [{URL=https://www.oddsshark.com/Stats/Matchup/Baseball/MLB/40024} Matchup Report{/URL} ]

The New York Yankees begin their title defense on the road at Target Field against the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of their ALDS matchup at 8:37 p.m. ET. With CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18 ERA) getting the call for the Bronx Bombers, it’s no wonder New York is a road favorite at -140.

The Twins counter with young Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62 ERA). Liriano has a 3.12 career ERA against the Yankees but is winless in four starts against them. [{URL=https://www.oddsshark.com/Stats/Matchup/Baseball/MLB/40015} Matchup Report{/URL} ]

Along with the Phillies, the Yanks have the highest projected run total for Game 1 at 4 runs at Bovada.

On Thursday, the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants open their NLDS matchup at 9:37 p.m. ET. Sinkerballer Derek Lowe (16-12, 4.00 ERA) gets the start for Altanta. It may seem like a surprising call at first glance since the Braves also have Tim Hudson and Tommy Hanson, but Lowe enters the playoffs as hot as any pitcher in baseball.

He went 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in September.

Still, the Braves are +135 underdogs at San Francisco, largely because the Giants (-155 favorites at Bovada) send Tim Lincecum to the mound for his first postseason appearance. You know Tiny Tim is good when a 16-10 record, 3.43 ERA, and 231 strikeouts qualify as an “off” year by his standards.

Odds to win the 2010 World Series and AL and NL pennants, courtesy of Bovada
    
Philadelphia Phillies    2/1 (+200)
New York Yankees    7/2 (+350)
Tampa Bay Rays        9/2 (+450)
San Francisco Giants    7/1 (+700)
Minnesota Twins        8/1 (+800)
Cincinnati Reds        11/1 (+1100)
Texas Rangers        11/1 (+1100)
Atlanta Braves        12/1 (+1200)

Odds to win the 2010 National League Championship

Philadelphia Phillies    5/7 (-140)
San Francisco Giants    3/1 (+300)
Cincinnati Reds        5/1 (+500)
Atlanta Braves        11/2 (+550)

Odds to win the 2010 American League Championship

New York Yankees    17/10 (+170)
Tampa Bay Rays        2/1 (+200)
Minnesota Twins        4/1 (+400)
Texas Rangers        9/2 (+450)