The Tigers didn’t seem like a team ready for the playoffs when the trade deadline came around.
Detroit traded pitcher Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder Mark Canha to San Francisco, reliever Andrew Chafin, and catcher Carson Kelly to Texas.
With a record of 52-57, the Tigers focused on their future, and their long-shot odds to win this season showed that mindset. However, one bettor in Michigan decided differently, placing a bet on the Tigers at 500-1 odds to win the World Series.
That bet doesn’t seem so silly now. The Tigers have made an unexpected run to the postseason and will face Houston in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.
“They’re definitely a danger in any short series, so I wouldn’t count them out at all,” said Caesars lead baseball trader Eric Biggio.
BetMGM Sportsbook also had the Tigers at 500-1 before their recent success.
“They were trading pieces away,” said BetMGM trading strategy manager Halvor Egeland. “Most people thought that they should trade (Tarik) Skubal away, and they obviously made the right decision.”
Skubal won the AL pitching Triple Crown, leading in wins (18), ERA (2.39), and strikeouts (228).
BetMGM now lists the Tigers at 28-1 to win the World Series, which is a significant drop from 500-1.
