The Toronto Blue Jays face some major injury concerns as the countdown to opening day continues this week. However, the Blue Jays continue to sit just shy of the favourites as a +1600 wager on the 2021 World Series odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Emboldened by the team's performance during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, which they closed out with a 32-28 record and a return to the playoffs, Blue Jays management made some key acquisitions during the off-season. The club made a splash in the free agent market with the signings of outfielder George Springer, infielder Marcus Semien and closer Kirby Yates.
However, Yates is now lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Springer has joined a growing lineup at the team clinic as he battles an oblique injury. As a result, the club's depth will quickly be put to the test when they open their schedule on Thursday with the first of six April matchups with the AL East favourite New York Yankees.
Set as heavy -170 betting chalk to claim their second AL East title in three years, the Yankees also look to the upcoming campaign leading all American League clubs as a +550 wager on the World Series odds. New York will be looking to atone for a disappointing 2020 campaign, which they finished in second place in the divisional standings, just one game up on Toronto.
The Yankees then followed up with yet another disappointing post-season performance, which ended with an ALDS loss to Tampa Bay in five games. New York has now failed to make a World Series appearance since 2009, despite reaching the playoffs on eight occasions since.
The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers continue to lead the way on the World Series odds, set as +300 favourites at online sports betting sites to win back-to-back titles for the first time in the club's 138-year history.
The Dodgers have advanced to the Fall Classic in three of the past four years, and have claimed the NL West pennant in eight straight seasons. Los Angeles, however, can expect to face a challenge from the San Diego Padres this season. Winners of 37 games last season, second only to Los Angeles, the Padres return to action as a +800 wager on the World Series futures, and at +200 to earn their first NL West title since 2006.
Further down the World Series odds for the season ahead, the Chicago White Sox join the Atlanta Braves at +1000, just ahead of the New York Mets at +1100, while the reigning American League champion Tampa Bay Rays sit off the pace at +2800 on the futures board.
