Los Angeles Dodgers Pass New York Yankees As 2020 World Series Favorites After Luis Severino Injury
The New York Yankees announced Tuesday afternoon that Luis Severino will miss the entire 2020 MLB season with Tommy John Surgery. How will it affect the team’s chances of winning the title? At least one sportsbook no longer considers the defending AL East champions World Series favorites.
The Los Angeles Dodgers now have the best 2020 World Series odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Los Angeles is a +375 betting favorite, followed by New York at +400.
The Yankees had MLB’s best championship odds at +350 just prior to the Severino news. The pitcher was shut down at the start of spring training with right forearm discomfort.
Severino was supposed to be one of New York’s top starters. He was the team’s ace in 2017 and 2018 before missing most of 2019 with multiple injuries.
Severino pitched 12 regular-season innings last year before making two playoff starts. He signed a four-year, $40 million extension a year ago.
New York has suffered multiple injuries to key members of the rotation. James Paxton could miss the first two months of the season, following back surgery.
Gerrit Cole was the biggest free-agent signing of the offseason, agreeing to a nine-year, $324 million contract with New York. Cole is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He helped the Houston Astros reach Game 7 of the 2019 World Series during a historic postseason run.
Masahiro Tanaka is the Yankees’ No.2 starter. Veteran J.A. Happ, who struggled with a 4.91 ERA in 2019, is the No.3 starter for the time being. Jordan Montgomery is likely to be the No.4 starter, coming off just eight appearances in the last two seasons.
A few unproven pitchers are competing for the No.5 spot in New York’s rotation.
The Dodgers made the biggest trade of the winter, acquiring Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox. It’s championship or bust for Los Angeles, following seven straight NL West titles and World Series defeats in 2017 and 2018.
The Astros (+550) are the Yankees’ biggest competition in the AL. The Atlanta Braves (+1200) are considered to be a distant second to the Dodgers in the NL.
The defending champion Washington Nationals (+1600) have the fifth-best World Series odds.
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