What's the greatest accomplishment in baseball, but still one step short of a World Series win? It's the AL and NL Pennants, of course.
In 2025, the Yankees (+380) are favored in the AL Pennant odds, while the Dodgers (+135) are the clear favorite in the NL Pennant race.
Remember, when you're betting on AL and NL Pennant odds, you're picking the club that will make the World Series, not the squad with the best regular-season record.
AL Pennant Odds
| Teams | Odds |
|---|---|
| NY Yankees | +250 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +550 |
| Houston Astros | +700 |
| Boston Red Sox | +750 |
| Texas Rangers | +900 |
| Cleveland Guardians | +1200 |
| Detroit Tigers | +1200 |
| Seattle Mariners | +1200 |
| Minnesota Twins | +1400 |
| Kansas City Royals | +1800 |
Odds as of March 13th, 2025 12:20pm EDT. |
Why are the Yankees favored in the AL Pennant Odds?
The Yankees reigned supreme in 2024, finishing 94-68 and taking the AL East title along with the AL Pennant. New York didn't find success in the Fall Classic, but still was a dominant team for most of the campaign. On that dominance alone, it's easy to see why NY is favored to repeat as AL champs. Aaron Judge is locked in for another season, and the Yanks replaced Juan Soto's production with adds like Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger. All fine and dandy there.
I'm not so bullish on the Bombers, especially after an injury-riddled spring training. The club's ace Gerrit Cole is out for the season, and Giancarlo Stanton may also face a similar fate. Reigning AL ROTY Luis Gil is also out three months, leaving Max Fried to headline the Yanks rotation.
New York will be in the mix for the AL Pennant, but I'm looking elsewhere on the board.
AL Pennant Odds: Value Pick - Red Sox (+700)
The addition of Alex Bregman puts the Red Sox in an excellent position to contend for the AL pennant in 2025. With Jarren Duran blossoming into a potential MVP-caliber player, Boston gains an electrifying presence at the top of its lineup. This is the first time in years the team has showcased genuine depth, pairing Bregman and Rafael Devers with a rejuvenated supporting cast. Combined with its improved pitching rotation, Boston possesses the talent and firepower to outshine its American League rivals.
It's funny to see the Red Sox third on the AL Pennant odds board (even though that's probably where they belong), as it suggests to me the Junior Circuit isn't as strong as years past. Boston is good value at +700, as its strong lineup and decent bullpen give the club an edge over AL East squads, for example. Injuries to Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito put a damper on the first month of the season, but those ailments shouldn't be a long-term issue.
NL Pennant Odds
| Teams | Odds |
|---|---|
| LA Dodgers | +140 |
| Atlanta Braves | +475 |
| NY Mets | +600 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +625 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +1200 |
| Chi Cubs | +1400 |
| San Diego Padres | +1400 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +2200 |
| San Francisco Giants | +2500 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +3300 |
Odds as of March 18th, 2025 16:46pm EDT. |
Why are the Dodgers favored in the NL Pennant Odds?
Cha-ching. That's the sound of the Dodgers breaking the bank for any and every big-name free agent this offseason. This winter, Los Angeles signed Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Teoscar Hernandez, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Michael Conforto. The club also re-signed Tommy Edman, Clayton Kershaw, and Blake Treinen.
There are grand expectations in the City of Angels, making the Dodgers the current World Series favorites. MLB win total projections anticipate the Dodgers soaring north of 100 wins in 2025, too. L.A. is the clear favorite for the NL Pennant, and if patience is your preference, invest in the Dodgers at +135.
NL Pennant Odds: Value Pick - Mets (+550)
The Mets’ rotation has that perfect mix of experienced vets and prime-aged stars, making it one of the most balanced in the league. With Francisco Lindor leading a rock-solid defense, this squad is built to keep runs off the board in the always-tough NL East. Throw in Juan Soto’s game-breaking bat, and you’ve got a lineup that can hang with anyone.
Plus, with so much parity in the National League this year, the Mets don’t need to be flawless to make a deep run. At +550 odds, there’s some juicy value here for a team built to handle the grind and take a real shot at the pennant.
