As the 2024 MLB playoffs begin, four teams are in an enviable position, having secured first-round byes: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians. These teams have emerged as the cream of the crop in their respective leagues, each with a compelling case for postseason success, and the best offshore betting sites have them as the favorites across the board.
Cream of the Crop
The Los Angeles Dodgers have once again proven why they’re perennial contenders. They finished the 2024 season with the best record in baseball and secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their World Series odds currently stand at +325, making them the clear favorites, a position they’ve held all season despite some ups and downs.
The Dodgers’ success stems from their star-studded lineup and formidable pitching staff. Shohei Ohtani has had an outstanding season, slashing .310/.410/.654 with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs. Ohtani narrowly missed the National League Triple Crown, finishing just behind Luis Arraez of the Padres in batting average, but set a new mark with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have continued their exceptional play, contributing significantly to the Dodgers’ offensive prowess. The team led the league in run differential (+156) and finished second behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in total runs scored (842). The off-season additions of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow were intended to shore up the starting rotation until Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler could return. Pitching was often the Dodgers’ Achilles Heel, as both Yamamoto and Glasnow missed time due to injury, with the latter out for the season.
The trade deadline addition of starter Jack Flaherty and outfielders Tommy Edman and Kevin Kiermaier may collectively rank as the best midseason deals. Still, if the Dodgers fall short again this postseason, it will likely be because their starting pitching didn’t hold up.
Wire-to-Wire
The Philadelphia Phillies have improved their World Series odds from +1100 at the season’s start to +400 while leading the tough National League East wire-to-wire. Their success has been built on offensive firepower and stellar pitching performances. Bryce Harper has led the charge for the Phillies, while Zack Wheeler has been phenomenal on the mound, finishing the season with a 2.57 ERA and 224 strikeouts over 200 innings pitched.
Bronx Bombers
The New York Yankees find themselves again in prime position for a World Series run, with odds of +450. Aaron Judge has continued to be the Yankees’ offensive centerpiece, narrowly missing out on the AL Triple Crown. He finished the season with a .322 batting average, 58 home runs, and 144 RBIs. The addition of Juan Soto has paid dividends, with Soto hitting .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs. Together, Judge and Soto became the first pair of teammates in MLB history to each score at least 120 runs and draw 120 walks in the same season.
Don’t Count Out Cleveland
The Cleveland Guardians have emerged as a dark horse among the first-round bye recipients, with World Series odds of +1100. José Ramírez has been the offensive catalyst for the Guardians, hitting .279 with 39 home runs, 118 runs scored, and 118 RBIs. Notably, Ramírez registered 180 total bases with two strikes during the regular season, the most since the stat started being tracked in 1988.
As the playoffs begin, these four teams with first-round byes are in an advantageous position. The Dodgers enter as the favorites, but as recent history has shown, regular-season success doesn’t always translate to postseason triumph. The Phillies, Yankees, and Guardians each bring their strengths to the table, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable October.
Wild Cards
The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres secured playoff spots in the National League early, with the Brewers winning the National League Central and the Padres locking up a wild card berth in time to set their rotation.
The Arizona Diamondbacks were eliminated on the last day of the season, which featured a rare doubleheader between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. Needing a sweep, the defending National League Champion Diamondbacks could only watch as the teams split the doubleheader, with the Mets winning the opener in a thriller and the Braves beating a Mets team that chose to rest its starters in the second game.
In the American League, alongside the Yankees and Guardians, the Houston Astros advanced to the postseason as division winners despite a terrible start. At the same time, the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Detroit Tigers round out the wild cards.
The 2024 MLB playoffs promise to be highly competitive, with several teams capable of making deep runs. The Dodgers’ dominance, the Yankees’ star power, the Phillies’ balanced attack, and the Guardians’ pitching prowess make for compelling storylines. As the postseason unfolds, baseball fans can look forward to high-stakes games, potential upsets, and the crowning of a new World Series champion.
