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The Houston Astros finished with a 90-72 record in 2023. It was their lowest win total in a full season since 2016, though they still managed to win the American League West after a tight battle with the Texas Rangers, who finished with an identical record.
It has been a fairly quiet offseason for the Astros, though they did name a new manager in Joe Espada, in addition to 1 major addition on the field. The team’s big splash was adding LHP Josh Hader, who saved 33 games for San Diego in 2023. They also added backup C Victor Caratini, who hit .259 with 7 home runs across 226 plate appearances a season ago.
Let’s analyze the Houston Astros World Series odds, along with their projected win total, playoff, division and AL odds as we make our expert MLB picks and predictions.
Houston Astros World Series odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, March 22 at 11:10 a.m. ET.
Odds: +800 (bet $100 to win $800)
Houston has the 3rd-shortest odds to win it all, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers (+350) and Atlanta Braves (+450). At +800, Houston has an implied probability of winning the World Series of 11.1% or 8/1 fractional odds.
A strong core remains intact, and the Astros should be 1 of the top teams in the league once again. Backing the ASTROS (+800) to win the World Series is worth a small wager.
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Houston Astros playoff odds
Will they make the playoffs: Yes -500 | No +360
The Astros have finished atop the American League West each of the past 3 seasons and are the heavy favorites to do the same in 2024. The lineup, led by DH Yordan Alvarez, OF Kyle Tucker, and 3B Alex Bregman, is strong from top to bottom. They finished 5th in the majors in runs in 2023 and will be a potent offense again.
Houston’s pitching has more questions than the lineup, but a lot of things would have to go wrong for this team to miss out on October baseball. Confidently make a play on ASTROS (-500) to make the playoffs.
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Houston Astros win total
Over/Under: 92.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
LHP Framber Valdez is a reliable arm at the top of the rotation, while RHP Hunter Brown and RHP Cristian Javier are good bets to deliver better results than they did in 2023. The starting rotation won’t be at full strength to start the season, but RHP Justin Verlander could be back sometime in April and RHP Lance McCullers Jr. could provide a 2nd-half boost.
The pen lost Hector Neris over the winter but more than made up for his departure with the addition of Hader. The team has plenty of other arms in the bullpen as well, including RHP Ryan Pressley, who saved 31 games last year, and RHP Bryan Abreu, who registered a sub-2.00 ERA each of the past 2 seasons.
Despite some minor questions in the rotation, this is a team set up for success again in 2024. Look for them to push OVER 92.5 (-110) wins.
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To win AL West Division
- Houston Astros -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Texas Rangers +225 (bet $100 to win $225)
- Seattle Mariners +280 (bet $100 to $280)
- Los Angeles Angles +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)
- Oakland Athletics +25000 (bet $100 to win $25,000)
There are only 3 teams with a realistic shot to win the division, as the Angels and Athletics are each likely headed for another losing record and are long shots to be in the race. Texas hung tough with the Astros all season long in 2023, and went on the win the World Series. Seattle wasn’t far behind, finishing with 88 wins, just 2 games behind the top 2 teams.
But Texas has more questions in its rotation than Houston, with Jordan Montgomery likely gone and Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom set to miss extended time. The ASTROS (-110) are still the team to beat and have a better than 50/50 shot to take home another AL West crown, so a small play here makes sense.
To win American League
Odds: +360 (bet $100 to win $360)
The Astros fell to Texas in the American League Championship Series in 2023, but they have won 4 of the last 7 AL pennants. They are as good of a bet as anyone to win it again, so ASTROS (+360) is a sound investment.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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