The Boston Red Sox finished in last place in the 2020 AL East standings. The Crimson Hose went 24-36 and finished a game behind the perpetually rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for fourth place. We look at the Boston Red Sox‘s MLB futures odds, including their projected 2021 win total and World Series odds at BetMGM.
The 2020 Red Sox ranked a respectable 11th in runs scored with 4.87 per game but a dismal 29th in runs allowed at 5.85. Boston was without LHP Chris Sale (Tommy John surgery) and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (COVID-19) — but had plenty of warts as well.
Slugging DH J.D. Martinez never got on track last season and finished with a .680 OPS. The Red Sox also didn’t get much production from the right side of their infield (1B Michael Chavis‘ .636 OPS and 2B Jose Peraza‘s .617 OPS). SS Xander Bogaerts (.867 OPS), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.814 OPS), and RF Alex Verdugo (.844) were very much on track.
Peg the group as a whole as one expected to do more in 2021, and that makes for plenty of offense.
Rodriguez returns to the rotation this season while Sale could be back late in the season. The Sox brought in RHP Garrett Richards (4.09 ERA over his last 136 1/3 IP) to shore up the rotation and RHP Adam Ottavino (major struggles in 2020 but the owner of a 2.61 ERA since 2018) to play a role in the bullpen.
Boston Red Sox’ 2021 World Series odds
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, March 13 at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Odds: +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)
This payout puts the Red Sox toward the fat part on the bell curve but with a long-shot lean.
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Boston Red Sox’ 2021 win total
Over/Under: 80.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Boston has some up-and-coming young talent, and the return of manager Alex Cora figures to start up the return ascent to quality baseball in Beantown.
The 2020 Sox were 0-4 in extra-inning games and 4-9 in one-run games. With even below-average-just-not-terrible production from their pitchers, and with added games against the weaker American League Central and West Divisions, the 2021 Red Sox can get back to .500-or-better.
Peg the OVER 80.5 (-110) AS A SOLID VALUE; likewise for the division crown.
Odds to win the AL East Division
- New York Yankees: -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Toronto Blue Jays: +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
- Tampa Bay Rays: +450 (bet $100 to win $450)
- Red Sox: +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)
- Baltimore Orioles: +6600 (bet $100 to win $6,600)
Odds to win the American League
Odds: +2300 (bet $100 to win $2,300)
This price has the Red Sox in the bottom half of the Junior Circuit, behind the likes of the Yankees (+240) and Chicago White Sox (+400) but more highly regarded than the Orioles (+6000), Detroit Tigers (+6000), Kansas City Royals (+6000), Seattle Mariners (+6000) and Texas Rangers (+7500).
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