MLB second-half betting preview roundtable

The All-Star break is now behind us, and the second half of the MLB season has begun. We decided to get some of our betting experts together with our top fantasy analysts to discuss some of the more interesting storylines that lie ahead.

There are betting opportunities galore, from World Series winners to MVP and Cy Young races and more. We went through it all to find the best picks going forward.

All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

1. The New York Yankees (+400), Los Angeles Dodgers (+400) and Houston Astros (+450) have solidified themselves as favorites heading into the second half. Which one of these three teams (if any) are you backing to win the World Series?

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I'm not sure how anyone can bet confidently against the Houston Astros. This franchise has competed in three of the past five World Series, and in those other two seasons it went to the American League Championship Series. Some of the names have changed but not many. Yordan Alvarez is awesome. Justin Verlander is awesome. The Astros don't need the No. 1 seed in the AL. Houston boasts impressive rotation depth, a bullpen it will likely build up before the trade deadline and a deep lineup. It really should have won all four games at Yankee Stadium back in June, winning two and leading late in the other two contests. Getting better odds on the Astros than the Yankees seems like quite a bargain. — Eric Karabell

I don't feel passionate about any individual team at those odds, being that easy cases can be made for each to win it all. However, one factor that might sway me — at least today — is that the trade tendencies of these three teams at the deadline during the past