Rangers’ Surprising First Half Puts Ballclub In Line With Astros’ 2023 World Series Odds

• The Texas Rangers’ World Series odds have improved the most since Opening Day in Major League Baseball.
• Despite recently losing three of four games versus the Astros, the Rangers have the same odds to win the World Series as the preseason favorites.
• Only the Tampa Bay Rays have better odds of winning the ALCS than the Rangers.

As we approach MLB All-Star Week, it is an excellent time to reevaluate the 2023 World Series odds. The Texas Rangers have been the biggest movers in the betting markets since the season opened. Texas had +5000 odds to win the World Series on Opening Day and are now going into the All-Star break at +1000, according to Bovada.

Along with the Houston Astros, the Rangers have the fourth-best odds of winning the World Series in 2023. The Braves remain at the top of the World Series odds at +350. The 2021 World Series champions were not favored going into this season, though.

The Astros, who have won two of the last five World Series titles, including last year, were a +600 preseason favorite at Bovada. However, they’ve regressed and are now entering the All-Star Game with +1000 odds to win the World Series.

With a record of 49-38, the Astros are two games behind the Rangers in the AL West. The Rangers have dropped four of their previous ten games, but are still holding onto the lead. Is that lead going to evaporate in the second half of the season?

If you aren’t confident in the Rangers winning the AL West, now would probably be the best time to fade them. MLB odds tend to have wild swings from August to the end of the regular season. The Astros’ odds will take off if they return from the break in top form.

Rangers Have Second-Best Odds To Win ALCS

The Rangers might be tied with the Astros to win the World Series at +1000. However, the ALCS odds at Bovada have the Rangers out in front of their rivals in the AL West. As of July 6, the Rangers have the second-best odds to win the ALCS at +450.

The Astros are right on their heels at +475, but nevertheless, it’s interesting to see the Rangers with better odds to win the ALCS. Currently, the Tampa Bay Rays are in front at Bovada with +220 odds.

Tampa was the betting favorite to win the World Series before the Braves caught fire in June. However, the Rays still have a clear advantage in the American League. They have a five-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.

The Rangers haven’t been in this competitive position since going to the ALDS in 2016. After finishing the season with a record of 95-67, the Rangers have gone the past six seasons without breaching the .500 mark and making the postseason.

They entered a rebuilding phase and now we are on the other side of that process. It included big money on Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, which was criticized after they got off to slow starts with their new team.

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Franchise-Record Four Rangers Named All-Star Game Starters

The Rangers are being rewarded with solid representation in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. There are six Rangers, with four starters, being invited to participate in the star-studded event at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington.

Semien, Seager, Josh Jung, and Jonah Heim are all off to Seattle to open the festivities in the starting lineup. The last time Seattle was this well-represented and had starters in the All-Star Game was in 2012. Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli, and Adrian Beltre were voted into the All-Star Game.

The most All-Stars among any AL team ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/31jSJfcHOn

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 2, 2023

Despite missing 31 games earlier this season, Seager earned enough votes after returning from the injury and playing extremely good baseball. In 220 at-bats, Seager is hitting .355 with a .418 OBP, an incredible 1.023 OPS, and 10 home runs.

Semien hasn’t been as hot, but is contributing this season. In 368 at-bats, the former Blue Jay is hitting .277 with a .341 OBP and 11 home runs.

However, the biggest lift to this squad has been their rookie third baseman, Josh Jung. We informed you to bet on Jung to win the AL Rookie of the Year. Now, his 2023 AL Rookie of the Year odds are among the best in Major League Baseball.

Outfielder Adolis Garcia and starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi are making the trip to Seattle as All-Star Game reserves.

Josh Jung Favored To Win AL Rookie of the Year

From +1300 to the betting favorite, Jung is having himself a memorable rookie campaign in 2023. Jung opened up this season with the sixth-best odds to win the award. However, he has recently taken over the top spot from Boston’s Masataka Yoshida at Bovada.

Currently, Jung has +150 odds to win the AL Rookie of the Year. Yoshida has slipped since his red-hot start. Oddsmakers at Bovada have the 29-year-old former Japanese NPB star at +270 to win the ROY in the AL.

Josh. Jung. 💣🤠

(via @Rangers)pic.twitter.com/BY6KtFIAhH

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 29, 2023

Anthony Volpe owned the best odds on Opening Day. The New York Yankee had +700 odds of winning the AL Rookie of the Year, but the shortstop has fallen hard to +4000. Jung has outpaced Volpe easily on the baseball diamond.

Jung is second on the Rangers with 17 home runs and third in runs this season. Additionally, Jung is hitting .271 with a .321 OBP as we approach the All-Star Game in Seattle. There is a lot of baseball left to be played, but Jung is in a good spot at the halfway mark.

Everything’s coming together nicely for the Rangers this season. They have one of the best rookies in baseball, while the veterans are showing up to play. The Rangers still need reliever help at the trade deadline, though.

A strong pitching staff is important to having success in the postseason. With an ERA of 4.45 and 23rd in the league, the bullpen has room for improvement in spite of the major strides forward they’ve made in 2023. Bullpen help isn’t easy to acquire, but Texas will likely need some to pull away from the Astros in the AL West.