Back-to-back World Series victories are very much on the cards for the Los Angeles Dodgers if the latest Major League Baseball (MLB) betting odds are correct. The sportsbooks are heavily favoring the Dodgers to win in 2021 with a rock-solid start to the regular season, sitting well clear at the top of the National League West.
Few could argue with them at present, given that their recent five-year project under manager Dave Roberts has resulted in steady growth and improvement, helping them to secure their first World Series victory in over three decades against the Rays.
Now that licensed betting is opening up in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, Dodgers fans can get the latest MLB betting odds on the 2021 World Series with bookies like FOX Bet, who have priced the Dodgers as +400 favorites ahead of the Yankees (+600) and the Braves (+1100).
The feeling is that although the Dodgers have reached their target of winning a World Series having failed in both 2017 and 2018 at the postseason stage, there is still plenty left in the tank within the roster – at least for another couple of seasons. Certainly, pitcher Clayton Kershaw is enjoying a renaissance in his career, six years after winning the NL MVP award. He has recently been labeled the “best pitcher of his generation” by Matt Snyder of CBS Sports. They also have 24-year-old pitching prospect Walker Buehler to provide an additional “X Factor” with the ball.
Combine that with powerful youngsters such as Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin and it’s clear to see the Dodgers have a well-balanced roster to stay the course for two MLB seasons running. Winning back-to-back World Series titles would be a major boon for two generations of Dodgers fans that had to wait 32 years for their latest success over Tampa Bay. With 60 regular season games now played in the new MLB season, who are the realistic challengers to the Dodgers’ World Series throne in 2021?
New York Yankees
The MLB’s most iconic franchise was humbled by the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS and the New York Yankees’ hierarchy will have had to do plenty of soul-searching in recent weeks. Having been outthought both tactically and on the field by the Rays, who boast the smallest budget in the MLB, it was proof that money can’t always buy success. Surprisingly, the Yankees are still priced shorter than the Rays to win the 2021 World Series too, that’s despite having won seven games less than the Rays so far in the AL East this season. They do still have plenty of “box office” players to call upon, although the likes of Stanton and Judge can only close out games if they can stay free from injury.
Atlanta Braves
As for the Braves, they came within a whisker of securing their first World Series place in over two decades last season. The sportsbooks seem to think they have a strong chance of going one better in the 2021 season. The biggest underlying reason for their short odds is the fact they play in the NL East, which is notoriously weak with the likes of the Mets and Nationals involved. They wouldn’t just reach the World Series by default though. Big-hitting prospects like Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies provide the powerplay talent needed to reach the postseason.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays seem to be everyone’s second team in the MLB right now. Their stat-driven “Moneyball” approach and the impressive bullpen has given the Rays a chance to upset the applecart for the last few seasons. You only have to look at the Rays’ record over the last three years (226-158) to know that Tampa Bay has developed a winning mentality. Although they remain well-placed to compete for the 2021 World Series again, one wonders whether the frugal nature of the Rays’ hierarchy and owner Stuart Sternberg could prevent them from continuing to build for the future, as many of their starlets seek bigger and better contracts further afield.
