With about a month to go before the World Series, there is still some baseball left to play between now and the end of the season. Sportsbooks have been tightening the odds as the playoff picture becomes more clear.
Currently, only the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and the Atlanta Braves have locked up post-season births. With both the Dodgers and Astros also clinching a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the Division Series, odds makers have listed them as the top two favorites to win the 2022 World Series.
Odds may vary slightly, so you’ll want to look for US sports betting sites with the best odds before placing any bets.
Los Angeles Dodgers +325
With 102 wins under their belt, the Dodgers have already clinched a Dodgers the National League West and will cruise into the playoffs. This season, the Dodgers have spent more time as favorites than any other team, and for good reason; they have scored more runs than any other major league team this season (798) and have given up the fewest (468). Their runs differential is +330 which is over 120-runs better than the next best team Houston Astros.
Houston Astros +400
After trailing the New York Yankees for the first half of the season, the Houston Astros have emerged as the best team in the American League. Justin Verlander is having one of his best seasons at the ripe old age of 39, and the team boasts the best pitching in the league. The Astros have been to the World Series in three of the last six seasons most recently lost to the Atlanta Braves and are the odds-on favorite to make it four of seven. Like Los Angeles, they’ve already clinched a first-round bye and home-field advantage (where they’re currently 50-23) in the Division Series.
New York Mets +525
The Mets currently have the second-best record in the National League, only trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the defending Champion Atlanta Braves are only 1.5 games back and have a game in hand. The closing schedule favors the Mets slightly, with series against Oakland, Miami, and Washington, but it’s the three-game set against the Braves in Atlanta that will likely decide the National League East division and which team gets that civeted first-round bye.
New York Yankees +550
Before the All-Star break, the Yankees were the favorites to win the 2022 World Series, but the team suddenly started to struggle, particularly on the road. While it looks like they will stay ahead of both the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays in the race to win the American League East, they’ve fallen 8-games behind the Houston Astros for the best record in the league. Still, it should be enough to lock up a bye that grants the advantage of home-field in the Division Series.
Atlanta Braves +750
At +750 the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves might be the best value pick. Although it’s been more than 20 years since the last time a team won the Championship in consecutive seasons, it’s hard to put anything past this Braves team which has been fast closing on the New York Mets since the break. Losing Ozzie Albies after getting him back may keep them from catching the Mets for the National League East Division, but he should be back by the postseason where the Braves will be heavy favorites to advance.
