We're three games into the 2021 season and the Boston Red Sox look awful. They’re 0-3 after being swept by the Baltimore Orioles AT HOME. They got shut out on Opening Day in front of their own Fenway Park crowd (for the first time since 1976, if you hadn’t heard). But, their betting odds to win the 2021 World Series are still pretty short.
Entering the season, Boston's odds to win this year’s championship were +5000 (odds courtesy of DraftKings). And that’s where they remain after that debacle of an opening series. Their win total O/U is 80.5, even though it feels like they aren’t going to win a single game at this point. Oddsmakers don’t seem as discouraged as Boston fans are by these first few outings.
I mean, the Red Sox started this season reaching rock bottom. The Orioles are terrible and Boston absolutely fell apart up against them. Baltimore’s odds to win the 2021 World Series are twice as long as Boston's at +10000. Their win total O/U is 63.5. Come on.
It’s never good when one of your players has to tweet this three games into the season:
So, are oddsmakers giving the Red Sox too much credit here? Yes, I think so. Coming into the season, just a couple days ago, their current odds made sense. But after seeing the Easter weekend meltdown Boston just put together, should their odds be longer? Oddsmakers know bettors are still going to put money on Boston winning the World Series, so they’re intent on limiting the liability in case that ends up happening, as miracles do.
Right now, Boston's odds to win the AL East are +3300 and their AL Championship odds are +2300. These odds are definitely something to keep an eye on, particularly in the near future after this jaw-dropping start to the 2021 season. Even if they start improving, it’s safe to say LeBron James can’t be happy with the performance so far of this Red Sox team he just acquired.
Lucy is a sports betting content producer with Radio.com and BetQL. She has worked with WEEI and Radio.com as a writer, radio producer and podcaster. Lucy lives in Boston and loves Tom Brady and prop bets. Follow Lucy on Twitter at @LucilleBurdge
