Updated MLB Odds - July 20, 2015

After the All-Star break, it’s back to business for all 30 MLB teams. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Phillies, even though the majors would be better off without them this season. As for most of the other clubs, the second half brings hope of improving on their chances to get in the postseason and eventually win the World Series. With that said, let’s look at some of the favorites, sleepers, and long shots to take home the title this coming October.

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2015 Season MLB Odds Update

Favorites: Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals

[sc:MLB240banner ]Will the Royals party like it’s 1985 this coming fall? According to Fangraph’s playoff projection, the Royals have a 6.6 percent chance of duplicating George Brett and company’s World Series win from 20 years ago this 2015. While that’s only the third highest figure among American League teams, the Royals’ price of +600 to win it all is the lowest overall in the majors.The team’s 55-35 record is also the best in MLB as of this writing.

Kansas City, however, has to endure without Alex Gordon (groin) for a good chunk of the second half. The rotation, meanwhile, is starting to look better with the return of Yordano Ventura and the apparent return to form of Danny Duffy. That’s not to mention the Royals’ shutdown bullpen that owns the lowest ERA (2.17) second best FIP (3.14) in the big leagues.

If the Royals are to make it back to the World Series, then there’s a good chance that they’ll meet the Cards this October.

St. Louis has bucked the absence of Adam Wainwright, whom they lost to a torn Achilles tendon, and managed to finish the first half as the owner of the best record in MLB. With a price of +700 to win it all, the Cards are relying on their rotation to sustain its great work moving forward.

To illustrate just how important the Cards’ pitching has been this season, consider the fact that St. Louis’ starters have a collective WAR of 10.2—fourth highest in the majors. Moreover, the Cards starters are the only group at this point of the season that has a sub-3.00 ERA. Many folks say that pitching wins championships and the Cards are among the top candidates to prove that theory true this season.

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Sleepers: Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs

No thanks to an ugly six-game losing streak to conclude the first half, the Astros (+2,000) were forced to relinquish their hold of the AL West’s top spot to the Angels. That being said, Houston is still within striking distance of the Halos, as the Astros are just a game behind LA with a 51-43 record.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Astros’ front office might pull some strings to fortify the team’s rotation. Landing a Johnny Cueto or at least a Mike Leake will be a big boost for the Astros, who are currently 16^th in the majors in ERA with an unimpressive 4.02 clip. Perhaps a trade for a first baseman is also in the offing as Chris Carter is batting a pathetic .185 this season, easily the worst among all first baseman in the majors.

Over in the National League, the Cubs (+1,500) are a team to watch out for in the second half. Although they’re unlucky to be grouped in the same division as the Cards and the Pirates, the Cubs are nonetheless on pace to make the postseason. In fact, the Wrigley Field tenants have the second highest chance of clinching a wild card berth among non-division leaders in the NL according to Fangraphs.

A better showing from Jon Lester in the second half should help the Cubs remain in contention for at least a wild card berth for the rest of the season. Lester ended the first half with a 4-8 record and a 3.59 ERA.

Long shots: Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies

Right after Giancarlo Stanton hurt his hand back in June, several people were quick to label the Marlins as a dead team walking. With Stanton out for likely at least another month and the Marlins 12 games behind the Nats in the NL East, it’s easy to figure out why the Fins are priced +20,000 to win the World Series. Perhaps nothing says more about the decrepit situation in Miami than their embarrassing three straight losses to a wretched Philadelphia club to open the second half.

Speaking of the Phillies, Colorado (+40,000) should send Ruben Amaro a gift basket as a gesture of gratitude. That’s because the Phillies (32-62) are the only team in the majors that have a worse record than Colorado (39-51). Colorado’s apocalypse of a season can be largely attributed to its rotten pitching staff that ranks last in ERA (4.22) and FIP (4.34).