With the MLB season set to begin in late July, can the Yankees bring home a World Series title?

Here is a question for New York Yankees’ fans, and for all Major League Baseball enthusiasts.

When was the last time the Yankees went a whole decade without making a World Series appearance?

Well, it is a bit of a trick: it was 2010-19.

The last time before that, though, was a whole century ago, from 1910-19. The team with the most titles (27) and American League Pennants (40) made the playoffs seven times last decade, but could never find its way to the World Series, coming within a game in 2017, heading back to Houston with a 3-2 lead in the series.

But we all know how that went. The Yankees did not score a run in Game 6 or 7, and watched as the Astros banged their way to their first World Series title.

Last year was much the same, with the Astros defeating New York in six games, before the Washington Nationals saved baseball (until this mess).

Now, after the COVID-19 shut down Spring Training and the first part of the season, before the players and owners made it worse, it finally looks like there will be a MLB season starting in late July.

What are the odds?

With the abbreviated 60-game schedule, what does that do for the Yankees’ chances to make the World Series, and possibly win one for the first time since 2009?

Right now with bet365 (at Resorts World Catskills Casino, NY) and Borgata Sports, the Yankees are the favorite to win both the pennant and the World Series. New York is +150 to win the American League, with the Astros +275. But the season, especially in this shortened format, could be interesting. While MLB did not change the playoffs for this season (it was mooted to be 16 teams instead of 10), a team that gets hot, or starts cold, could change the odds. Just think back to last season, when the 2019 World Series winner Washington Nationals started the season 19-31 through 50 games.

The team that might give the Yankees the most problems could come from the same division, and it is not the rival Red Sox.

Tampa Bay is +900 to win the pennant, according to Bet New York, and has given the Yankees fits at times over the last couple seasons: the Rays are a respectable 16-22 in that period, when New York won 100 (2018) and 103 (2019) games. Of course, Tampa Bay won 90 and 96 games, and battled the Astros all the way to the final game of the American League Division Series before falling.

The Yankees are +350 to win the World Series with many NY sports betting sites, with the snake-bitten Los Angeles Dodgers second favorites at +375. Those pesky Rays are +2000, behind the Astros (+800), Atlanta Braves (+1400), Minnesota Twins (+1600), and the defending champion Nationals (+1600).

You can also take the American League to be the winning team at -115, with the National League -106.

One thing that has worked against the Yankees in previous seasons, which may or may not hurt them in 2020, is injuries. With less games, the Yankees might be less prone to be hurt. But with the shortened schedule, teams might be less inclined to rest players as much, especially if the pennant race is tight in September. With 60 games in 10 weeks, this could be the season a team comes out of nowhere.

But in reality, the best teams should dominate, and the Yankees are definitely the strongest team in the American League, especially with Gerrit Cole now leading the staff.