The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t win their division, and won’t have home-field advantage when they battle the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS. But sportsbooks still see the defending champions as the team to beat when it comes to the current World Series odds.
BetMGM lists the Dodgers as the +240 pick to win it all for the second straight year, by far the tightest odds on any team to take the World Series trophy.
MLB’s two best teams battle in NLDS
Los Angeles boasts a stunning level of talent, both in its rotation and at the plate. Yet winning 106 games wasn’t enough for the Dodgers to take the NL West crown, as they fell one game short of the San Francisco Giants (107-55).
That means that the Dodgers had to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Wild Card Game. LA survived some scary moments, ultimately winning 3-1 on a two-run homer by Chris Taylor in the bottom of the ninth.
“I was trying to be ready when my number was called,†Taylor told reporters afterwards. “These are the types of moments that you dream about and that you live for.â€
Now, the Dodgers are favored to get past the Giants in the NLDS, with BetMGM making Los Angeles a -155 favorite over San Francisco (+130) in the series. Despite boasting the best record in MLB this year, the Giants are just a +700 choice to win the World Series.
| World Series Odds (via BetMGM) |
| Los Angeles Dodgers: +240 |
| Houston Astros: +475 |
| Tampa Bay Rays: +550 |
| San Francisco Giants: +700 |
| Chicago White Sox: +800 |
| Milwaukee Brewers: +800 |
| Boston Red Sox: +950 |
| Atlanta Braves: +1200 |
San Francisco entered the year as a distant third choice in the NL West behind the Dodgers and the Padres. Despite exceeding all expectations, they haven’t convinced oddsmakers yet – though they are the +275 second choice to win the National League pennant. In reality, the winner of the Dodgers vs. Giants series should see their odds tighten significantly.
Dodgers, Giants favorites in World Series betting
Either result will make many bettors happy. BetMGM reported that the Dodgers have the most World Series winner tickets among their customers, with LA making up 12.5 percent of all bets on that market. The Giants are in second place with 8.8 percent, and the two teams making up the biggest remaining liabilities for the sportsbook.
| Pennant Odds (via BetMGM) | |
| National League | American League |
| Los Angeles Dodgers: +130 | Houston Astros: +210 |
| San Francisco Giants: +275 | Tampa Bay Rays: +240 |
| Milwaukee Brewers: +300 | Chicago White Sox: +300 |
| Atlanta Braves: +500 | Boston Red Sox: +350 |
Over in the American League, BetMGM lists the Astros (+210) as the favorite to reach the World Series, but forecasts a tight race overall. The Tampa Bay Rays (+240), Chicago White Sox (+300), and Boston Red Sox (+350) are all capable of winning two series win the AL pennant, meaning there’s not really a longshot in the field.
When it comes to World Series odds, the Astros (+475) and the Rays (+550) hold the second and third positions on BetMGM’s board, both ahead of the Giants. But with San Francisco’s odds somewhat suppressed by its first-round matchup with the Dodgers, it’s likely that either NL West team would enter the World Series as a favorite should they make it that far.
