The 2011 Major League Baseball season is already underway, but the Boys of Summer have barely scratched the surface of their respective schedules. In other words, hope is still springing eternal in clubhouses across the fruited plain, including those in Baltimore, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. The latest 2011 AL Pennant Odds are not looking for any of those squads to be around come fall, though, as the Red Sox and Yankees, at +175 and +275 odds, respectively, are the two favorites to win the American League. Texas, last year's American League representative in the Fall Classic, is listed at +700 odds to retain its crown.
Boston Red Sox (+175): The Bean Town Bombers are off to a shaky start after getting swept by the defending AL champion 
Rangers in Arlington, but that development has not caused any sort of panic on the part of Boston backers. Boston produced just 11 runs in the series but everyone knows that this lineup can and will hit, there are too many big bats for it not to. The pitching staff also looked out of sorts with starters Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Clay Buchholz giving up a combined 18 earned runs to the hard hitting Rangers. That, however, is not a huge cause for concern either as Lester and Lackey, both proven performers, started slow last year.
New York Yankees (+275): Much has been made of the Yankees starting rotation concerns, but New York had the same issues last season and still posted a 95-67 record. The Yankees opening series against the Tigers illustrated why they had success last year and will again in 2011 as they pounded out 23 runs in the three game set. Yes, they did yield 19 runs, but they won the series 2-1 nonetheless. New York will, once again, find its way to the postseason, it is there that its pitching staff will cause it to either sink or swim.
Texas Rangers (+700): The defending champs are getting a little run, but probably not as much as they deserve. Everyone champions the Rangers offense, and rightfully so, but they forget about the team's pitching staff, which ranked 10th in the league last season with a 3.93 ERA. Texas' hurlers served notice in the opening series against Boston, arguably the most feared group of hitters in the league, that last season was no fluke.
Boston Red Sox +175
New York Yankees +275
Chicago White Sox +1000
Minnesota Twins +1200
Texas Rangers +700
Detroit Tigers +1600
Tampa Bay Rays +1600
Oakland Athletics +1400
Los Angeles Angels +1600
Baltimore Orioles +3000
Seattle Mariners +4000
Toronto Blue Jays +1200
Kansas City Royals +10000
Cleveland Indians +10000
