It’s been a while since the New York Yankees made a World Series and you need to go back nine years since they captured one, but the sports betting public is having a difficult time seeing anyone beating them this year.
The Yankees were dominant in the regular season (103-59 record) and continued that pace to start the 2009 post-season, sweeping the Minnesota Twins 3-0 in their American League Divisional Series.
It won’t be a straight path to the World Series however as the Yanks now face the Los Angeles Angels, who were 97-65 in the regular season and also can boast of an ALDS sweep, taking down the Red Sox 3-0.
Online sportsbooks have the Yankees as the odds-on faves to win the World Series at -125, while the Angels are +350 to win it all.
Game 1 of the American League Championship Series goes on Friday and the series price on the Pinstripes is -180 while it is +160 for the Angels.
CC Sabathia will start for the home team Yanks, who are -170 faves in Game 1, and John Lackey will do the same for the Angels, who are +155 with a Total of 8.5.
In the Angels’ last nine visits to Yankee Stadium, there have been 7 Overs and 2 Unders.
The Yanks broke open the bank for Sabathia in the offseason and he has paid dividends. In CC’s last 20 home starts, New York has gone 15-5 straight up and in his last eight home starts; the Bronx Bombers are 8-0.
Sabathia’s last eight home starts have also produced 1 Over and 7 Unders.
Lackey has not been particularly strong in the month of October when it comes to wins and losses. In his last eight outings in that month, the Angels have gone 2-6 SU.
Under bettors have cashed in though, as his last 11 October outings have yielded 1 Over and 10 Unders.
Sabathia is a southpaw and in the Angels’ last 12 games against lefties, they are 10-2 SU and in their last 10 against LHPs, they have posted 1 Over and 9 Unders.
Lackey is a right-hander and the Yanks have been almost as impressive in their last 10 against righties going 8-2 SU with 2 Overs, 7 Unders, and a Push.
The sports betting public has been betting the Yankees and the Under in the early wagering action at online sportsbooks. The Yankees are seeing 75% of the money and the Under is getting 65% so far.
After seeing the Boston Red Sox capture a couple of World Series titles the past few seasons, you know Yankees fans are pining for another championship. We’ll find out if they can keep rolling starting this Friday.