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2024 World Series odds: Dodgers, Phillies & Yankees show biggest improvement since market open
Which teams have improved their odds the most during the MLB season?
The 2024 World Series is on the horizon with under a month of the MLB regular season left to play, and a pool of true contenders is beginning to emerge. With the MLB’s new playoff structure, it is truly anyone’s ballgame, but a pool of four teams stands out.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made an enormous offseason splash, and have remained near the top of the 2024 World Series odds all season. The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees have both shown healthy improvement in their 2024 World Series odds. The youth movement with the Baltimore Orioles is taking shape, and that comes with improved odds, too.
Let’s take a look at these four teams who are making the most significant strides in 2024 World Series odds at top online sportsbooks, and determine if they are worth betting on at their price.
All odds current as of Sept. 15.
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Opening Odds: +800
- Current Odds: +330 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
The Dodgers always seem to be at the top of the odds to win the World Series and the 2024 season is no different. They have never had a roster that has been this talented from top to bottom, after bringing in the likely 2024 NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and ace Tyler Glasnow this offseason.
Injuries are plaguing the Dodgers at the moment, and have done so basically all season. The Dodgers were largely expected to run away with the NL West division crown, and while they still should, the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks have been nipping at their heels for months.
The oft-injured Glasnow is once again on the injured list, this time with right elbow tendinitis. Yamamoto was shelved for three months with right triceps tightness but is returning this week. Gavin Stone recently hit the injured list along with Clayton Kershaw. Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler have not looked like themselves all season. Trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty has been forced to anchor the rotation.
The offense behind Ohtani, including former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, needs to put up big numbers to help mitigate the rotation being thinned out. The bottom of the order remains productive with comeback story Gavin Lux and veteran Miguel Rojas shouldering the load.
The Dodgers might be a powerhouse, but they still have plenty of question marks with their rotation. If the Dodgers are at full health, it is tough to see anyone toppling them in October, but that is a huge “if”. At +330 odds, there just is not enough value here to bet on the Dodgers.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Opening Odds: +1100
- Current Odds: +450 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Entering the 2024 campaign, the Phillies were mostly expected to play second fiddle to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves’ roster is going through a season of horrific injury luck, most notably to ace Spencer Strider and reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. This has opened the door for the Phillies to become the class of the NL East.
The Phillies possess one of MLB’s most feared lineups with Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper being one of the best top-of-the-order trios in the sport. Third baseman Alec Bohm has been wildly productive this season, delivering on his promising prospect pedigree. The key to the Phillies’ offense continuing to succeed into October is getting production out of Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto.
The top heaviness of the Phillies’ order can be an issue, but the heart of the lineup figures to do enough damage to mitigate it.
The story of Philadelphia’s success has been its rotation, though. While Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola were always expected to be the co-aces at the top, the Phillies have gotten Cy Young caliber production out of southpaws Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez. In fact, the Phillies currently possess the best starting pitcher ERA in the National League (3.62).
With the Dodgers’ poor history of finishing the job in October, the Phillies are as good of a bet as any to win the World Series, especially at +450 odds.
New York Yankees
- Opening Odds: +1600
- Current Odds: +475 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
The Yankees are an interesting team to evaluate, given how excellent they have been despite some glaring holes on their roster. They are still in a heated battle for the AL East crown with the Baltimore Orioles (who we will discuss next), clinging on to a 1.5-game division lead.
Aaron Judge is in the midst of one of the best offensive seasons in baseball history, an effort that in all likelihood earns him AL MVP honors. The Yankees bolstered the offense in the offseason, bringing in one of the best hitters in the league in Juan Soto. While the duo has been historically excellent in 2024, the rest of the lineup has not been reliable enough.
Gleyber Torres is having a down year, but catcher Austin Wells has been an excellent story for the heart of the Yankees’ lineup. Giancarlo Stanton will always provide power when healthy, and the Yankees making a move for Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the deadline is already paying off dividends. The Yankees need more out of Anthony Volpe beyond his defensive prowess, and rookie phenom Jasson Dominguez is being counted on.
The rotation has been a mess for most of the season due to injuries, particularly to Nestor Cortes Jr. and ace Gerrit Cole. Carlos Rodon still looks a step slow from his dominant run prior to signing in New York, but Luis Gil has done his part to balance that out and was leading the AL Rookie of the Year race early on. It’s tough for the Yankees to count on anyone to be healthy or produce in October at this point, including Cole.
For a team currently favored to win the AL pennant, the Yankees have tons of question marks surrounding the roster. This is a tough bet to make at +475 odds, especially given that there’s still a chance they are forced to play additional playoff games if they cannot hold on to the AL East division.
Baltimore Orioles
- Opening Odds: +1600
- Current Odds: +800 (bet365 Sportsbook)
The Orioles are one of MLB’s most exciting teams, littered with young talent. As mentioned, they are in the midst of a close race for the AL East division title with the Yankees and have a far weaker schedule down the stretch. Many believe they are the best team in the American League, and at +850 odds, they are the easiest bet to make out of the four teams discussed.
Gunnar Henderson has performed like an MVP-caliber player in just his second full season, which will need to continue into October. Adley Rutschman hasn’t had an amazing season, but his leadership is crucial to Baltimore’s success. Anthony Santander is among MLB’s home run leaders, which has been a welcome surprise.
The Orioles’ offense is fun to watch and has the right combination of youth and energy that is perfect for October. Still, the rotation is a rough spot beyond Corbin Burnes. The O’s have lost Kyle Bradish, John Means, Grayson Rodriguez, and Tyler Wells to injuries which has decimated their rotational depth.
Baltimore made moves to bolster their rotation by grabbing Zach Eflin from Tampa Bay and Trevor Rogers from Miami, but Rogers is now biding time in Triple-A. While the bullpen is relatively strong, the rotation needs to show improvement beyond Burnes and Eflin to compete for a World Series. Still, +800 odds is just too good to pass up on for a team this talented.