MLB Betting Online: Hope springs eternal in Major League Baseball. Your favorite team made a key offseason move, the prized prospect is ready for his breakout season or the injuries from last year have all healed. Whatever the circumstance, everyone is tied for first at this point.
The long and painful rebuilding is over, and now the question is whether Houston’s baseball team can maintain annual contention in a football-first town. Last season brought the Astros’ first winning record since 2008 and first playoff appearance since 2005. The Astros were a legitimately good team in 2015. Going into 2016, they have everything they need to take the next step.
HOUSTON ASTROS
+1250 to win 2016 World Series
+585 to win AL Pennant
The Astros made a massive leap in 2015 winning 86 games seemingly out of nowhere after tallying just 70 the year before. The jump is a clear indication that the rebuild Houston began a few years back is beginning to pay off, and sooner than most expected.
Houston heads into 2016 with a winning mentality and a very skilled young team. The Astros boast one of the best young players in the game in shortstop Carlos Correa, but many of his teammates had career years in 2015, leaving question marks on the whole as to how improved the team will be. Power, strikeouts and speed should still be calling cards.
Pitching is an overall strength. Dallas Keuchel, the bearded lefty who stunned everyone with his Cy Young-winning campaign, will have the burden of proving he can repeat as one of the game’s most dominant pitchers. He’s no fluke, but can he remain among baseball’s elite without top-shelf velocity?
In 22-year-old sophomore Lance McCullers, the Astros have a traditional overpowering arm who could combine with Keuchel to form one of baseball’s best one-two punches. McCullers’ fastball doesn’t touch 95 mph – that’s where it sits. Collin McHugh is a stable piece in the middle of the rotation.
Closer Ken Giles is the biggest addition of the winter. He’s the piece the Astros didn’t have in the ALDS when they coughed up a four-run lead with six outs remaining in Game 4. His track record isn’t long, but it’s overwhelmingly good.
You won’t find a better combination up the middle. Correa towers over Jose Altuve physically, but together they form the core and motor of the Astros. When both are hot, the Astros can run circles on opponents. A full season of Correa could bring MVP-like numbers.
This is one of the game’s best outfields if everyone’s on the field. From left to right, the Astros have three center fielders – Colby Rasmus, Carlos Gomez and George Springer – and each has power. Gomez and Springer bring speed as well. The only question is health.
Houston is a major player in the AL West at this point. They should be a great offensive team with plenty of pop and speed on the basepaths. The Astros also have enough good pitching to win a lot of ball games.
Giles is the big piece the Astros needed in the bullpen. But they’re going to need a lot of similar or repeat performances in 2016 from others, and regression can be cruel. The Astros should be in the mix once again, but it’s hard to say they’re a favorite.
Key Additions: RP Ken Giles, SP Doug Fister,
Key Losses: SP Scott Kazmir, 1B Chris Carter, C Hank Conger, 3B Jed Lowrie.
The Astros grew a huge lead early in 2015, a scenario that’ll be hard to replicate in a division that’s only gotten tougher. But after years of losing- and years of talking about creating a sustainable model – the Astros need to take another step forward in 2016, or at the very least, avoid one in the wrong direction.
Prediction: 87-75
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