LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Tigers didn't act like a franchise poised to make a playoff run when the trade deadline arrived. Detroit dealt pitcher Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers , outfielder Mark Canha to San Francisco reliever Andrew Chafin and catcher Carson Kelly to Texas. At 52-57, the Tigers looked to the future and their long-shot betting odds for this season reflected that thinking.
One Caesars Entertainment bettor in Michigan, however, had a different idea, betting the Tigers at 500-1 odds to win the World Series. As in this year. That wager doesn't look nearly as foolish now.
The Tigers have made an improbable run to the postseason and will Houston in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday. “They're definitely a danger in any short series, so I wouldn't count them out at all,” Caesars lead baseball trader Eric Biggio said. BetMGM Sportsbook also had the Tigers at 500-1 before they went on their run.
“They were trading pieces away,” BetMGM trading strategy manager Halvor Egeland said. “Most people thought that they should trade (Tarik) Skubal away and they obviously made the right decision.” Skubal won the AL pitching Triple Crown, leading in wins (18), ERA (2.
39) and strikeouts (228). BetMGM lists the Tigers at 28-1 to win the World Series. Definitely lower than 500-1.
The expanded baseball playoffs have been more of a crapshoot in recent years. Texas won an all-wild card World Series last year in five games. Philadelphia advanced to the W.
