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2020 MLB Boston Red Sox World Series Odds & Picks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

After Dealing Mookie Betts, the Boston Red
Sox are a Fringe Contender in 2020

Fans of the Boston Red Sox are crossing their fingers and hoping that the decision to deal Mookie Betts doesn’t come back to haunt the team like the decision to trade a young superstar a little more than a century ago.

The front office has said that the team needed to deal Betts to retool for the future, but a team with as much talent and resources as the Red Sox shouldn’t need to rebuild. That will put the pressure on young Alex Verdugo, the centerpiece of what Boston received in return for Betts.

2020 Boston Red Sox World Series
Betting Online Odds at FanDuel: +4600

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Subject to Change - T&C's Apply, 21+

2020 Boston Red Sox Season
World Series Odds Overview

The Red Sox have been a World Series contender for most of the last two decades, but the decision to trade Betts led to their odds to win the World Series tanking. Boston is no longer considered in the top half of teams favored to win the American League according to the oddsmakers, and some prognosticators have the Red Sox pegged at .500 or worse in 2020.

American League East

The Yankees are heavy favorites to win the AL East. They are the largest favorites to win their division of any team in the American League, and the only team that could potentially topple them according to the oddsmakers is Tampa Bay. The Red Sox are seen as relative longshots to win the division at +1500, but they should be significantly better than Toronto or Baltimore.

On the Hill

The Red Sox will be without ace Chris Sale in 2020 after going through Tommy John surgery. Sale is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game. He has posted a K/9 of 13.0 or higher in each of the last two seasons, and he has rung up 200 or more batters in the last seven seasons. That led to Sale being an All-Star and a Cy Young Award candidate from 2012 to 2018, but he imploded last season with a 4.40 ERA and a 6-11 record. At first glance, it appears that Sale was incredibly unfortunate since his strikeout numbers were still excellent and he had a 1.086 WHIP, but he gave up a lot of home runs and lost effectiveness with his changeup.

Eduardo Rodriguez will be the new ace of the Red Sox this upcoming season.
Eduardo Rodriguez will be the new ace of the Red Sox this upcoming season. (AP)
If Eduardo Rodriguez stays healthy once more in 2020, he could emerge as the ace of the staff. Rodriguez threw more than 140 innings for the first time in his five-year career last season, posting a 19-6 record. However, he still has lots of room for improvement with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.328 WHIP in 2019. Rodriguez gave up a ton of walks last season, leading the AL with 75 walks, and his control is where he can improve the most at the age of 26.

The rest of the rotation is iffy with Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, and Hector Velazquez projected to round out the staff, and the bullpen is lackluster aside from Brandon Workman and Matt Barnes. Workman was sharp last season with a 1.88 ERA and a 1.033 WHIP, while Barnes rung up 110 batters in 64.1 innings of work.

At the Plate

Xander Bogaerts is hitting the cover off the ball. Bogaerts signed a big extension nearly a year ago today, and that contract is looking like a steal after what we saw from the infielder in 2019. He finished with a career-high .939 OPS and cranked 33 home runs with a team-high 117 RBIs. His eye is getting better, and he took more walks last season while also continuing to improve his strikeout rate.

The young Rafael Devers had a breakout campaign in 2019. Devers bounced back from a subpar 2018 campaign to hit .311 with 32 home runs and 115 RBIs. His .916 OPS was the third-best number on the team behind Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez, and he should see a significant uptick in walks as pitchers don’t want to get burned by his power.

Boston needs a comeback season out of Andrew Benintendi in 2020 after a disappointing campaign last year. Benintendi struck out a ton while walking less than he did the previous season, leading to drops in the traditional stats. If he does return to form, that gives the Red Sox one of the best lineups in the majors.

2020 Boston Red Sox World Series Projection

The Red Sox could have one of the three or four top offenses in the majors, even without Betts. Bogaerts, Devers and Benintendi are all solid, young hitters, and they are the core of Boston’s future. Martinez is a solid hitter too and Verdugo was held in high regard by the Dodgers before the trade. Those bats make Boston frisky in 2020.

2020 Boston Red Sox World Series Free Pick:
Not a bad gamble considering the bats - Alternative Options

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Subject to Change - T&C's Apply, 21+

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