Major League Baseball Spring Training has arrived, and along with the crack of the bats and the thwack of the catchers’ mitts comes the sound of hope for every team. While fans are eagerly awaiting the MLB regular season, our oddsmakers have been busy creating the 2024 World Series odds already showcasing the favorites and the underdogs.
With some major league offseason moves by several clubs, the 2023 World Series winners, the Texas Rangers, didn’t even make the top five heading into Opening Day 2024. Imagine that!
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So who topped the list for our preseason World Series odds? Read on!
#1 – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of those teams that seems to have a rich history, but they’ve only won the World Series twice in the past 35 years. Heading into the 2024 MLB season, however, they’re the odds-on favorite at +325 to take home the World Series trophy in October.
They have won the National League West 10 out of the past 11 seasons, so maybe it feels like they’re due. They still have Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman too.
Oh, and who’s the new guy? The Dodgers acquired AL MVP Shohei Ohtani in the offseason! With the game’s biggest contract ever – $700 million over 10 seasons – Ohtani will play DH and will not pitch this season. (FYI – he already stroked a home run in his second preseason at-bat.) Ohtani and all the other stars on the roster give the Dodgers the best World Series odds for 2024, making them the top of the favorites list.
#2 – Atlanta Braves
Coming off a 104-win season, the Atlanta Braves are close behind the Dodgers on most preseason World Series lists and favorites, at +500. Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. is a serious MVP candidate heading into the 2024 season too. In 2023, he became the first player in MLB history to hit at least 40 homers and have at least 70 stolen bases in a single season.
Besides Acuna, the Braves have a Cy Young candidate in Spencer Strider, who led the league in strikeouts last season. Plus, there’s Austin Riley, who has finished in the top 7 in MVP voting in three of the past four seasons – he’s coming off a 37-home run season.
#3 – New York Yankees
It seems like an annual tradition to have the New York Yankees in the top 3 of World Series odds discussion, coming in this year at +800. Despite not winning the World Series since 2009, the Yanks simply have too much talent (and a budget to match) year after year.
Going into the 2024 MLB regular season, Aaron Judge looks healthy again, and even in a season where he missed 50+ games, he still managed to hit 35 homers. They added outfielder Juan Soto via free agency in the offseason, adding another 35 dingers and 109 RBIs to the lineup.
Pitching-wise, Gerrit Cole, last season’s Cy Young Award winner, leads a starting rotation that just signed Marcus Stroman, a hometown star who thrives in the spotlight.
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#4 – Houston Astros
After losing Game 7 of last season’s American League Championship Series, the Houston Astros, at +900, are definitely still in the mix for a return to the playoffs and possibly the World Series in 2024. They have the Rangers to contend with, right in their division. But they’re still a big threat, especially with the addition of Josh Hader, a five-time All-Star coming off a season with 33 saves and a 1.28 ERA.
They added Justin Verlander back into their lineup last August, and he’s a surefire Hall of Famer who can still pitch. But at age 41, is he going to be their ace? The Astros have an aging team in general, but they still have the talent to go far. Their World Series odds reflect that.
#5 – Baltimore Orioles
With their first 100-win season in 40 years, the Baltimore Orioles (+1100) made great progress in their rebuilding in 2023, and fans are optimistic for 2024.
The needle scratch sound is coming from the pitcher’s mound, where they don’t match up well against the strongest of rotations in the AL.
A dark horse is Jackson Holliday, considered by many to be the top prospect in the league. The shortstop/second baseman is a great hitter and comes from a great pedigree; his dad, Matt was a 7-time MLB All-Star. The only problem is that they have the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Gunnar Henderson, already situated at SS. Nice problems to have, Orioles fans!
#17 – San Diego Padres
Why such a random pick, you ask? Because this time of year, in spring training, hope springs eternal.
Also, because last year’s World Series Champions, the Texas Rangers, had the 17th-best odds before Opening Day last season, and bettors who picked them to go all the way enjoyed +5000 odds at the time. And the San Diego Padres are at number 17 on our oddsmakers’ list, at +4000, of potential World Series champions in 2024. You never know, the underdogs usually surprise us…
OTHER 2024 WORLD SERIES ODDS
If you’re not sure where to place your wager for the 2024 World Series winner, favorites, or underdogs, then check out Bovada’s leading Sportsbook for a ton of alternate World Series odds and futures.
You can wager on which teams will win the American League title and the National League pennant. The Yankees chance to win the AL is currently at +420, so even if they get run over by the Dodgers (+150 to win the NL) in the World Series, you’d be set if the Yanks just make it there.
Or if you like a specific division, you can take odds on the World Series winning team to come from a specific division. The AL West, for example, seems loaded again. You can wager on the World Series winner to come from that division at +280, or take a longer shot at the winner coming from the NL Central (+1000).
Specific matchups are ready for your World Series bets too, with hundreds of combos (called Exact Result) for you to pick. Would you like the Braves to beat the Astros this October? It’s currently +3000. Would you prefer a safer wager, say the Dodgers, to down the Orioles? Still a pretty attractive move at +1800 currently.
Major League Baseball made a big comeback last season with smart rule changes and tons of exciting talent – we’re ready for the 2024 season.