The Los Angeles Angels limped to a 73-89 record last season, and the team missed the playoffs for the 13th time in the past 14 years.
It had an offseason of upheaval. Mainly, the team saw generational talent Shohei Ohtani take his talents down the freeway from Anaheim to the Los Angeles Dodgers via free agency. The Angels have a Grand Canyon-sized hole to fill, not only in their lineup, but pitching rotation, too.
The team was busy in the offseason adding LHPs Tyler Anderson and Jose Quintana to bolster the rotation. The cupboard isn’t totally bare, either, as a keen eye for talent in the draft has given the Los Angeles Angels hope in 2024. Let’s analyze the Los Angeles Angels’ World Series odds, along with their projected win total, playoff, division and AL odds as we make our expert MLB picks and predictions.
Los Angeles Angels World Series odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 18 at 11 a.m. ET.
Odds: +18000 (bet $100 to win $18,000)
The Angels (+18000) have the 3rd-longest odds to win the World Series among American League teams, and the 6th-longest odds overall.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (+320) are the favorites, followed by the Atlanta Braves (+450), Houston Astros (+700) and New York Yankees (+900).
At +18000, Los Angeles has an implied probability of winning the World Series of 0.55% or 180/1 fractional odds.
The Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics have the longest odds at +50000. The Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals are next at +25000.
The Angels have amassed some good, young talent, and if the team is able to stay the course, and avoid the temptations of the next expensive, shiny thing, Los Angeles could have sustained long-term success. The future is not 2024, however, nor is it likely 2025.
AVOID. Backing the Angels (+18000) to win the World Series at 180-to-1 payoff is a waste of money, as this team couldn’t sniff the postseason with Ohtani and Mike Trout.
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Los Angeles Angels playoff odds
Will they make the playoffs: Yes +750 | No -1600
Manager Ron Washington is 1 of the good guys in baseball, and he gets the most out of his players. Washington helped the division-rival Texas Rangers to a pair of AL pennants during his tenure in 2007-14, so the Angels hope he can turn things around in similar fashion in Anaheim.
The Angels have some nice, young pieces in place heading into 2024. The team appears to have struck gold with 1B Nolan Schanuel, last season’s 1st-round draft pick. He quickly went from draftee to major league player in the course of a couple of months. Schanuel’s plate discipline for a youngster was tremendous, but it remains to be seen if he can develop more power.
In addition, the team has SS Zach Neto and OFs Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak, a good core group for years to come. However, there are going to be growing pains, and the pitching staff is just so-so.
No (-1600) is too expensive to play, and Yes (+750) is a pipe dream.
PASS.
Los Angeles Angels win total
Over/Under: 72.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Let’s look at this a rather simple way. Last season, the Angels had Ohtani, and they ended up winning just 73 games. Granted, he missed chunks of time due to injury, but really, this is a team that isn’t as good as it was last season.
In addition to the loss of Ohtani, which is obviously the big headline, the team really struggled after the starting pitchers checked out. The bullpen amassed a dismal 4.88 ERA in 2023. That needs to get better in a hurry. There are live arms like RPs Carlos Estevez and Jimmy Herget, but we’ve seen a lot of erratic pitching from that duo.
Again, we’ve highlighted numerous times above, the team has a core of solid young prospects who will contribute sooner rather than later. However, for 2024, this is a team which is going to struggle, and it is lucky to have the even-worse Athletics in the same division, or the Halos would be a cellar dweller.
UNDER 72.5 WINS (-115) is the play, and a 9th consecutive losing campaign, and 10th straight non-playoff season, is in the offing.
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To win AL West Division
- Houston Astros -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Texas Rangers +210 (bet $100 to win $210)
- Seattle Mariners +300 (bet $100 to win $300)
- Los Angeles Angels +4500 (bet $100 to win $4,500)
- Oakland Athletics +25000 (bet $100 to win $25,000)
Los Angeles has an implied probability of winning the AL West of 2.17% or 45/1 fractional odds.
The Astros are the heavy favorites, with the defending World Series champion Rangers also in the mix, as well as the 2023 playoff team Mariners. The Angels are a big-time long shot. PASS.
To win American League
Odds: +7000 (bet $100 to win $7,000)
Again, the Angels hardly made a peep with a lineup consisting of Ohtani, Trout, Luis Rengifo, Anthony Rendon, among others. Now that Ohtani is gone, they’re a lot further away from a berth in the World Series, not closer.
This is a team with a solid young core, and it will be interesting to see if the Halos can have a little impulse control, avoid trying for the quick fix, and develop some of the immense talent it has. If the Angels can do that, this is a team which could finally turn the page, and have Tampa Bay Rays type of success, contending year in and year out despite not having a ton of high-priced talent.
However, will that young talent help them win the AL in 2024? No. AVOID.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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