Oddsmakers project future of Kyle Schwarber’s bat, Sox’ Series hopes

The Cubs’ first-half misfortunes have taken its toll on the betting lines.

Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber has struggled all season at the plate. He began the season as the team’s leadoff hitter but was sent to Class AAA Iowa in June after hitting .171. He rejoined the Cubs on July 6, but has still had his problems, going 4-for-14 in four games.

At the break, his average has marginally improved to .178. Sports Betting Dime offered an over/under line on the struggling slugger at .208.

To open the season, the Cubs were the favorites at 6-to-1 to repeat as World Series champions. However, with ineffective pitching and hitting and a mediocre 43-45 record, the oddsmakers at Sports Betting Dime have dropped the Cubs’ World Series odds sharply to 13-to-1 to begin the second half of the season.

Although all is not lost on the North Side, oddsmakers place 5-to-3 odds on the team making the playoffs.

As for the White Sox, they were World Series long shots from the start, but have still dropped from 70-to-1 to 500-to-1 odds of winning the championship. Sox pitcher Jose Quintana, long thought to be on the trading block, is listed as even odds to be dealt by the July 31 trade deadline.