by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post

Correlation does not mean causation, but bettors who have backed the New York Yankees to take the American League pennant will likely be interested to know the more rested teams usually fares better in the ALCS.

The Houston Astros were in minus money in AL pennant futures at -115 toward the end of the regular season, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com, but that is up in the air now that they have been extended to the limit in the ALDS. The Astros will play the wild-card Tampa Bay Rays, who have rallied back after losing the first two games of the best-of-five series, in a do-or-done Game 5 on Thursday. The Yankees await the series winner.

The Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins 3-0 in their ALDS, outscoring the AL Central champions by an aggregate 23-7 and winning each game by at least four runs. The quick knockout gave the Yankees a four-day break before the start of the ALCS.

Since the wild card era began in 1995, 16 teams have advanced through the ALDS in fewer games than the other team which advanced. Eleven of those better-rested teams have gone on to win the pennant and go to the World Series, so the Yankees might have better value at online sports betting sites, even though the Astros would likely be pegged as a favourite.

The Astros will have Cy Young Award candidate Gerrit Cole starting against the Rays’ Tyler Glasnow in Game 5 on Thursday. Losing two potential closeout games against Tampa Bay could reduce Houston’s potential edge in starting pitching over the Yankees, since they used Justin Verlander on short rest in Game 4 on Tuesday and now need Cole to make a second start against the Rays instead of starting Game 1 in the ALCS.

Houston is listed as a heavy -260 betting favourite on the MLB odds for Thursday’s contest.

The Yankees were 8-6 during their season series against the Astros, and 12-7 against the Rays. The first two games of the ALCS are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The Astros would have home-field advantage against the Yankees, while the Yankees would have home-field advantage against the Rays.

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