The Houston Astros have an MLB betting line of +1800 to win the 2021 World Series. The Astros’ line sounds appealing, but the team is not going to be as worthwhile of a wager as you would expect. There are too many problems with the Astros this season that would make it hard for them to be competitive, especially surrounding some departures.
The Challenge to Build
The Astros lose Michael Brantley, George Springer, and Josh Reddick in the free agency market. Losing these three talented outfielders that the team built up for years will be a problem.
It will also be tough for the Astros to bring in free agents, as the sign-stealing scandal that plagued the Astros for much of last year is still a consideration. Current manager Dusty Baker had no involvement in the scandal, but the point is a worry to note.
A Young Rotation
The Astros have a few talented young starting pitchers in Jose Urquidy, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez. Valdez tallied close to ten strikeouts for every nine innings he pitched.
These three pitchers will be essential to the Astros this season, as Justin Verlander is undergoing Tommy John surgery. Whether Verlander will ever pitch again for the Astros is uncertain. Expect the young trio of pitchers to be more active and take in more innings.
Top prospect Forest Whitley could join the Astros’ rotation this season. Whitley is a first-round pick from 2016 and has one of the best fastballs in the minor leagues.
— Houston Astros (@astros) December 10, 2020
The Astros do have a talented bullpen, but the players in the bullpen aren’t necessarily ones that can take in plenty of innings. The bullpen pitchers barely got over twenty innings each last year. Having a rotation that can take in enough innings without resorting to the bullpen will be critical for the team’s attempts to succeed in 2021.
How the Rest of the Offense Looks
The Astros still have plenty of talented players on offense. Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman did well in 2020, with Tucker getting a .268 average. Bregman also showed great control at the plate and will be a worthwhile supporting player to watch this coming season.
Jose Altuve had a .219 average last year, but much of this could be from him trying to adapt to Dusty Baker’s managerial system. Altuve should catch up in 2021, although prospect Abraham Toro may be hoping to take in a starting position on offense at some point.
Should You Bet on the Astros?
The concerns surrounding the Houston Astros are too substantial to justify them for your MLB betting plans in 2021. While their +1800 line sounds interesting, the Astros will need to rebuild their outfield this season.
The team also has some great offensive players, but they will need to move on from the slumps they experienced last season. The rotation will also need to work a little harder this season, especially as they don’t have many other options for work.
The Astros will still benefit from playing in the same division as the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. But with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels continuing to challenge them in the AL West, it will be tough to say that the Astros are a worthwhile choice for your wagering desires in 2021.
*Odds are correct at time of writing.
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