MLB Playoff Picture 2021: Chances Red Sox, Rays, Astros, White Sox Win American League Pennant

Both American League Division Series matchups are set after Tuesday’s wild-card game. Unlike in the National League, the betting odds suggest that it shouldn’t be a surprise if any of the four remaining AL playoff teams reach the 2021 World Series.

No team has better than 2/1 odds or worse than 4/1 odds to win the AL pennant. The Houston Astros are slight favorites with +220 odds, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays at +230. The Chicago White Sox are third at +280. The Boston Red Sox face the longest odds at +360.

Houston is the AL favorite, despite finishing five games behind Tampa Bay in the standings. The Rays also beat the Astros in last year’s ALCS.

The Astros have made four straight ALCS appearances, including a championship run in 2017 and a trip to Game 7 of the 2019 World Series. Houston has home-field advantage against Chicago in the ALDS.

The White Sox were just 2-5 against the Astros in the regular season. Chicago cruised to an AL Central title, winning the division by an MLB-best 13 games.

Chicago can only have home-field advantage in the ALCS if they go on to face Boston.

The Red Sox hosted the AL Wild-Card Game after finishing eight games behind the Rays in the AL East. Boston clinched an ALDS matchup with Tampa Bay by defeating the New York Yankees 6-2 in the single-game elimination contest.

The Rays beat the Red Sox 11 times in 19 tries. On their way to earning home-field advantage until the World Series, Tampa Bay led the AL with a 3.67 ERA.

Chicago finished just behind Tampa Bay with a 3.73 ERA. Houston had the AL’s fourth-best pitching staff. Boston was seventh in team ERA.

The Astros scored six more runs than the Rays for the most in the AL. All four AL playoff teams had top-five scoring offenses in the regular season.

The White Sox are the only one of the four teams that hasn’t won the AL pennant since 2018. Tampa Bay is looking for its first championship in franchise history.