At the onset of the American League Playoffs is a mix of familiar favorites and some upstarts that caught gamblers by surprise. For the first time since 2022 and only the second time since 2001, the Seattle Mariners are in the playoffs.
Seattle shocked the MLB gambling community by winning the American League West, perhaps ending the Houston Astros’ dynasty. Now they begin the 2025 American League playoffs as chalk.
On the other end of the spectrum are the New York Yankees, a perennial playoff favorite that often comes up short when it matters most.
Despite the noise about payroll discrepancies, the Yankees have only two AL pennants since 2003 and only one World Series title since 2000.
The Toronto Blue Jays don’t get a lot of attention, but they were the dominant team in the American League East.
The Cleveland Guardians came out of nowhere to steal a playoff spot and the American League Central title.
The Detroit Tigers started strong but faded alarmingly down the stretch, barely making the playoffs.
2025 American League Playoff Odds Preview
The American League playoffs begin with the Wild Card Series, starting on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and running through Thursday, October 2, 2025, followed by the American League Divisional Playoffs and the American League Championship Series.
2025 American League Pennant Odds
- Seattle Mariners +200
- Toronto Blue Jays +300
- New York Yankees +360
- Detroit Tigers +800
- Boston Red Sox +800
- Cleveland Guardians +900
- In the wild card round, the Boston Red Sox face the New York Yankees while the Detroit Tigers take on the Cleveland Guardians.
- The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays get a wild-card bye.
- The Yankees are consistently overpriced, costing gamblers a significant amount when they lose a game.
- The Seattle Mariners were a solid betting value this year because the public overlooked them.
- Now the word is out on the Mariners, and they are the favorite in MLB odds to win the American League pennant.
- The Toronto Blue Jays were one of the best and most profitable values on the board, despite being a division winner that the casual sector often overlooks.
- The Boston Red Sox were slow and steady, finishing with a wild card berth after staying in position most of the year.
- Despite their popularity and brand cache, the Red Sox are not drawing much support on the MLB futures board.
2025 American League Playoff Odds Predictions
- Since 2015, the American League has seen seven different franchises win the pennant.
- Gamblers can’t afford to be too impressed with mega brands or big favorites, as history shows that there is not enough reliable betting value there.
- The Toronto Blue Jays were a consistently strong betting value in 2025.
- Toronto’s lack of public popularity will help hold its value in the playoffs.
- Because of an inconsistent regular season, the Yankees are more under the radar this year, which could bode well for their prospects.
- With Aaron Judge, New York boasts the best player in baseball.
- New York won the AL pennant last year but lost the World Series.
- Now the Yankees are motivated to complete their mission and win it all.
2025 American League Pennant Best Bet: New York Yankees
2025 American League Playoff Odds Betting Tips
- The Boston Red Sox rank 2nd for bullpen earned run average.
- The Cleveland Guardians rank 3rd for bullpen ERA.
- The Guardians rank 28th for run production.
- The Toronto Blue Jays rank 4th or run production but 19th in earned run average.
- The New York Yankees rank 1st for run production and home runs.
- The Seattle Mariners rank 9th for bullpen ERA.
- Seattle ranks 9th for run production and 3rd for home runs.
- The Boston Red Sox rank 7th for run production and 5th for earned run average.
- The Red Sox rank 30th for fewest errors committed.
2025 American League Playoff Odds Head-to-Head, and Key Stats
- The Toronto Blue Jays were the third most profitable team on the MLB board at +1677 moneyline units and were +1494 on the run line.
- The Cleveland Guardians were +1579 moneyline units as the fourth most profitable team.
- The Boston Red Sox were +662 moneyline units.
- The Detroit Tigers were deep in the red at -667 moneyline units and -1786 run line units.
- Despite a record of 94-68, the New York Yankees were -559 moneyline units.
- The Seattle Mariners were -1741 units on the run line.
