Texas Rangers (+550) to Reach the American League Playoffs
The Yankees, Twins, and Royals currently hold the Wild Card spots, with the Rangers 7.5 games behind. However, Texas still has a chance to clinch one of the final two Wild Card spots.
The Rangers have the second-easiest remaining schedule (.476 strength of schedule), featuring 20 games against the Athletics, White Sox, and Angels.
In their next 13 games, the Rangers will face the White Sox, Blue Jays, Cardinals, and Red Sox — all winnable series, suggesting that the current +550 odds could soon improve to +300.
Boston, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Detroit are ahead of Texas in the AL Wild Card race. Of these, Tampa Bay and Detroit are unlikely playoff contenders, and Boston faces tough competition in their division.
Texas has faced significant injuries this season, with 1,004 total games missed and 21 instances of placing a player on the injured list, second only to Oakland in the AL West.
However, many injured players are set to return, including pitchers Jacob DeGrom, Tyler Mahle, and Dane Dunning, along with hitters Evan Carter and Josh Jung.
With the trade deadline approaching on July 30, Texas is more likely to be buyers than sellers, aiming to capitalize on their favorable second-half schedule. I bet on the Rangers to make the postseason at +550 odds and would still back them down to +300 after the White Sox series.
Pick: Rangers to make the postseason (Risk 1u)
MLB Futures
3u: Aaron Judge to win AL MVP (+110)
2u: Aaron Judge to win AL MVP (-200)
2u: Luis Gil to win AL ROY (+140)
2u: Hunter Greene Over 183.5 Strikeouts (-106)
2u: Jesus Luzardo Over 189.5 Strikeouts (-110)
2u: Shohei Ohtani to lead MLB in homer runs (+325)
2u: Shohei Ohtani to win NL MVP (-140)
1u: Shohei Ohtani to win NL MVP (+360)
1u: Pirates to make the NL Postseason (+530)
1u: Rangers to make the AL Postseason (+550)
1u: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+1100)
1u: Shohei Ohtani to win NL MVP (+370)
1u: Tyler Glasnow to win NL CY Young (+600)
1u: Tyler Glasnow to win NL CY Young (+350)
1u: Corbin Burnes to win AL CY Young (+400)
1u: Corbin Burnes to win AL CY Young (+350)
1u: Elly De La Cruz to win NL MVP (+1500)
1u: Elly De La Cruz to lead MLB in triples (+750)
1u: Elly De La Cruz to lead MLB in stolen bases (+700)
1u: Elly De La Cruz to lead MLB in stolen bases (+200)
1u: Ronald Acuna Jr. to win NL MVP (+500)
1u: Julio Rodriguez to win AL MVP (+1000)
1u: Jesus Luzardo to lead MLB in strikeouts (+3000)
1u: Hunter Greene to lead MLB in Strikeouts (+1700)
1u: Rockies to have the worst record in MLB (+220)
0.5u: Paul Skenes to win NL ROY (+2300)
0.5u: Paul Skenes to win NL ROY (+1700)
0.25u: Elly De La Cruz to lead MLB in HRs (+6500)
0.25u: Skenes/Judge/Ohtani/Burnes Parlay (+1350)
0.25u: Skenes/Judge/Glasnow/Burnes Parlay (+3708)