Oddsmakers Adjusting Blue Jays Odds After Mets Player Injury
No one would begrudge New York Mets owner Steve Cohen if he were breaking things in his office right now.
After all, how would you like to be the guy who has put down $375 million in payroll on his team, going for it all this upcoming season?
Then this afternoon’s news, which was an earth-shaker: Mets 28-year-old star relief pitcher Edwin Diaz – he of the dramatic entrances into games, Timmy Trumpet playing Narco for the walk-on, the crowd going crazy - blows out the patellar tendon in his right knee last night celebrating a win for his home country Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Championships, of all places.
This will heavily affect the MLB betting market.
Edwin Diaz Injury Affects the League
Diaz had struck out the side in ninth inning against the Dominican Republic, an upset 5-2 win for Puerto Rico. Staff had to push him off the field in a wheelchair. He is done for the season.
Diaz was one of the great storylines last season and Cohen rewarded him accordingly. Diaz was baseball’s No. 1 relief pitcher – 32 saves, 1.31 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 118 strikeouts.
He just signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets, including a $12 million signing bonus – the richest contract in history for a reliever.
Players in the WBC are covered by insurance. We’re guessing that’s not much of a consolation for Cohen and the Mets right now.
Last week, we reported the Mets were tied with the New York Yankees at 8.5 to win the World Series, second only to the Houston Astros, at 7.0, according to BetMGM futures.
But things are starting to shift this afternoon, at least a little. According to Johnny Avello, DraftKings’ race and sportsbook operations director, the Mets have moved from 14.00 to 18.00 to win the NL East, 8.50 to 10.00 to win the World Series.
They’ve adjusted the Mets’ regular season win projection from 94.5 to 91.5, Avello tells us, and odds are being adjusted on all other teams in the division.
And this from the Proline team just now, on whether there have been adjustments on those futures: “Nothing yet – we are monitoring. Initially, we are concerned with whether there is suddenly value on their NL East competitors (Atlanta, Philadelphia). We have not seen an influx on bets there at this point. Will keep you updated if something changes in the near future.”
Blue Jays Could Benefit in Odds Shift
Any adjustment in those odds impacts the Blue Jays, who have heavy World Series aspirations of their own. Those World Series BetMGM futures had them at 15.0 to win the World Series, behind the Astros, Mets, Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers (9.0), San Diego Padres (10.5) and Atlanta Braves (10.5).
So far, and the Jays are crossing fingers and toes here, there have been no injuries, except a minor knee issue with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but he’s back playing now. Those who have had past injury issues, like OF George Springer, have looked good in spring training. No issues there.
Sorry Mets fans, while David Robertson and Adam Ottavino are candidates to replace Diaz, you’ll have to lean more on your starting pitching – led by vets Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
Before the Diaz injury, FanDuel had the Mets at 2.45 to win the NL East. After the injury, they are now 2.7. They were 5.5 to win the National League, and now that’s at 5.8. And the World Series? Before the Diaz injury, 9.0, 10.0 post-injury.
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