MLB Playoffs 2011: Ranking Every Team's World Series Odds

After an exciting final day of MLB's regular season, it is time for playoff baseball. There are some teams that have outstanding odds to win the World Series, while there are other teams who would be surprising world champions.

Each MLB playoff team's 2011 World Series odds have changed since the beginning of the year. Teams' strengths have come out, and their weaknesses have been exposed.

8) Arizona Diamondbacks

For most of the year, Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy placed the Arizona Diamondbacks on their backs and helped carry them to the playoffs. Now, these two players are going to need help.

Arizona will be depending on a number of young players such as Paul Goldschmidt this October. If the Diamondbacks are going to win the World Series this season, they are going to need a bit of playoff magic.

Odds: 20-1

7) St. Louis Cardinals

One player has the ability to take over a postseason. Carlos Beltran did it for the Houston Astros in 2004, and it is possible that Albert Pujols could do it in what may be his final year with the St. Louis Cardinals.

While the Cardinals certainly have the bats in their lineup to do well in October, their pitching is still a bit of a question mark. Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia are great starters, but after them, it is not known what the Cardinals will get on a nightly basis. Edwin Jackson and Kyle Lohse could both become heroes this fall.

Odds: 15-1

6) Texas Rangers

The defending American League pennant winners have another chance to reach the World Series this year. They certainly do not want to come back empty-handed for the second year in a row.

While they may not have Cliff Lee leading their rotation this season, C.J. Wilson has proven his worth to the Texas Rangers franchise. The Rangers lineup is filled with run-producers, so their chances will depend on whether their pitching staff can show up every night.

Odds: 12-1

5) Milwaukee Brewers

For the first time in 29 years, the Milwaukee Brewers have won a division title. There is going to be a lot of excitement and energy that the team carries forward with it into the playoffs.

The Brewers have a number of outstanding bats in their lineup with Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart and Prince Fielder. They also feature a couple of front-line starters in Yovani Gallardo and Zack Greinke that will be integral to their postseason success.

Odds: 10-1

4) Tampa Bay Rays

It looked like the Tampa Bay Rays would be watching the playoffs this season, but after the Red Sox suffered one of the worst collapses in MLB history, they managed to make the playoffs.

Now that the Rays are in the postseason, they will be a force to be reckoned with. They have power throughout their lineup and three solid starters in James Shields, David Price and Jeremy Hellickson.

Odds: 10-1

3) Detroit Tigers

There is one man that is a big reason why the Detroit Tigers' World Series odds are so high. Justin Verlander has been absolutely dominant this season.

Being able to have Verlander on the mound at least two times, if not three times, in a series is a major edge for the Tigers. Doug Fister has been lights out since joining the Tigers, and he gives the team a solid one-two punch.

Odds: 8-1

2) New York Yankees

For an opposing pitcher, looking at the New York Yankees lineup can be a scary thought. Every single hitter in their batting order has the ability to make a pitcher pay for even the slightest mistake.

With CC Sabathia's dominance and Ivan Nova's emergence, the Yankees' playoff rotation will be in fairly good shape. The third spot is the only one that might cause them some problems. The Yankees also have the playoffs' greatest X-factor in Mariano Rivera.

Odds: 5-1

1) Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies ran away with the National League's best record this season even when they did not have a healthy Roy Oswalt and Chase Utley for the duration of the season. They are the hands-down favorites in the playoffs in a large part because of their starting rotation.

There is no team in the majors that can match the Phillies' playoff rotation of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. Every night, their opponent will face a very difficult pitching matchup. Also, the Phillies offense improved in the middle of the year with their addition of Hunter Pence.

Odds: 2-1