MLB odds update: White Sox drop two points after active trade deadline
The MLB trade deadline played out like “A Tale of Two Cities” in Chicago. The Cubs emerged as one of the deadline’s biggest losers, while the White Sox – who swung two deals with their rivals to the north – came up aces.
Bettors were quick to react to the South Siders’ acquiring Craig Kimbrel, Ryan Tepera, and Cesar Hernandez, knocking them down from +750 to +550 to win their first World Series since 2005. Let’s investigate whether the White Sox are currently worth a wager or not below.
White Sox made all the right moves at the deadline
Chicago’s bullpen is a modest 15th by ERA this year, even with Liam Hendriks serving as the rock-solid closer. Bringing in both Kimbrel and Tepera should give manager Tony La Russa much more confidence in his relief corps late in games.
Craig Kimbrel of the Chicago White Sox. pic.twitter.com/WKQXwsphpX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 1, 2021
The South Siders were left with a big hole at second base after the season-ending injury suffered by Nick Madrigal, so getting Hernandez to fill in was a stroke of genius.
Offense still a well-oiled machine
Chicago is sixth in runs per game this year at 4.96, so they’re seldom without a chance late. First baseman Jose Abreu – last year’s AL MVP – leads the team with 18 homers. Shortstop Tim Anderson is having a career year (.299 batting average), as he was named to his first All-Star Game.
Seby Zavala’s first 3 homers of his career, all in the same game.
— MLB (@MLB) August 1, 2021
Nobody has EVER done that in AL/NL history. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/HXPj6fmjtg
They’ve gotten contributions up and down the lineup, and even from Triple-A callups. Catching prospect Seby Zavala hit three homers in his first career game on Saturday night.
Dodgers loom large after solid deadline pickups
The White Sox are a bonafide World Series contender, but there’s a reason they still sit behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the wagering. The 2020 Fall Classic winners were not content to rest on their laurels at the deadline, nor should they have been with the San Francisco Giants looking like a tough nut to crack for the NL West crown.
Blockbuster Trade! 🚨
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 30, 2021
The Nationals have agreed to trade All-Stars Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/xHN51cDkv5
The Dodgers made the biggest splash of any team on Friday when they landed both Max Scherzer and Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals. Oddsmakers responded by knocking L.A. down from +450 to +375 to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy at season’s end, and that may not have been enough.
The Dodgers – with stars up and down the lineup and on their pitching staff – are a better bet at these current odds.
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