The World Series odds are at their final stop. And while the sweet heat of summer has given way to a fall breeze, the hunt to rule MLB is in its final stage.

Ahead of Game 1 on October 25, the Dodgers are slight favorites over the Yankees in the World Series odds. 

Who Is Favored To Win The 2024 World Series?

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How the Yankees Got Here

A favorable draw helped New York waltz past the Royals in the ALDS and the Guardians in the ALCS. The Yanks faced some adversity, particularly late-inning bullpen collapses, but handled it well with clutch offense. That's New York's biggest strength heading into a matchup with the Dodgers.

Giancarlo Stanton has been a stud this postseason, cranking five homers in nine games with 11 runs driven in. Juan Soto has also been excellent (3 HRs, 1.106 OPS), and while Aaron Judge hasn't hit for average (.161 BA), the big fella has chipped in with a pair of homers and six RBIs.

New York's rotation has been an excellent part of why the Yankees have found so much success this postseason. Gerrit Cole has delivered three decent starts, while Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt have all pitched well in their own right. A matchup against Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts awaits, but I'm surprised the Yanks aren't favored in the World Series odds.

How the Dodgers Got Here

The Dodgers played tougher opponents, marching down the Padres and Mets en route to their fourth World Series berth in the last eight seasons. In those series, Los Angeles is 1-3, but things could look much different in 2024.

Shohei Ohtani highlights the Yanks' biggest threat to a championship. After a quiet NLDS, the Japanese star awoke in the NLCS, cranking two homers and recording a .548 OBP and 1.185 OPS. He's on fire and should terrify Yankees relievers and starters.

Despite a wounded pitching staff, Los Angeles mowed down Mets hitters, extracting some key innings from the bullpen. It's fair to question the sustainability of a bullpen day, but after it worked so well for L.A. in the NLCS, I have no concerns about its functionality in the World Series. 

World Series Odds: My Best Bet

I'm surprised the Dodgers opened as series favorites. Sure, Ohtani and Mookie Betts are red-hot, but the Yanks' lineup is much deeper, and New York's pitching staff is a tier above L.A.'s. 

As we look ahead to Game 1, I'll gladly bet the Yankees at their current World Series odds, as I believe their clutch hitting will be the X-factor in this series.

My Pick: Yankees

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Betting Strategy for World Series Futures

Evidence suggests waiting before placing World Series futures bets, but if you are keen on a pre-season wager, don't go with the chalk. In the last 10 seasons, only two pre-season favorites (the 2020 Dodgers and 2016 Cubs) have gone on to win the championship.

A middle-of-the-pack sweet spot has formed over the last decade or so. Four clubs (the 2017 Astros, the 2018 Red Sox, the 2021 Braves, and the 2022 Astros) all began their respective seasons with World Series odds between +1000 and +1200. I'd turn to those ranges for a pre-season bet in 2025.

Last 10 World Series Champions

The biggest long shot to win the World Series in the last decade was the 2015 Kansas City Royals. The '23 Rangers weren't far behind either, with +3200 odds to win the championship.

The Royals were coming off a season in which they dominated all the way to the World Series (not losing a single playoff game on the AL side of the bracket) and then pushed the eventual champion Giants to seven games for the title. However, they weren’t getting much respect in preseason odds the next year as KC’s +3300 Opening Day odds to win the title placed the team 17th on the board at the time.

MLB Teams with the Most World Series Titles

The New York Yankees have won the most World Series in MLB history. However, it's been a while since the Bronx Bombers added to their total. The Yankees last won a World Series in 2009, defeating the Phillies in six games.

MLB Teams That Have Never Won a World Series

Five MLB franchises have yet to win a World Series. The Seattle Mariners are the only team that’s never even been to a World Series final despite having some of the league’s best-ever players like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and Ichiro Suzuki.

World Series Betting Trends