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Series Betting Odds and Predictions for NLCS and ALCS

by Mike Allen - 10/13/2023

Series odds and predictions for ALCS and NLCS Zack Wheeler Philadelphia Phillies

I hope you haven't been procrastinating to bet on the MLB Playoffs, because, just like that, both the Wild Card and Divisional rounds are in the books. We are only 10 days into the postseason, and are already looking at the betting odds for both the National and American League Championship Series.

In the NLCS, the Philadelphia Phillies will have home-field advantage against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the American League, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers both finished the regular season with 90 wins. However, as you probably know, the Astros had the tiebreaker. They will have home field on their side in the ALCS.

The odds are pretty close on one side, and the other series has an affordable favorite. All four teams, however, are playing some of their best baseball.

It's rare to see the final four of any sport all playing red hot. It's usually one or two teams who limp their way in on talent, but not this year! Let's dive in and make betting predictions first for the NLCS, followed by the ALCS.

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NLCS Betting Odds

Philadelphia Phillies: -180

Arizona Diamondbacks: +160

The Arizona Diamondbacks may have the best pitcher still throwing in the playoffs in Zac Gallen, with potentially the best 1-2 punch with him and Merrill Kelly.

The Philadelphia Phillies have the best 1-2-3 combo of starting pitchers, though, and they certainly have the better bullpen. Did you see what they did to the Atlanta Braves? I saw it all, unfortunately, and it was, at the minimum, an 80/20 domination of Atlanta.

The Phillies' Zack Wheeler has his best stuff of the year. Ranger Suarez has never had more control. Aaron Nola hasn't had the best statistical year of his career, but ask an Atlanta Braves fan today how much stats matter in the postseason.

I am not going to sell the Diamondbacks short on confidence. They just swept the LA Dodgers, a team that finished 16 games ahead of them in the regular season to win the National League West.

I will, however, sell them short on experience… particularly playoff experience. They are led on offense by a rookie. I suppose I should stop there, though, considering Corbin Carroll is hitting .412 with two homers and 6 RBIs in just five postseason games.

That kid is lightning in a bottle but can't beat the Phillies by himself. Philadelphia has the better lineup overall. They have more power as well. They have the better bullpen, and the team, as a whole, is locked in.

The Phillies have home-field advantage with far more intense and dedicated fans. I am not mad at the cheap odds either of just (-180).

Philly in 5.

NLCS Prediction

Philadelphia Phillies: -180

ALCS Betting Odds

Houston Astros: -140

Texas Rangers: +120

It doesn't get much better than a division-rival Texas matchup in the American League Championship Series. Both the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers are playing great baseball, but something has got to give.

The Texas Rangers are coming off of a shocking sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, and that came immediately after they swept the Tampa Bay Rays in the best of three Wild Card Series. I thought this team would be distraught after losing their final regular season game 1-0 to the Mariners, thus losing the American League West and a first-round bye to the Astros.

We all know by now that the first-round bye is a curse! Congratulations if you were up on this and took advantage at the betting window.

The ALCS is likely going to come down to experience, and no team has more postseason experience than the Houston Astros. While the Rays surged early and the Rangers and Orioles ruled the middle of the season, the Astros have just found their groove.

This is typical of a team with this much time playing in the playoffs together, albeit some of that time was spent cheating. If I didn't mention that, I would be cheating us both.

I only bring it up, however, to highlight that they went through it together and came out the other side as an even stronger unit.

The scandal was unprecedented, and I expected the core of that team to disperse widely across the league.

You can argue that the Texas Rangers can match the Astros' talent, but they can't match the fanbase or the home-field advantage, and they certainly can't match the invaluable experience of winning in the postseason.

Betting odds of only (-140) are a steal!

ALCS Prediction

Houston Astros: -140

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