World Series Wagers: Baseball’s 4th Quarter Is Here

Written By Russ Mitchell on August 19, 2021 - Last Updated on July 22, 2022
2021 MLB Futures Odds

Football might be back, but baseball warrants its share of fourth-quarter attention as the race for the World Series continues.

About 75% of baseball’s regular season is in the rearview mirror and that’s mixed news for Midwest teams. The Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers look like they’ve lined up extra paying time while the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs hope for a better 2022.

In between, the St. Louis Cardinals have a sneaky perch. They’re just four games out of the NL’s second Wild Card spot. Here’s a look at contenders in both leagues.

Odds on the road to the World Series

Here’s a look at the odds at Iowa sportsbooks:

Name the World Series matchup at FanDuel, BetMGM

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FanDuel Sportsbook IA has 90 different moneylines to give customers a chance to pick the correct World Series combinations. BetMGM Sportsbook in Iowa has even more.

Those futures bets have nice payouts, but the risk is a lot higher. That’s twice as true for bettors who try to pick both pennant winners.

As of Thursday, the most likely pairings for Midwest teams with a realistic chance are:

Chicago White Sox vs.

OpponentFanDuel SportsbookBetMGM Sportsbook
LA Dodgers +900+700
Milwaukee Brewers+2000+1800
San Francisco Giants+2000+1600
Philadelphia Phillies+3500+8000
Atlanta Braves+4000+3500
San Diego Padres+4600+5000
New York Mets+5500+10000
Cincinnati Reds+11000+10000
St. Louis Cardinals+60000 +40000

Milwaukee Brewers vs.

OpponentFanDuel SportsbookBetMGM Sportsbook
Houston Astros+1700+1400
Chicago White Sox+2000+1800
Tampa Bay Rays+3000+2800
NY Yankees+4900+3000
Boston Red Sox+4900+6600
Oakland A's+4900+6600
Toronto Blue Jays+6000 +6600
Seattle Mariners+50000+50000
LA Angels+50000+125000
Cleveland Indians+50000+250000

St. Louis Cardinals vs.

OpponentFanDuel SportsbookBetMGM Sportsbook
Houston Astros+49000+30000
Toronto Blue Jays+50000+125000
Oakland A's+50000+125000
Seattle Mariners+50000+1000000
LA Angels+50000+1000000
Cleveland Indians+50000+1000000
Chicago White Sox+60000+40000
NY Yankees+80000+50000
Tampa Bay Rays+80000+50000
Boston Red Sox+80000+125000

More betting on the road to the World Series

Fans of the Royals, Cubs and Twins can still get some enjoyment as baseball rolls through September. First three inning and first five inning bets allow fans to both:

  • Place faith in a starter.
  • Know the outcome of the bet before the 10 p.m. local newscasts.

The bets can be especially handy for games on the West Coast, where games start after 9 p.m. Iowa time.

Going into Thursday night’s games: The Brewers (74-47) have a 9 1/2-game lead the NL Central over the Cincinnati Reds (65-57). The St. Louis Cardinals are 12 games back at 61-58. The Cubs are 54-69. That puts the team 21 games behind the Brewers.

Current odds to win the NL Central

In the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox (71-50) have a 12-game lead over the Cleveland Indians (58-61). The Minnesota Twins (54-67) have won 9 of 13, but they remain 17 games behind the South-siders. The Kansas City Royals (33-44) are a game behind the Twins as of Thursday. They’re on a three-game winning streak.

Odds to win the AL Central

Photo by AP / Keith Srakocic
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Russ Mitchell

Russ Mitchell has been covering news and sports in northwest Iowa since 1997, including 11 years as managing editor for one of the most acclaimed community newspapers in the state. He looks forward to keeping readers up to date on the growing sportsbook industry in Iowa.

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