Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, recently placed a $200,000 bet on the Philadelphia Phillies to win the 2024 World Series. If his bet pays off, he could win $1.4 million. This isn’t the first time Portnoy has made a big wager on a sports team – earlier this year, he bet $150,000 on the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, but they were bested in Game 7 by the Florida Panthers. Despite this loss, Portnoy remains optimistic about his bet on the Phillies.
The Phillies are currently having a successful season, leading the National League with 52 wins and 27 losses. While they are second in all of Major League Baseball, behind the Cleveland Guardians, they have played two fewer games than Cleveland. This strong performance has caught the attention of former Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, who believes the team has what it takes to win a championship. Hamels, who was the MVP of the 2008 World Series, sees similarities between that team and the current Phillies squad.
While October is still months away, fans and bettors alike are hopeful for a successful outcome for the team in October. The Phillies are currently on the road playing against the Detroit Tigers and will wrap up their series on Wednesday before heading home to prepare for their postseason run