by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post

The Toronto Blue Jays are a darkhorse on an American League pennant futures board at betting sites that is crowded with contenders.

The Blue Jays are currently listed at +1400 on the AL Pennant odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Houston Astros (+300) are the favorite, followed by the Chicago White Sox (+350), New York Yankees (+450), Tampa Bay Rays (+475), Oakland Athletics (+575) and Boston Red Sox (+850) (how sports betting works).

The Blue Jays have scuffled along with a record just above .500 for most of the first half of the regular season. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has led an offensive attack that has been productive, and slugging outfielder George Springer has returned to the lineup after a pair of injuries. But pitching also wins in October, and the Blue Jays are only sixth in the league in earned-run average at 4.08. Toronto’s bullpen has had some well-publicized struggles, but will soon be adding lefthander Ryan Borucki and righthander Julian Merryweather.

Houston has tough competition in the AL West division from the Oakland Athletics. However, the Astros are proven postseason performers who have reached the American League Championship Series in four consecutive seasons while winning two pennants. Houston, led by the infield combination of Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, is also the league’s only team with a top-three offense (first in runs) and pitching staff (third in ERA).

The White Sox boast the league’s lowest ERA, thanks in large part to their starting pitching foursome of Carlos Rodón, Dallas Keuchel, Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn. The pitching might be enough to offset Chicago’s lack of playoff experience. The AL Central has not had a team reach the ALCS in the last four seasons.

The Yankees have not won a league pennant in 12 seasons, and New York’s offense has been sporadic for much of the season. However, having ace Gerrit Cole and a deep bullpen led by Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Loaisiga could make the Yankees well-suited to the playoffs.

Tampa Bay is the defending league champion. However, the loss of No. 1 starter Tyler Glasnow (elbow) means the Rays might be a shaky play unless they shore up their pitching staff by the deadline.

Sticking in the AL East, while Boston leads the division, their pitching staff ranks eighth in ERA. Baseball-Reference.com also ranks the Red Sox fifth in the league in Simple Ranking System.

Oakland might be a team to fade. The Athletics are a balanced team that has been a playoff contender for a few seasons, but they have yet to make a run deep into October.