Bucking the Odds: Pirates Climb World Series Futures | IXGAMES
We’re touching mid-August and the Pittsburgh Pirates are as close to a playoff berth as they’ve been since prior to the Player’s Strike of 1993. This Monday they’ll get a chance to creep ever closer to the postseason they seek, bucking the MLB odds that have all but guaranteed otherwise since Day 1. Changing the tides of history is no easy task and that’s one of the major reasons why despite their success the Pirates haven’t exactly shot up the World Series futures. As the 2012 season drags on into the dog days of summer, it gets harder and harder to ignore the role they’ve played in the National League playoff picture this far. When the Pirates play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, the pairing will mark more than a scarp for wins in the middle of their season. Given the depth of talent, and more importantly the trend of recent success, the Dodgers boast, a big series win could give the Bucs enough confidence to follow through on the MLB betting line. It won’t be easy sneaking into a crowded National League playoff bracket, but for a team that’s been bucking the odds since April, it might not be far off. Get all your MLB futures at Bovada’s online sportsbook