As the Boston Red Sox look to open spring training in a few months, there is plenty of optimism among fans and bookmakers.

The Red Sox open their Grapefruit League schedule in March with a roster that left last season’s roster largely intact. A healthy David Price and Chris Sale are expected to fill major question marks in the rotation, while the club’s World Series win in 2018 has inspired loyal Red Sox betting fans to wager on the team’s fortunes at some of the best MLB betting sites in 2019.

The Chicago Cubs open camp as clear 15/2 favorites in MLB betting to claim another World Series pennant. The Cubs won the World Series in 2016 and won an impressive 97 games in 2015 to grab the National League’s second Wild Card, and their first berth in the MLB Postseason since 2008, but made a speedy exit in the NLCS, swept in four games by the New York Mets. The addition of veteran hurler John Lackey via free agency added some needed experience to the youthful Cubs, while the addition of Jason Heyward, who also comes over from the rival St. Louis Cardinals, gives the ChiCubs a boost both on defense and at the plate.

The defending World Series champion Washington Nationals are the Cubs’ closest competition on the World Series odds, perched at an attractive 10/1. Sports bettors are intrigued by the Nats as well as the Red Sox, Mets (who just added Rick Porcello), Cardinals, Washington Nationals, and the rival Toronto Blue Jays.

New York opened well back of the favorites, falling as far as 20/1 before re-signing superstar outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to a monster contract that will keep him in Queens for the next three years. .

Perhaps the most intriguing team in that group are the Blue Jays, who went on a stunning 40-17 run a few years back following the Trade Deadline acquisition of Price, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, and outfielder Ben Revere to claim their first AL East crown since 1993, before taking their fans on a wild run to the ALCS, where they fell to the Royals in six games.

A front office makeover at Rogers Centre has shaken up the Jays and their fan base, while the loss of Price leaves the Toronto rotation with question marks. But the Blue Jays are once again expected to be an offensive juggernaut in 2020, and capable of repeating as division champs.