With the Atlanta Braves victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night, the 2021 baseball season is officially over. Now it’s time to turn the page to 2022 with the way too early Vegas betting odds.
PointsBet Sports Book released their odd on Twitter this morning and they give the Chicago White Sox the third-best odds to win the World Series at +850. This is an improvement from last year when they opened at +1000.
They trail only the Dodgers at +500 and the Astros at +600. It makes sense since the Astros embarrassed the White Sox in the ALDS. That being said fans should feel pretty good about the White Sox chances in 2022.
It’s no secret the White Sox were much better at Guaranteed Rate Field than they were on the road. They battled injuries throughout the 2021 season which was one of the reasons they were unable to claim home-field advantage in the first round. With almost all of their starters returning this year and a full season of a healthy Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez, there is no reason to believe the White Sox can’t take the next step.
2022 MLB World Series Odds:
-Dodgers: +500
-Astros: +600
-White Sox: +850
-Blue Jays: +900
-Yankees: +1000
-Padres: +1100
-Brewers: +1200
-Giants: +1200
-Braves: +1400
-Rays: +1400
-Red Sox: +1600
-Mets: +1600
-Cardinals: +1600
-Phillies: +2200
-Reds: +2800
-Angels: +3300— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) November 3, 2021
Jose Abreu is still producing at an MVP caliber level. Tim Anderson made his first All-Star team. Yoan Moncada has proved that he can get on base at an increasingly high rate. Yasmani Grandal was hitting home runs at a prolific rate. Luis Robert looked like a superstar during the back half of the season. Eloy Jimenez has the potential to lead the league in home runs. Andrew Vaughn will only improve as a hitter.
Meanwhile, the starting rotation will feature at least two All-Stars in Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito with the possibility of returning a third if Carlos Rodon resigns. Dylan Cease took another step in his development while flamethrower Micheal Kopech is set to join the rotation. In the bullpen, the White Sox boost the American League leader in saves in Liam Hendriks and an arsenal of other talented arms such as Garrett Crochet, Ryan Tepera, Reynaldo Lopez, and Aaron Bummer.
Despite the positives, the White Sox does have some glaring holes that must be addressed. The free-agent class is loaded with talent and if the White Sox can land a big-name outfielder, second baseman, or potentially another arm their World Series odds could even improve. Whether or not Jerry Reinsdorf is willing to spend any more money is yet to be seen.
Interestingly enough the defending World Series champs had just the ninth-best odd. PointsBet gave the Atlanta Braves +1400 odds. PointsBet also believes that the White Sox stiffest competition in the American League, outside of the Astros will be the Toronto Blue Jays (+900) and the New York Yankees (+1000). The Rays and Red Sox were the next closest at a distant +1400 and +1600.
It should be noted that PointsBet gives the White Sox much higher odds than the average sportsbooks. The average odds have the White Sox across the board are closer to +1200. That gives them the fifth-best odds behind the Dodgers (+550), Astros (+700), Braves (+900), and Yankees (+1000). Right behind the White Sox is the Tampa Bay Rays (+1400). The next closest American League squad is the Red Sox at +1600.
