An anomaly or issue? MLB pitching injuries are getting out of control
Sports Seriously’s Mackenzie Salmon asks USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale about the current state of injuries to MLB pitchers.
Sports Seriously
As June comes to a close, so does the first half of the 2024 MLB season. The contenders have started to separate themselves from the pretenders in each league, and the playoff field is slowly taking shape.
However, the playoff pictures in each league have varied wildly in the way they’ve come into focus. While the divisional and wild card races in the American League are starting to shake out, there are only two teams in the National League that aren’t within five games back of a wild card spot.
That chaotic energy in the National League has created an interesting buildup toward July’s trade deadline and the second half of the season. BetMGM has tried to make sense of the chaos with their latest betting odds for the 2024 World Series winner.
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Here’s how all 30 MLB teams rank by odds to win this year’s World Series.
MLB power rankings: 2024 World Series odds
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (+300)
When healthy, the top of the Dodgers’ lineup features back-to-back-to-back MVPs: Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. This year, all three players rank in the top 11 of OPS. Ohtani leads MLB in batting average with his .322 mark and leads the National League with 25 home runs.
Almost every player outside of those three has been excellent as well. Catcher Will Smith is one of baseball’s best offensive catchers, and outfielders Jason Heyward and Teoscar Hernández have experienced career resurgences since getting to Los Angeles.
And that’s all with a pitching staff that ranks second in MLB in ERA (3.25) and WHIP (1.10) and first in batting average against (.214).
2. New York Yankees (+450)
Aaron Judge has matched his home run pace from his record-breaking 2022 season. Juan Soto has embraced superstardom in New York. Before his recent injury, Giancarlo Stanton looked the best he has in years. The high-powered offense as a whole has scored the third-most runs (408) in MLB this season and are second with 118 home runs.
At the same time, their pitching staff has stepped up to put together a strong season of its own. Marcus Stroman has been excellent, and outside of a couple of recent blow-up performances, so has rookie Luis Gil. The Yankees’ staff ranks among the best in MLB this season and deserves as much praise as the team’s offense.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (+500)
The Phillies came into this season off of back-to-back NLCS appearances, including their pennant-winning 2022 season. Somehow, this team looks even better than that of those last two years.
Philadelphia holds MLB’s best record as of Thursday with a 53-27 mark. Their pitching staff leads MLB by far with its 3.07 ERA. The most impressive part? That mark isn’t propped up by their traditionally outstanding pitchers – Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola – but by Ranger Suárez (2.01 ERA, 2nd in MLB) and Cristopher Sánchez (2.67, 9th) and a bullpen that has been mostly lights-out.
That’s all without mentioning the year Bryce Harper is having as he settles into his new position at first base. He’s up to 20 home runs with a .987 OPS that ranks fifth in the big leagues. Oh, and his fielding range ranks in MLB’s 93rd percentile with just two errors all year.
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4. Baltimore Orioles (+800)
There isn’t a more exciting, young team in MLB than the Orioles.
Baltimore leads MLB in runs scored (417), home runs (132), slugging (.461), and OPS (.776). It also ranks third in pitching staff ERA (3.39), fourth in WHIP (1.16) and third in batting average against (.224).
The biggest standout on the Orioles this year has far and away been shortstop and leadoff hitter Gunnar Henderson, who turns 23 years old on Saturday and is second in MLB with 26 home runs. He trails only Judge and Ohtani with his 1.005 OPS this season and is a very real candidate to win AL MVP just one year after winning the league’s Rookie of the Year Award.
5. Atlanta Braves (+900)
Losing reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña for the rest of the season with a torn ACL was a massive blow to the Braves, but they are by no means out of the title race.
This is a team that has won 100 games in each of the last two seasons with the help of its talented core: second baseman Ozzie Albies, third baseman Austin Riley and first baseman Matt Olson. In addition, left fielder Jarred Kelenic seems to have turned the corner since joining the Braves this offseason. Marcell Ozuna has been the best designated hitter not named Shohei Ohtani in the league this year.
Atlanta’s pitching has also been strong, with Reynaldo López leading MLB in ERA (1.70), and Chris Sale and Max Fried holding steady with ERAs below 3.10.
6. Seattle Mariners (+1400)
7. Cleveland Guardians (+1600)
8. Houston Astros (+2000)
9. Minnesota Twins (+2200)
10. Milwaukee Brewers (+2800)
T-11. Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers (+5000)
T-15. Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals (+6600)
T-17. Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants (+8000)
20. Tampa Bay Rays (+10000)
T-21. Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays (+12500)
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (+20000)
24. Detroit Tigers (+25000)
T-25. Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals (+50000)
T-27. Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics (+100000)
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