The Braves are always near the top of the World Series odds, but with such a competitive NL landscape, does Atlanta still have what it takes to compete?
The Braves ended 2024 on a bitter note despite a respectable 89-73 season that included an NL Cy Young win from Chris Sale. While Marcell Ozuna was fantastic in the middle of the order (.925 OPS), Matt Olson slightly underdelivered, and Ronald Acuna Jr. played just 49 games due to a knee injury. The Padres then swept the Braves in the NL Wild Card series.
In this 2025 Braves season preview, I’ll explore the latest odds, highlight key projections, and uncover the best bets for the team this year.
2025 Braves Odds: Division, NL Pennant, World Series
| World Series Odds | NL Pennant Odds | NL East Odds |
|---|---|---|
| +900 | +475 | +135 |
Odds as of March 4
I'm throwing a blanket over the Braves and fading them on all fronts. In no world should Atlanta be third on the World Series odds board, especially before the season begins.
Atlanta has all kinds of incumbent talent. Sale will be good again, as will a healthy Acuna, plus Olson, Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies. Still, the loss of Max Fried will hit this pitching staff hard, and GM Alex Anthopolous was surprisingly quiet this offseason, adding Jurickson Profar to the lineup. Spencer Strider essentially missed all of 2024 and will return in late April. Still, I worry for his health.
I understand the argument that the Braves could win the NL East (+110), but I won't lay them as the chalk, especially when a club like the Mets has plenty of steam.
Steer clear, kids.
2025 Braves Win Total Odds
| 2025 Win Total | OVER | UNDER |
|---|---|---|
| 93.5 | -110 | -110 |
Odds as of March 4
This is the easiest UNDER in the world. Like I said, the Braves won just 89 games last season and now face, in my mind, stiffer NL competition. The Phillies didn't make any massive moves this winter, but the Mets are much better. Atlanta had a good stretch of 100-win seasons in 2022 and 2023, I believe those days are over.
2025 Braves Playoff Odds
| To Make Playoffs | To Miss Playoffs |
|---|---|
| -370 | +270 |
Odds as of March 4
Can you guess where I'm headed with this one? Well, the Braves are still a quality squad, but I'd consider tossing a small wager on ATL to miss the postseason (if you can wait eight months for a +270 bet).
Atlanta has enough juice on its roster to win the AL West, the AL Central, and the NL Central. Unfortunately, the NL East is very competitive, and the Braves could be the odd team out.
2025 Braves: NL MVP Odds + NL Cy Young Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ronald Acuna Jr. | +1600 |
| Austin Riley | +4000 |
| Matt Olson | +4000 |
Odds as of March 4
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chris Sale | +800 |
| Spencer Strider | +2200 |
Odds as of Feb. 24
Optimism flows like wine in the offseason and spring training, so I’m kicking off the year with a value pick on Ronald Acuna Jr. The electric outfielder stumbled through a nightmare 2024 season, posting 0.0 WAR and a .716 OPS before tearing his ACL just 49 games in.
So why am I so high on him? Because Acuna has shown us what happens when he rebounds. After a "down" year in 2022 (15 homers, 50 RBIs), he came roaring back in 2023 to swipe 73 bases, post a 1.012 OPS, and snag the NL MVP. When he’s hot, he’s unstoppable. Even if the Braves manage his workload early on, I’m betting on his upside. With more recovery time under his belt and a stacked lineup around him, Acuna looks poised to remind us why he's one of baseball’s brightest stars.
