ACES IMPROVE ODDS FOR PADRES

Landing a pair of aces to front a once-ragged rotation has thrust the San Diego Padres near the top of the 2021 World Series odds. The Padres jumped from 12-1 to 7-1 at Sportsbetting.com to win the World Series behind only the Dodgers (4-1) and Yankees (6-1). San Diego entered the playoffs as a wild card last season and outlasted the Cardinals in a wild opening-round series in which pitching was a problem for the Padres due to injuries and quality in the rotation. The Padres may have solved that problem this week. San Diego's rotation after a flurry of moves could include adding ace starting pitchers Blake Snell (Rays) and Yu Darvish (Cubs), pictured, putting the team in position to compete in a series with favourites like the Dodgers. The Los Angeles rotation is anchored by Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw.