The 2023 MLB season is creeping closer every day, and with the first pitch now only hours away it’s time to look at the American League Futures. If the odds on the American Pennant are anything to go by, the sportsbooks see this as a fight between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees. But are the sportsbooks right though? Let’s take a closer look.
And it’s that record of three wins in the last four years that means the Houston Astros are the favorites to win the American League title again in 2023. The best MLB betting sites have the Astros at +300 to win the title for the third year in succession. The Astros are followed by the New York Yankees at +350.
There is then a large gap in the betting before we get to the Toronto Blue Jays, which confirms that the best sportsbooks think it is between the Astros and the Yankees. The Blue Jays are out at +700, with the Tampa Bay Rays next at +950.
It’s closer after that with the likes of the improving Seattle Sounders (+1000) and Cleveland Guardians (+1100) showing next. And what of one of sports most frustrating franchises, the Boston Red Sox? Well, Alex Cora’s team is +2000. The Red Sox start their 2023 campaign at home to the Orioles on Thursday.
More betting can be found in our odds table. For more information about the sportsbooks listed on our table, please visit our best online sportsbook reviews page.
| 2023 MLB American League Pennant Futures |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| New York Yankees | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +950 | +950 | +950 |
| Seattle Mariners | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Cleveland Guardians | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Minnesota Twins | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Chicago White Sox | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Texas Rangers | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Boston Red Sox | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
If there is anyone out there who doubts the Houston Astros’ quality, they need to remember that this franchise has won the AL Pennant four times in the last six years. The only teams to have stopped them are the Red Sox in 2018, and the Rays in 2020. And on both of those occasions, they had to defeat the Astros in the final to win.
The Astros are a winning machine. In all three of Dusty Baker’s seasons in charge, they have reached the ALCS. And on the one occasion they lost under Baker, it was in a deciding fixture against the Rays.
It’s because of this form that the best MLB World Series betting sites have also installed them as favorites to win the World Series again this year. Yes folks, not only are the Astros favored to win the ALCS, but also to retain their World Series crown, where they are +600 with the best MLB betting sites.
Now, we all know how difficult it is to win back-to-back World Series, and by pure coincidence the next side we’re going to look at is the last franchise to do so. But the ALCS is different.
And with a line up containing talent like Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, and Jeremy Peña, there is no doubt the Astros are well able to win the title for the third year in succession – and we make them our AL Pennant winner pick.
But a team that plenty feel will give Dusty Baker’s side a run for their money is the New York Yankees. The Yankees will be dangerous, of that there is no doubt. And with 2022 American League MVP winner Aaron Judge still on the roster after re-signing, the Yankees will believe they can take down the Astros this year.
Arriving at the Dodgers Stadium in the close season is Carlos Rodon, who alongside Gerrit Cole will strengthen the pitching roster for coach Aaron Boone.
Make no mistake, this is a talented bunch of guys on the Yankees’s roster. But are they good enough to take down an excellent Astros side? We’re not so sure.
A lot of people are talking about the Yankees finally beating the Astros this year, and while that is possible, at odds of +350, we’re leaving them. But one side we are looking at and feel could be worth an outside wager is the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners finally broke a 20 year hoodoo last year by making it to the playoffs. They got through the Wild Card series with a 2-0 win over Toronto, but they came up against the Astros in the ALDS, where they lost 3-0.
With that experience now gained, could the Mariners be in the hunt to win the division in 2023? They have the likes of Harry Ford and Cole Young looking to make the breakthrough. But it will be difficult for them, when facing such formidable opposition.
Although it will be hard to compete with the likes of the Astros and the Yankees on a weekly basis, the Mariners have the players to hurt anybody should they make it to the postseason. And we think they are a decent outside pick.
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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