White Sox Have Easiest Path to the MLB Playoffs
By Joe Summers
After winning the AL Central last year for the first time since 2008 before losing in the ALDS to the Astros, the Chicago White Sox are heavy favorites to repeat as division champions and have the easiest path to the MLB Playoffs.
They've got a menacing lineup. Good luck pitching to Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, Luis Robert, and Eloy Jimenez. Yeesh.
Just in case their incredible lineup can't get it done, Chicago has plenty of pitching ready to shut down opponents. Lance Lynn finished third in the AL Cy Young voting last season while Lucas Giolito and Dylan Cease are two of the most promising young arms in the sport.
The White Sox threw 6,874 pitches in 2021 at 95+ MPH. That's almost ??% ???? than any other team in MLB. Mind-blowing.
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 16, 2022
?⛽️?⛽️?⛽️? https://t.co/RHpTRF8fqj
Liam Hendricks and Craig Kimbrell lead a stacked bullpen - put it altogether and the White Sox have one of the most complete rosters in baseball. Their World Series and AL Pennant odds reflect that and it seems they have a massive advantage over their AL Central foes.
White Sox Path To Playoffs
The White Sox will play a majority of their games against perhaps the worst division in the MLB. WynnBET Sportsbook currently has Chicago with odds of +1200 to win the World Series. Those are the sixth-lowest odds in the field and by using the odds for the rest of the AL Central, we can see how little oddsmakers respect the rest of the division.
Detroit has the second-lowest odds in the AL Central to win the World Series at +4000, while the Twins and Guardians (of Cleveland) sit at +7500 and the Royals feel hopeless at +10000.
No other division has as wide of a gap in World Series odds between their best and second-best teams, so the White Sox should breeze to the playoffs by playing so many games against poor competition.
Just getting to the postseason is half the battle. Chicago has the easiest path and are a worthy bet to win a championship. If you're not quite ready to jump on board, their odds of +600 to win the AL Pennant represent a great value as well. They should avoid the Wild Card game, barring disaster, and will likely have home field advantage in their first playoff series.
Take the value on the White Sox to steamroll a terrible division and enjoy the fruits of your labor all season.