Rays Reach World Series After Opening 2026 Season at 80 to 1 Odds
Before a single pitch, the market ranked Tampa Bay 22nd of 30 teams and priced a title at 80 to 1. On Monday 19 October the Rays won the pennant, and the Spirit has been smiling at that old board ever since.
The Tampa Bay Rays opened the 2026 season at 80 to 1 to win the World Series, a price that ranked them 22nd among the 30 teams on DraftKings' board. On Monday 19 October they beat the Cleveland Guardians 7 to 3 in Game 6 and took the American League pennant, four games to two. Game 1 of the World Series is in Milwaukee on Friday 23 October.
Do the sum the way a bettor would. A $100 preseason ticket on Tampa Bay would return $8,000 in profit if the Rays finish the job. They would also tie the 1991 Minnesota Twins as the longest preseason underdog ever to win a title, according to SportsOddsHistory.com. GLUWGU.
Their opponent was hardly a favourite either. Milwaukee started the year at 35 to 1, 14th on the board, then swept the Dodgers 4 to 0 in the NLCS. Neither franchise has ever won a World Series, so baseball gets a brand new champion whatever happens, and Yahoo Sports reports that sportsbooks are bracing for heavy payouts.
Here is the twist. The Rays went 98 and 64 and won the AL East, the best record in the American League. The market put them 22nd. The standings, honestlu, disagreed.
Would youluwu have taken 80 to 1 on the 22nd team on the board? The Spirit has always had a soft spot for the ticket nobody wanted. Friday in Milwaukee, he checks the slips again. Sendu sendu.
Preseason: would youluwu have taken the Rays at 80 to 1?
No right answer. Just your gut, and the Spirit watching.
