Bet MLB! Eckel has the odds and picks the four teams, outside of the Yankees and Dodgers, where you should put your money

If Major League Baseball makes it to a 2020 World Series, the Yankees and Dodgers seem like a logical conclusion to an illogical season.

The two highest-profile teams from the two biggest markets with the two of the best lineups and pitching staffs might just save a season that Mariano Rivera might not be able to save.

Both the Yankees and Dodgers are prohibitive favorites to win the American and National Leagues respectively and are co-World Series favorites at +375.

As much as baseball could really use a Yankee/Dodger Fall Classic, those are short odds even for a short season.

If you’re looking to be a little riskier and take a chance with better odds here are four teams we recommend.

Atlanta Braves (+1200 for World Series/ +650 for National League): The Braves haven’t been able to get out the NLDS the past two years and decided to fix the bullpen this offseason to try to make that happen. A good bullpen could go a long way in a short season. And the Braves could go a long way in 2020.

Minnesota Twins (+1500/+700): Minnesota is the second-best team in the American League, its problem is it just can’t beat the Yankees. Maybe somebody else (Tampa Bay?) upsets the Yanks and the Twins get a break. In any case the odds here aren’t bad.

Cincinnati Reds (+1800/+900): This was my sleeper team (and yes I’m a fan), until they woke up. The Reds are no longer a dark horse as their odds continue to shrink. A bolstered offense to go with a very good pitching staff make them a threat, especially in a short season.

Oakland As (+2000/+1100): I really don’t like the As. I thought Moneyball was a joke (both in reality and the movie). But this is a pretty good team with pretty good odds. They should be in the playoffs, for sure, and after that anything can happen.