If the Boston Red Sox needed any motivation ahead of the 2019 MLB season, the oddsmakers at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook certainly have provided it.
The Red Sox are the defending champions, but they are not the favorites to win in 2019. Instead, two of the teams they beat in the American League playoffs en route to winning the 2018 World Series are ahead of them on the latest betting odds.
The New York Yankees are the favorites, with the Houston Astros coming in right behind them.
Here are the teams with the best odds to win the 2019 World Series, according to the Westgate.
New York Yankees: 5-1
Houston Astros: 6-1
Boston Red Sox: 7-1
Los Angeles Dodgers: 7-1
Cleveland Indians: 10-1
These odds show just how competitive the AL should be in 2019. The Red Sox (108), Astros (103) and Yankees (100) were the only teams in baseball to win 100-plus games last year, and it wouldn't be shocking if all three did it again this season.
The Red Sox have returned nearly their entire roster from last year's championship. The Astros also kept most of their top players and the Yankees made a few additions, most notably starting pitcher James Paxton.
Boston Red Sox
Still, it seems like the Red Sox aren't getting the respect they deserve from oddsmakers entering 2019. Veteran closer Craig Kimbrel was the only impactful departure, and the team's young core, headlined by reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Andrew Benintendi should continue to improve.
These betting lines are pretty fluid, however, so if the Red Sox get off to a hot start in Seattle, Oakland and Arizona to begin the season, it wouldn't be surprising to see them rocket to the top of the MLB futures odds.
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