One month into the MLB regular season, the LA Dodgers (+300) are the favourites to win the World Series as we continue into August.
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The LA Dodgers are currently the favourites to win the 2025 World Series. With big names like Shohei Ohtani on the lineup, the Dodgers' season outlook is looking good. The Dodgers are battling the Chicago Cubs for the best record in the National League, while the surprising Detroit Tigers have the best record in the American League.
The competition is fierce this year for the World Series title. When considering which team will take the ultimate win, it’s important to consider a range of factors including odds, team dynamics, trades, injuries, and player statistics. In this section, we’ll dive into the top favourite teams of the season thus far.
The LA Dodgers are currently our top pick for winning the World Series this year. Last year’s National League MVP, Shohei Ohtani, is a force to be reckoned with, backed by a strong lineup behind him, including Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernandez. Plus, the rotation is elite, with names that include Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow.
The Philadelphia Phillies, with powerhouse starting pitchers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola on their side, will no doubt be a force this season. They also have a stacked lineup that includes Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos. So far, the Phillies are leading the New York Mets in the National League East, but it is still incredibly close. The Phillies also added a proven closer after trading for Jhoan Duran.
Many saw the Tigers competing, but not holding the best record in the American League. Amazingly, this team has come alive, with Riley Greene leading the Tigers in hits and Spencer Torkelson leading them in home runs. Kerry Carpenter continues to supply power, and the addition of Gleyber Torres has set the mark for the Tigers. Of course, Tariq Skubal is having another great season, showcasing that elite stuff that won him a Cy Young award last season. Casey Mize is having a great bounce-back season and has shown the stuff the Tigers saw when they drafted him.
As usual, the New York Yankees are expected to dominate this year. This historic team has already taken 27 World Series titles. With Aaron Judge holding the 2024 American League MVP title, in addition to 2022 and 2017, there’s no doubt this team is the current favourite for 2025. After losing to the Dodgers last season, the Yankees are eager to finish the job this time around. The Yanks currently are in third place in the American League East and attempting to hang on.
The tides can change quickly in baseball. Make sure to keep an eye out for these top contenders this year.
After making the big move to net Juan Soto, the Mets have emerged as the second-favourite to win the National League. But it goes far beyond Soto. Francisco Lindor has had a good season, leading the team in hits and home runs. Additionally, Pete Alonso has bounced back after a down 2024 campaign and is right there with Lindor in home runs, while Brandon Nimmo has also displayed some power. Kodai Senga, Griffin Canning, and Clay Holmes have led a resurgent pitching rotation. The Mets added Ryan Helsley to their bullpen at the trade deadline.
Don't look now, but the Brewers are starting to heat up. Their rotation is currently second in baseball in team ERA with 3.38, highlighted by Freddy Peralta, who is 12-5 with a 3.08 ERA. Additionally, they are second in the majors in stolen bases, as several players already have 15 base swipes. The Brew Crew added Shelby Miller at the trade deadline.
Houston fans will tell you this year could be it for the Astros, and they may not be wrong. There are a lot of rumours going around about potential trades, but regardless of the outcome, the Astros have a positive outlook for this season. Despite losing Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs, the Astros are still a threat to win it all with a stacked rotation and a lineup that can still do damage. Now, with the return of Carlos Correa, the Astros have one of their old reliable bats back in the lineup.
A resurgent bullpen and a strong defense have helped the Jays rise from the ashes. They have led the American League East for the past few weeks and are currently holding off the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
They may not be the current stars of the show, but these long shots are not to be underestimated. We are in the summer, and some of these long shots can still go on a run.
The Chicago Cubs are in a wide-open division. So far, they have answered the call, leading the National League Central, with a slight edge over the St. Louis Cardinals. Kyle Tucker has been an excellent addition to the team, leading the Cubs in hits and home runs. Pete Crow-Armstrong has also been amazing, being right up there with Tucker for home runs. If the Cubs can sustain this and get good pitching, they could become a threat.
San Diego Padres
The Padres are stacked with talent, including Robert Suarez and Dylan Cease. The team has never won a World Series, adding a particularly strong motivation to this team’s already solid lineup. If Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis can stay healthy, and if Xander Bogaerts and Luis Arraez remain consistent, then the Padres will have a great chance to make a run. Likewise, if they can get solid work out of their rotation, they will be dangerous when the playoffs arrive. But the Friars were not done, as they added closer Mason Miller, along with Ryan O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano at the trade deadline.
Trading for Rafael Devers has already paid dividends. Amazingly, he fits like a glove. Devers is now in a lineup that already includes Heliot Ramos. The starting rotation is also stout, with Robbie Ray and Logan Webb leading the way.
The Mariners have been a popular sleeper pick for the last few seasons. They already possess one of the best rotations in baseball, with Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Bryce Miller all performing well. Ultimately, the lineup must improve, and it starts with Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena leading the charge. The M's currently lead the American League West.
The Boston Red Sox are one of those teams that just can’t be underestimated. With a breakthrough year for Tanner Houck in 2024, we expect big things this season. Adding Garrett Crochet to their rotation will also help, as well as a lineup featuring Jarren Duran. Notably, they only trail the Toronto Blue Jays by a few games in the American League East and recently surpassed the New York Yankees.
The Texas Rangers are currently hovering around .500. While this does not look good at the moment, they still have a chance at making a run, given their history and their bad division. Currently, the Rangers only trail the Seattle Mariners by a few games in the American League West, and can certainly make a run, or even snag a wildcard spot and get hot like they did two seasons ago.
This section is your one-stop shop for the latest, most important MLB World Series news -
When betting on the MLB World Series, there are several wagering options to consider, from simple money line bets on who will win the game to options like player prop betting, MVP winner, and future bets on the championship winner.
Futures bets are wagers placed on the outcome of a season-long event before it concludes, often weeks or even months in advance. In the case of the MLB World Series, a futures bet allows you to wager on which team will win the championship well before the final series is played.
A moneyline bet is the simplest type of wager in sports betting, where you are betting on which team will win the game outright, with no point spread involved. The odds are set based on each team's perceived chances of winning, with favorites having lower payouts and underdogs offering higher returns.
Player prop betting focuses on individual player performances rather than the outcome of the game. In the MLB World Series, this could include wagers on how many home runs Aaron Judge will hit in the series or how many strikeouts Shohei Ohtani will record in a single game
Betting on World Series MVP odds means placing a wager on which player will be named the most valuable player of the series. Odds fluctuate based on player performance, with favorites like Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge having lower odds, while longshot picks can offer higher payouts if they have a breakout series.
Live betting allows you to place wagers on a World Series game while it’s happening, with odds updating in real-time based on the action. For example, if the Dodgers are trailing the Yankees in the 5th inning, you could bet on them to make a comeback at improved odds, or wager on how many strikeouts a pitcher will record before being pulled from the game.
The LA Dodgers currently have the best odds to win the World Series in 2025 at +300. The team with the next-best odds is the Philadelphia Phillies, who are currently at +750 odds to win the Fall Classic.
The LA Dodgers won the 2024 World Series after dispatching the New York Yankees, beating the Bronx Bombers four games to one by clinching their eighth World Series ring with a 7-6 comeback victory in front of the loyal faithful at Chavez Ravine.
The New York Yankees have the most World Series titles, with 27. The St. Louis Cardinals are second on the list with 11 championships, while the Boston Red Sox and Athletics have both won nine titles in their storied histories.
Some of the benefits of betting on World Series futures include larger payouts, long-term entertainment value, and something to track all season. Additionally, you will always have the original bet value, even if the odds decrease over time.
Author
Brandon Justice has nearly a decade of experience covering sports and betting, primarily working in college football, college basketball, NFL and MLB. His goal is providing detailed analysis on the trends & data of sports betting with a wealth of experience, including writing for The Action Network & Rivals.com.
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