As the 2024 MLB season progresses through its early weeks, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves have solidified their positions as the top contenders for the World Series title. Despite some early challenges, the Dodgers have emerged as the betting favorites, with current odds at +350 at the best betting sites. High-profile acquisitions have significantly bolstered their roster, including American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, right-hander Tyler Glasnow, and Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
FOX Sports MLB analyst Ben Verlander remains optimistic about the Dodgers’ prospects, even after a minor setback where they lost two out of three games against the Padres. Verlander highlighted the Dodgers’ resilience, stating, “OK, so they just lost two of three versus the Padres. But I still believe this is the best team in baseball right now,” further noting Ohtani’s strong start and Mookie Betts’ consistent performance. The Dodgers’ rotation faces some health concerns, yet Glasnow’s impressive start with a 3-0 record and a 2.25 ERA, along with Yamamoto finding his rhythm, underscores their robust pitching lineup.
Trailing closely are the Atlanta Braves, positioned at +500 odds to clinch the World Series. The Braves boast a potent lineup with Ronald Acuna Jr. leading the charge, complemented by a team batting average of .303, the highest in the league. However, Atlanta faces challenges with bullpen health and a significant loss with ace Spencer Strider’s season-ending UCL injury. “Spencer Strider’s season-ending UCL injury was a massive blow, especially as the rest of Atlanta’s rotation hasn’t been great to start the year,” Verlander noted, reflecting on the Braves’ recent struggles against teams like the Mets and Marlins. This has caused a slight increase in their odds from +450.
Conversely, the Houston Astros have encountered a difficult start to the season, which has pushed their championship odds from +700 to +950. Their early record of 6-11 is one of the worst in the American League, exacerbated by a series sweep against the Kansas City Royals and a struggling pitching staff with a collective ERA of 5.32, ranking 29th in the league.
Historically, MLB futures betting has shown that early long-shot bets can yield significant returns. Last season’s champions, the Rangers, had preseason odds of +4500, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of baseball betting. The Diamondbacks, who came close to the title, started the season with odds of +12500. Remarkably, six of the past seven World Series champions had preseason odds of +1000 or longer, with the 2020 Dodgers being an exception at +385.
Preseason betting has seen dramatic wins from long-shot bets between 2010 and 2015, where every champion had odds of +2000 or higher. These winners include the Royals in 2015 (+3300), the Giants in 2014 and 2012 (+2500 and +2000, respectively), the Red Sox in 2013 (+2800), the Cardinals in 2011 (+2500), and the Giants again in 2010 (+2500).
This historical context offers a tempting prospect for bettors, highlighting the potential for substantial payouts from teams with longer odds at the start of the season, despite the shorter preseason odds of dominant teams like the 1999 and 2000 Yankees. The most remarkable underdog victories since 1985 include the 1991 Twins and the 2003 Marlins, who overcame +8000 and +7500 odds, respectively, to win the World Series.
Here is the list with the items in parentheses removed:
ODDS TO WIN 2024 WORLD SERIES:
- Los Angeles Dodgers: +350
- Atlanta Braves: +500
- New York Yankees: +650
- Houston Astros: +950
- Philadelphia Phillies: +1200
- Texas Rangers: +1200
- Baltimore Orioles: +1500
- Minnesota Twins: +2200
- Seattle Mariners: +2200
- Tampa Bay Rays: +2800
- Toronto Blue Jays: +2800
- Arizona Diamondbacks: +3200
- San Francisco Giants: +3500
- St. Louis Cardinals: +3500
- Chicago Cubs: +3800
- Cleveland Guardians: +4600
- Milwaukee Brewers: +5000
- New York Mets: +5000
- San Diego Padres: +6000
- Cincinnati Reds: +6000
- Detroit Tigers: +7000
- Kansas City Royals: +8500
- Boston Red Sox: +9000
- Pittsburgh Pirates: +10000
- Los Angeles Angels: +11000
- Miami Marlins: +17000
- Washington Nationals: +50000
- Chicago White Sox: +50000
- Oakland A’s: +50000
- Colorado Rockies: +50000
