Huge Discrepancies In Blue Jays’ World Series Futures Odds

There's a wide gap between the odds posted in Canadian and international markets
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Greg is a sports editor who has previously worked for respected Canadian media outlets, including Rogers Sportsnet, theScore, and Covers Media Group. He’s covered sports in Canada for over a decade, specializing in NHL, NFL, CFL, MLB, and sports betting. In his spare time, he can be found attempting to break 90 on the golf course or cruising down the slopes at his local ski hill. You can reach Greg at [email protected].

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With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement finally agreed upon and Opening Day just a few weeks away, Major League Baseball bettors are taking a hard look at futures odds relating to the 2022 season.

One of the more intriguing teams to handicap this season is the Toronto Blue Jays, who amassed 91 wins last season and fell just short of a playoff berth. Toronto boasts a young core of talented players led by slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, but it lost reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray and slugging infielder Marcus Semien to free agency. Right-hander Kevin Gausman was brought in to replace Ray and lefty Yusei Kikuchi was also signed this past weekend to provide rotation depth.

There are huge discrepancies across Canada when studying the futures odds for the nation’s only professional baseball team, and even larger gaps when comparing those Canadian sportsbook odds to other major sportsbooks. The Blue Jays have the shortest World Series futures odds on PROLINE +, the only legal sports betting platform in their home province of Ontario.

“PROLINE+ opened at +750 on Toronto. Early betting has been quite skewed toward the Jays, that’s why we are at +650 now,” said a spokesperson for PROLINE +. “Certainly being the home team for the province … will garner the team extra attention from our customers. It also doesn’t hurt that they are in general considered a fun public pick this year, with a young explosive offense and a surprisingly deep starting rotation.”

Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (+600) have better World Series odds at PROLINE + than Toronto, which is followed by the New York Yankees at +900. When examining American League outright odds, Toronto is the favorite at +400.

“We have now released our American League outright futures and are putting the Jays as very slight favorites over the likes of the Astros (+500), White Sox (+500) and Yankees (+500). Same story for the American League East winner – Jays (+170) slightly favored over the Yankees (+200),” the spokesperson added.

With many top free agents still available, such as Kris Bryant, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa, and Freddie Freeman, Toronto’s odds could get even shorter if it can sign another marquee free agent, or trade to improve the roster prior to Opening Day on April 7.

“The feeling is that some sort of upgrade is already partially priced into the Blue Jays’ current number,” the spokesperson suggested. “The team is still expected to do more before the start of the year. A major superstar coming in to play third base, for instance, or a shock starting pitcher signing could definitely move the number even further.”

More value outside of Ontario

While it appears there isn’t much value with PROLINE + in Ontario on betting the Blue Jays to win their first World Series since 1993, it’s a different story with other provincial sports betting lotteries and international books. As of Monday morning, here’s how other provincial lotteries and major sportsbooks are setting the Blue Jays’ World Series odds:

  • PlayNow (British Columbia): +1150
  • Atlantic Lottery Corporation (Maritime provinces): +850
  • Mise-o-jeu (Quebec): +1150
  • FanDuel +1200
  • DraftKings +1100
  • PointsBet +1300
  • BetMGM +1300

As shown, non-Canadian markets have the Blue Jays pegged anywhere between +1100 and +1300 to win it all, which is generally longer than books north of the border.

“I think the Canadian lotteries might be a bit shorter on price due to liability and/or other factors,” said PointsBet analyst Michael Korn. “That being said, coming off a disappointing end to last season, we expect the Blue Jays to be coming for some vengeance this year.

“Between a high-powered offense behind Vladimir Guerrero, George Springer, and Teoscar Hernandez, combined with great pitching topped by Jose Berrios and Kevin Gausman, we expect the Blue Jays to make some noise this year. The one obvious drawback is them playing in a great division. The Yankees, Rays, and Red Sox all won’t go down without a fight.”

 

Ontario’s regulated iGaming market will launch April 4, giving roughly 30 private operators access to Ontario’s market share and putting an end to Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s PROLINE + monopoly on the sports betting market. PointsBet, FanDuel, Rush Street Interactive, Unibet, Coolbet, and theScore Bet are among the already-registered sportsbooks with Ontario regulators.

Bettors residing in Ontario who like Toronto’s World Series aspirations may elect to wait until April 4, in order to open an account and place a wager with another regulated sportsbook that has more favorable odds than PROLINE +.

Photo: Kevin Sousa/USA TODAY 

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