Chicago Cubs prove popular in World Series matchup props
Even when Jake Arrieta proves human, there is no slowing the Chicago Cubs’ roll. Of course, it’s only May, and October could be a different story.
The Cubs’ 24-6 record is the best in baseball, and their betting backers are stepping up to the cash machine almost daily to get the best of Las Vegas bookmakers.
Arrieta allowed two earned runs in five innings Sunday — a poor outing by the ace right-hander’s standards — yet the Cubs won for the 20th consecutive time when Arrieta started by overcoming the Washington Nationals 4-3 in 13 innings at Wrigley Field.
Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller is already putting the Cubs in the World Series, in a proposition sort of way. Miller and book manager Aaron Kessler, a diehard Cubs fan, recently posted 77 possible World Series matchup props that are attracting predictable betting patterns.
“It has been all Cubs action,” Miller said. “The world is in love with the Cubbies. Right off the bat, people started betting the Cubs-White Sox matchup.”
The White Sox claim the second-best record in the majors at 23-10.
An all-Chicago World Series is too insane to imagine, right? The White Sox last won it all in 2005. The Cubs last reached the World Series in 1945 and last won it in 1908.
Here are the Golden Nugget’s odds on the Cubs’ potential World Series opponents: White Sox (16-1), Boston Red Sox (18-1), Toronto Blue Jays (18-1), Kansas City Royals (20-1), Texas Rangers (25-1), Baltimore Orioles (35-1), Cleveland Indians (40-1), Detroit Tigers (40-1), New York Yankees (40-1), Seattle Mariners (40-1), Houston Astros (45-1).
All wagers are action, so if the Cubs come up short again in October, your money is history.
As for Miller’s predicted matchup, he said, “I would probably go with Cubs-Red Sox.”
Contact sports betting reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247