The offseason is underway and the chase for the 2024 World Series has begun.
Thanks to some Shohei Ohtani chatter, the Dodgers have leapfrogged the Braves for chalk spot in the odds to rule MLB, while the Astros aren't far behind.
Who Is Favored To Win The 2024 World Series?
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| LA Dodgers | +700 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +750 |
| Atlanta Braves | +800 |
| NY Yankees | +900 |
| Texas Rangers | +1000 |
| Houston Astros | +1200 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +1400 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1400 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +2200 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +2500 |
Odds as of December 8th, 2023 15:09pm EST. |
If you want help breaking down what these numbers and odds mean, check out our How To Bet On Baseball guide. Or you can just tail (or fade) our picks for the 2024 MLB postseason.
Why The Braves Can Win the 2024 World Series
Atlanta was dominant during the '23 regular season, bashing its way to a 104-58 record. The playoffs weren't as kind to the Braves, but there's little doubt in this club's talent for the next several years.
With all their star players under contract, the Braves will be ready to rock again in 2024, boasting a lineup featuring NL MVP Ronald Acuna, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy, and Marcell Ozuna.
Why The Dodgers Are Threatening Top Spot In World Series Odds
Shohei. Ohtani. There's your answer. The Dodgers are already a contender for the '24 World Series, but as favorites to land Ohtani in free agency, sportsbooks have bumped them up the odds board.
If the Blue Crew can add Ohtani to a lineup featuring Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, there's a chance they just crush their way to a 'chip on offense alone.
2024 World Series Value Bet: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phils always seem to be in the thick of every World Series race. In 2023, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber seemed destined to slug Philadelphia into the Fall Classic, until the Arizona Diamondbacks surged from behind to knock off Philly in a seven-game NLCS.
But like the Braves, the Phillies won't cough up too much in free agency and can freely run it back for the '24 season. At +1000ish, there's a runway for a nice pre-season futures bet.
Last 10 World Series Champions
| Year | World Series Winner | Opening Day Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Texas Rangers | +3200 |
| 2022 | Houston Astros | +1000 |
| 2021 | Atlanta Braves | +1000 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Dodgers | +385 |
| 2019 | Washington Nationals | +1600 |
| 2018 | Boston Red Sox | +1150 |
| 2017 | Houston Astros | +1175 |
| 2016 | Chicago Cubs | +660 |
| 2015 | Kansas City Royals | +3300 |
| 2014 | San Francisco Giants | +2500 |
| 2013 | Boston Red Sox | +2800 |
The biggest long shot to win the World Series in the last decade was the 2015 Kansas City Royals.
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
- Yankees (27)
- Cardinals (11)
- Athletics (9)
- Red Sox (9)
- Giants (8)
The New York Yankees have easily 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
- Rockies
- Brewers
- Padres
- Mariners
- Rays
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
- Eight Wild Card teams have gone on to win the World Series (15 have made it)
- Nine teams in MLB history have made a manager change midseason and gone on to make the World Series (including the 2022 Phillies)
- Seven of the last 10 World Series have gone at least six games
- There has been only one World Series sweep since 2010.
- No league (AL or NL) has won more than four World Series in a row since 1979-1982
What Are MLB Futures?
When you visit your sportsbook of choice, you’ll see an option to bet on which team will win the World Series. This kind of bet is a futures wager, which means you’re betting on events that will happen in time. Oddsmakers release action on the Fall Classic before the season starts and adjust the lines as teams surge and stumble in the standings.
You would see odds listed like this:
- Los Angeles Dodgers +375
- New York Yankees +375
- Houston Astros +1200
- Atlanta Braves +1200
- Minnesota Twins +1500
How To Read World Series Odds
Unlike a moneyline bet, where there would be a clear favorite and underdog, the team with the lowest MLB World Series odds is the closest thing to a fave. In this case, it’s the Dodgers and Yankees. The team with the highest odds would be the closest thing to a dog. Here, it’s the Twins.
If you were to bet $100 on the Twins at the beginning of the season and they won the World Series, you’d get a payout of $1,600 – your original $100 is returned, along with your winnings of $1,500. On the other hand, the same bet amount on the Dodgers would give you a payout of $475 – you get your $100 back, plus your loot of $375.
Our Odds Calculator can help you determine how much you’d pocket depending on the odds and the amount bet.
The earlier you can make a futures bet the better because you’ll see higher returns since MLB World Series odds ebb and flow depending on a team’s overall performance, injuries to key staff, and how they stack up against the rest of their division.
Can I bet on the World Series?
Yes, you can bet on the World Series and a potential winning team. Oddsmakers have released World Series odds for you to wager on who you think will win. MLB lines are set with the consideration of offseason roster shuffling, coaching moves, as well as past performance on the diamond.
