As the MLB betting season continues to wind down, there is no reason to think that the two favorites to win the World Series won’t be the teams that play for baseball’s ultimate prize. The Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox are listed at 8-5 and 3-1 respectively, and neither team has shown any signs of why they should not be picked to represent their league in the championship series. While a case can be made for both sides as World Series champions, the Red Sox get the edge based on how complete their team is both offensively and defensively.

While the Phillies boast the best pitching staff in the majors, any sports betting rotation will struggle with the likes of Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, and the rest of the highest scoring team in baseball. The Red Sox have all of the weapons of a championship team, and with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester leading a potential three-man rotation in the playoffs, Boston will have options on who to seed as the third arm. Reigning National League Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay will lead a staff that will likely be shortened to himself, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels in the World Series, but the problem is that if any of those pitchers struggles, the Phillies don’t have the offensive firepower to make up for it when it matters the most.