MLB playoff rankings: The eight best World Series bets in the wake of the trade deadline
Virtually every contender is at least a little bit stronger in the wake of Tuesday’s non-waivers trade deadline, having picked the carcasses of several teams who have long since given up.
With that in mind, here’s a ranking of the top eight World Series contenders after the flurry of Tuesday’s activity subsides:
1. Dodgers
What they did: Got Manny Machado early and Brian Dozier late, giving them a power-packed infield flanked by Justin Turner and Max Muncy. All four players, by the way, did not start the season on their active roster. John Axford gives them one more fungible arm for the bullpen.
What they didn’t do: Augment the starting rotation. Ross Stripling is leaking oil, but the Dodgers figure to attack the rest of the season and the postseason with a multitude of arms in a variety of roles. Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood will head the rotation; when it comes playoff time, expect brief bursts from the likes of Stripling, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda and the powerful Walker Buehler, be it in abbreviated starts or multi-inning relief appearances.
Why they could win it all:…