How the Red Sox are expected to fare this season
Oddsmakers believe it's possible they'll finish fourth in the division but still make the playoffs.
With the bulk of their lineup back, and Trevor Story in the mix, the Red Sox feature one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball. Their pitching, however, is somewhat of a question mark as the regular season nears.
Even though the Red Sox are fresh off a trip to the American League Championship Series, experts don’t necessarily expect a great deal of success this season.
WynnBET puts their projected win total at 86, behind the Yankees (92), Blue Jays (91), and Rays (89.5) in their division and also behind the Astros (92) and White Sox (91.5) in the American League.
That would, however, put Boston in the playoffs, because the format is now the three division winners plus three Wild Card teams from each league.
Fan Graphs slots the Red Sox third in the AL East with 87 wins, behind the Jays and Yankees and just ahead of the Rays. The site gives the Red Sox a 12.3 percent chance to take the division, 49.1 percent chance to earn a Wild Card berth, and 4.2 percent chance to win the World Series.
Baseball America puts them fourth in the division, behind the Blue Jays, Rays, and Yankees, in that order, and has the Mariners making the playoffs over the Red Sox. The Orange County Register baseball writers all project them to take fourth as well.
Sports Betting Dime and CBS Sports both slot their projected win total at 85.5. ESPN’s Jeff Passan notes that the Red Sox are “worth considering” at +500 with the fourth-longest odds in the division.
PointsBet gives the Red Sox the 11th-best odds to win the World Series (+2200). WynnBET is a bit more optimistic about their chances, putting them seventh-most likely to win it all (+1500).
Opening Day is set for April 7.
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