Even without Carlos Correa, gambling odds still favor the Astros – Chron

Only the Dodgers have better betting odds to make the playoffs than the Houston Astros Garrett Stubbs picks up Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) as the team celebrates in the dugout after Altuve hit a solo home run to give the Astros a 7-2 lead in the seventh inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.47865e/Staff photographer

Even without Carlos Correa, the Astros still have as good of a chance to make the playoffs as all but one team. Betting odds posted by BetOnline give the Astros an 80% chance at making the postseason. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers at 90.9% have better odds.

The White Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays also all have an 80% chance of getting into the postseason, according to the online sportsbook. Those odds are bolstered by the fact that the baseball playoffs have been expanded to allow 12 teams each of the six division winners, plus three Wild Cards from each league into the playoffs.

The Astros have made the playoffs five straight seasons, including a championship in three trips to the World Series.

The Astros have the fifth-best odds to win the World Series behind the Dodgers, Mets, White Sox and Blue Jays.

With the notable exception of Correa, who signed a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Twins, the Astros return most of their team from last years squad that came up two wins shy of another title. In addition to Correa, the Astros also lost starting pitcher Zack Greinke (Royals), relievers Kendall Graveman (White Sox), Yimi Garcia (Blue Jays) and Brooks Raley (Rays). Marwin Gonzalez, who had four at-bats in last year's World Series, signed a minor league deal with the Yankees.

Matt Young has been a sports editor/writer at Chronsince 2015. He's proudly from Alief and occasionally sits alone in his four-cornered room staring at candles. Reach him at matt.young@chron.com.

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Even without Carlos Correa, gambling odds still favor the Astros - Chron