The new Major League Baseball season starts on March 31. It’s going to be an exciting road to the World Series with the winners crowned in early October. Can the Atlanta Braves follow up their 2021 win?
2021 saw the Braves beat the Houston Astros to win the World Series for the first time this century. Their last win had been in 1995 but if they are to win the title this year, they will have to do something no side has done for over two decades.
You have to go back to the year 2000 for the last time a team won back-to-back World Series. That was achieved by the New York Yankees who were winning the World Series for the third successive year.
Since then, there has been a different winner every single year. Some even say that there is a curse on the winners that prevents them from getting to the World Series and again becoming champions.
Teams Cursed?
Copyright: 2008 Getty Images
In 2008 the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series, beating the Tampa Bay Rays. The following year saw them again reach the World Series but were beaten by the New York Yankees (a record 27th win but they haven’t won since).
Since that 2009 World Series, the side winning the title has failed to even reach the World Series the following year. There have been instances of teams reaching and losing two successive World Series. The last team to achieve that was the Los Angeles Dodgers who lost in both 2017 and 2018. They did get a win in 2020 though but of course, the curse meant they weren’t able to retain their title last year.
Are the Braves the Betting Favorites
If looking to bet on the 2022 MLB season there will be plenty of coverage and betting advice on the Wincomparator website The favorites to win in 2022 are currently the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a very open market though with them generally available at 6/1 (7.0). Next in the betting are the Houston Astros who will be out to reach a second successive World Series.
The Astros won the World Series in 2017 but have lost in two of the last three (making it three losses out of four overall). They always seem to be thereabouts, and another bold bid will be made by them to reach the World Series in 2022.
Could this be the year that the Chicago White Sox win the World Series? That hasn’t happened since 2005 when again it was Houston who were the losing team. Perhaps the winners of the World Series won’t be an American team? The Toronto Blue Jays are strongly fancied to win a third World Series but their first since 1993.
The defending champions are down the betting market this year. Maybe the bookmakers believe that curse does exist, and they can’t win. Only time will tell, get ready for an exciting Major League Baseball season in 2022.
Come check out Belly Up Sports on Twitter for more sports and entertainment news and content.
