2024 AL Pennant Picks: Can anyone stop the Yankees?

The MLB Postseason is here, and the playoff bracket is set in the American League.

Before continuing, please check out our MLB Playoff Page which will help you prepare for the postseason and see the odds for any futures bet you would like to make.

This year the top two division winners in each league will receive byes to the Division Series. This season, the Yankees and the Guardians are the top two division winners.

The remaining four teams will compete in a fierce best-of-three series in the Wild Card round. The higher seed will host all three games.

The Wild Card round will feature the Houston Astros hosting the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles hosting the Kansas City Royals.

2024 AL Pennant Odds


New York Yankees	+180	+175	+165
Houston Astros	+350	+350	+250
Cleveland Guardians	+350	+400	+370
Baltimore Orioles	+500	+450	+485
Kansas City Royals	+900	+1000	+1000
Detroit Tigers	+1000	+1000	+1100

New York Yankees

The Yankees are the American League favorites, priced at +185 to win the AL Pennant. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge led them to another AL East title.

Judge is in line for his 2nd MVP this season after a league-leading 58 home runs while hitting .322 with 144 RBIs and 122 runs. Furthermore, Soto finished with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, 122 runs and a .288 batting average.

The Yankees' pitching rotation is a force to be reckoned with. Gerrit Cole has been performing consistently well for the past two months, and Carlos Rodón finished the season on a high note.

The East is Ours. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/ZwvMs1R7Az

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 27, 2024

With the addition of Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, they now have a truly impressive playoff rotation, instilling confidence in their fans. They've addressed the bullpen problem by having Luke Weaver take care of things at the end of games.

New York Yankees To win the AL Pennant

+185

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Houston Astros

The Astros rallied from a sluggish 12-24 start this season. Since that slow start, the Astros have had an MLB-best record, 76-49. Additionally, they won the AL West for the seventh time in eight seasons.

Their lineup features standout players like Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, and Alex Bregman, helping them secure the best batting average in the American League.

Inescapable.
#Relentless x https://t.co/qeWI2w4RkL pic.twitter.com/fN3HWUtr34

— Houston Astros (@astros) September 30, 2024

The rotation is led by Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, and Yusei Kikuchi.

Overall, the Astros don't seem as dominant as they have in previous seasons, and their lineup is heavily reliant on a few key players. Nonetheless, they still have a strong enough team to potentially win it all.

Houston Astros To win the AL Pennant

+350

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Cleveland Guardians

Third-baseman Jose Ramirez spearheads Cleveland's offense, but the team's hitting performance placed them in the middle of the pack across various categories.

The Guardians' pitching emerged as their strong suit, finishing with the fourth-best ERA in MLB at 3.61. Their standout bullpen, led by Emmanuel Clase, who secured the most saves in the American League with 47, has been a significant asset.

Your 2024 AL Saves Leaders:

47 - Emmanuel Clase CLE
34 - Josh Hader HOU
33 - Kirby Yates TEX
30 - Clay Holmes NYY
28 - Jason Foley DET
28 - Mason Miller OAK pic.twitter.com/HjAYU8C8IK

— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2024

Apart from José Ramírez and Josh Naylor, who each hit 30-plus home runs, the team doesn't display a significant amount of power at the plate, and their rotation is considered one of the weakest in the playoffs.

The real game-changer lies in the Guardians' relievers, who dominated as the best bullpen in baseball this season. This allows them to effectively shorten games and utilize their top relievers strategically in the playoffs without exhausting them.

Cleveland Guardians To win the AL Pennant

+370

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Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have consistently maintained one of the best minor league systems, and their efforts bore fruit in 2024.

The O's roster showcases homegrown talents, such as Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, and Jackson Holliday.

Keep an eye on Henderson and Rutschman, as they could be poised for stellar performances. Meanwhile, Anthony Santander has solidified his position as one of baseball's most formidable power hitters.

The series is set. pic.twitter.com/gG4uSYi4rq

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 29, 2024

In addition, their pitching rotation is led by ace Corbin Burnes, whom the team acquired during the offseason to elevate the team's performance. With Zach Eflin providing strong support, they have a formidable 1-2 punch.

Baltimore Orioles To win the AL Pennant

+500

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Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City team may not have the deepest lineup compared to other playoff contenders, but it is led by the impressive Bobby Witt Jr., who would likely have been the AL MVP if not for Aaron Judge.

With the potential return of Vinnie Pasquantino, they have the pieces to make a strong postseason run.

A season we will never forget. pic.twitter.com/zPgUnaEWvF

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 29, 2024

The rotation, featuring Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and either Michael Lorenzen or Brady Singer, has the potential to be formidable.

Additionally, Seth Lugo was a great acquisition in free agency, finishing with a 16-9 record, a 3.00 ERA, and 181 strikeouts. Cole Ragans also had an impressive first full season, posting a 3.14 ERA and 223 strikeouts over 186 1/3 innings.

Kansas City Royals To win the AL Pennant

+1000

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Detroit Tigers

The Tigers have been on fire entering the postseason, winning 31 of their last 44 games to secure a Wild Card berth. This will be their first postseason appearance since 2014.

The Tigers have a strong foundation, with Tarik Skubal, likely AL Cy Young winner, leading the rotation. While their offense may not be the most powerful, their potential is undeniable.

The @Tigers had a spectacular September.

Now they are ready for October. #postseason pic.twitter.com/ZmvuOzybL9

— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2024

They've shown incredible determination, consistently delivering clutch hitting along the way. There's a sense of destiny surrounding this team, making their journey one of the most compelling stories in baseball.

Their lack of power could be a concern against playoff pitching, but they have shown the ability to overcome challenges. The possibility of the Tigers making a deep playoff run is exciting. While winning the AL Pennant may seem like a long shot, it's not out of the question

Detroit Tigers To win the AL Pennant

+1100

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