The Chicago Cubs owned the best record in baseball through the first 30 games of the season at 24-6. Even after cooling off a bit over the last week of play, the Cubs still have the best record in the MLB and look like the clear favorite to win the World Series.
World Series odds 2016: Chicago Cubs still favored on updated World Series betting lines
The Chicago Cubs are the clear favorite over the rest of the field on the odds to win the World Series in 2016 at the sportsbooks.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago is currently going off at +350 to win the 2016 World Series at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Cubs have absolutely lived up to their preseason hype through the first quarter of the season, averaging 5.84 runs per game for the second best offense in the MLB and a 2.69 ERA for the best pitching in the league by a fair margin.
This team has a long history of postseason disappointment, but if the Cubs can remain healthy they look like a strong bet to win over 100 games and will be extremely tough to beat.
The only team with a better offense than the Cubs is the Boston Red Sox, who are averaging 5.97 runs per game. Boston's pitching staff has been a major disappointment so far this season, but this offense will keep the Red Sox in games against anyone. The Red Sox are the current favorite to win the American League and are going off at +1000 to win the World Series.
While the Toronto Blue Jays (+1600 to win the World Series) and the New York Yankees (+5000) have struggled in the early stages of the season, the Baltimore Orioles (+2000) have looked like a potential contender in the AL East. The Orioles lead the division with a 24-14 record through 38 games, have the fifth best team ERA in the American League at 3.70, and have a strong lineup with major power potential.
Another team that has seen its stock rise early in the year is the Chicago White Sox (+1400), whose 3.20 ERA tops the American League and has helped the White Sox take early control of the AL Central over the Kansas City Royals (+1800), Cleveland Indians (+2500), and Detroit Tigers (+2800). The Cubs' Jake Arrieta may be one of the best pitchers in baseball, but the White Sox' Chris Sale isn't far behind.
Other World Series contenders on the baseball betting lines include the Washington Nationals (+1100), New York Mets (+1100), San Francisco Giants (+1200) Los Angeles Dodgers (+1600), Seattle Mariners (+1800) and Texas Rangers (+1800).
