Tigers Finally Fall in Don Best Advantage MLB Power Ratings

Detroit Also 10/1 to Win World Series at LVH SuperBook.

While the top two teams remain unchanged in the Don Best Advantage MLB Power Ratings for the seventh consecutive week, three have passed the slumping Detroit Tigers, including two National League teams that remain serious World Series contenders. The Oakland Athletics (-192) and Los Angeles Angels (-182) continue to battle atop the American League West following a three-game series last weekend and will face each other again in another three-game set starting Friday in Anaheim.

The Tigers (-142) are 1.5 games behind the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals (-120), who have risen one spot to No. 11 since last week with a five-cent increase in their rate. Detroit fell from No. 3 to No. 6 and could also get into the playoffs as one of the two AL Wild Cards, but either the A's or Angels figure to grab one of those with a third AL West team - the Seattle Mariners (-121) - holding on to the second spot for now.

However, the Los Angeles Dodgers (-157), Washington Nationals (-150) and Baltimore Orioles (-147) have all jumped ahead of the Tigers in the MLB Power Ratings in the 3, 4 and 5 positions. All three teams lead their respective divisions by at least five games with less than five weeks remaining in the regular season. The Dodgers are also the 4/1 favorites to win the World Series now at the LVH SuperBook in Las Vegas with Detroit falling to 10/1 after sitting at 8/1 a week ago.

The Royals continue to climb in the SuperBook's World Series odds (click here for the latest odds MLB future odds), moving to 10/1 after they were 40/1 to start August and 12/1 last week. Oakland is the 9/2 second choice to win it all behind the Dodgers, with the Nationals improving to 5/1 from 6/1 last week and 8/1 at the beginning of the month.

The Angels are still a solid value pick to win the World Series at 7/1, especially since they are tied for first with the A's in the AL West and 7/2 to win the AL pennant. The problem for them though is the loss of starting pitcher Garrett Richards (13-4, 2.61 ERA), who underwent season-ending knee surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon last Friday. Richards was enjoying a career year before suffering the injury and ranks second on the team in wins behind ace Jered Weaver (14-7, 3.72).

"Garrett Richards is a huge loss for the Angels - huge during the postseason, but small for the remainder of the regular season," Don Best COO and oddsmaker Kenny White said. "Richards had become the ace of a very good pitching staff.

"Just think about the Angels being 40-50 cents less on the betting line every five days that was supposed to be Richards' day on the mound. By my calculations without Richards, the last eight starts will cost the Angels one win."

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