2024 World Series Odds: Opening Day is Here

Opening Day is upon us and all 30 MLB teams have hope for the time being. Okay, maybe not the Oakland A's. For everyone else, the season is a chance to start fresh but some teams — the Dodgers — are seen as a cut above in the World Series odds.

Mar 28, 2024 • 06:18 ET • 5 min read
Mookie Betts Los Angeles Dodgers MLB
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Opening Day is here and so are World Series odds.

MLB futures are ripe for the picking and plenty of projections are available for the upcoming campaign. Big-ticket free agents have finally found homes and the regular season is about to begin.

We're looking at the latest MLB odds to see which teams are best positioned to make a run at the 2024 World Series as we count down to the first pitch.

World Series winner odds

Favorites to win 2024 World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers (+331 to +400)

Plenty of people are crowning the Los Angeles Dodgers as the eventual World Series champs based on how the offseason went. While the season isn't won in December or January, it's easy to see why L.A. is atop the list. Not only did the Dodgers sign otherworldly two-way star Shohei Ohtani (who will be limited to DH in 2024) but they inked Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and traded for Tyler Glasnow to anchor the starting rotation.

It remains to be seen what comes of the gambling scandal involving Ohtani's now-former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, and whether the star player will be found at fault as well. For now, Ohtani can be penciled in as an everyday player and he is expected to speak to the media on Monday, March 25.

With infielder Gavin Lux healthy heading into Opening Day, the lineup is looking deep, particularly with Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman penciled in near the top of the batting order and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez also being added to the fold. Also, Betts is moving to shortstop, further showcasing his versatility.

If there are question marks, they come from the pitching staff. Glasnow hasn't particularly been a picture of health at any point in his career, topping out at 120 innings pitched, so his durability is a concern. Walker Buehler hasn't pitched since early 2022 and will not be ready for Opening Day. James Paxton, who, like Glasnow, has never been healthy for extended stretches, is currently expected to fill the role of No. 5 starter. With neither Tony Gonsolin nor Dustin May able to take the mound, the Dodgers will have to entrust some young arms like Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone, among others, to fill the void.

And while the Dodgers have re-signed Clayton Kershaw, he likely won't be able to pitch until later in the season if at all. Nevertheless, the Dodgers are good enough as constructed and any reinforcements down the stretch will be a bonus. Unsurprisingly, MLB win total odds have Los Angeles projected to win the most games of any team.

Technically, the Dodgers have already played games that count, splitting a two-game set with the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea. Yamamoto, who only pitched one inning, didn't look sharp — bringing the rotation issues back to the surface for those inclined to hit the panic button early — but the offense hummed. Betts, in particular, was impressive, going 4-for-5 with a home run and six RBI in the second game.

Atlanta Braves (+450 to +650)

If there is a lineup more fearsome than the Dodgers, look no further than the Atlanta Braves. Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. leads the way, but there is simply not an easy out from 1-9. This roster is built to last, too, with many key players signed to long-term deals. Four different hitters swatted at least 30 homers in 2023 and every single player projected to be in the everyday lineup hit at least 18.

The rotation is solid but not without concerns. Spencer Strider is a bonafide ace and Max Fried should be his reliable self despite coming off an injury-riddled 2023. Chris Sale is the ultimate lottery ticket. The left-hander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last decade but has dealt with a litany of injuries and hasn't eclipsed 158 innings since 2017.

Bryce Elder was demoted to Triple-A following a shaky spring, but it's opened the door for Reynaldo Lopez to open the season as the team's fifth starter. Lopez had some success early in his career as a starter but was converted into a fairly effective reliever over the last couple of seasons. If he can rise to his prospect potential, he'll be another weapon out of nowhere for an already strong team. And if it doesn't work out, Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep are all knocking on the door.

Houston Astros (+700 to +975)

The New York Yankees had briefly risen to the third spot on the odds board, but an elbow injury to ace Gerrit Cole plus Aaron Judge's delayed spring has at least raised some questions around the Bronx Bombers.

The Houston Astros just won't go away. To everyone's surprise, they signed Josh Hader, giving the relief corps absurd amounts of depth. And after missing out on Blake Snell, the Astros rotation is pretty good as it is with Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Cristian Javier in the fold. Justin Verlander may only miss a couple of weeks, too, so the pitching staff could be very imposing for the stretch run.

And the lineup remains dangerous as Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker serve as the new core with Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman providing veteran depth. As strong as the Yankees and Texas Rangers offenses appear, this is the cream of the AL crop.

World Series opening odds

  • Los Angeles Dodgers +320
  • Atlanta Braves +450
  • Houston Astros +700
  • New York Yankees +900
  • Texas Rangers +1,400
  • Baltimore Orioles +1,400
  • Philadelphia Phillies +1,500
  • Toronto Blue Jays +1,800
  • Seattle Mariners +2,000
  • Minnesota Twins +2,100
  • St. Louis Cardinals +3,000
  • Tampa Bay Rays +3,000
  • Arizona Diamondbacks +3,500
  • Chicago Cubs +3,500
  • San Francisco Giants +4,500
  • New York Mets +4,500
  • San Diego Padres +5,000
  • Cincinnati Reds +5,500
  • Boston Red Sox +6,000
  • Cleveland Guardians +6,000
  • Detroit Tigers +7,000
  • Miami Marlins +9,000
  • Milwaukee Brewers +9,000
  • Kansas City Royals +15,000
  • Los Angeles Angels +18,000
  • Pittsburgh Pirates +20,000
  • Washington Nationals +25,000
  • Chicago White Sox +25,000
  • Colorado Rockies +50,000
  • Oakland A's +50,000

2024 World Series odds over time

Here's a look at how World Series odds stack up across MLB. We'll be updating throughout the season to show how the odds race evolves.

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MLB futures odds explained

Sportsbooks will post World Series futures as soon as the previous season concludes, and some even sooner. These betting boards are constantly adjusted throughout the winter and ensuing season as players get hurt or are traded. Once the regular season begins, World Series odds will change daily as teams win and lose games, and as more players are injured or traded. Sportsbooks will also adjust the World Series odds based on handle and liability to certain teams.

World Series odds will usually look like this:

  • Los Angeles Dodgers +240

This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to win $240 if the Dodgers win the World Series. If it's close to the end of the season or MLB has a very dominant team, you could see a minus sign (-) ahead of a team's odds. 

  • Atlanta Braves -150

This means that if you bet on the Atlanta Braves during the 2020 MLB season, you would have needed to bet $150 to profit $100 if the Braves won the championship.

Above we have posted the American odds for the World Series. However, these are easy to convert to decimal odds or fractional odds with our odds converter tool.

Past World Series winners

The Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games. It marked the first World Series title in Rangers franchise history.

Here are the last 10 World Series winners, along with their opening odds.

Season Winner Opening odds Runner up
2023 Rangers Texas Rangers +5,000 Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks
2022 Astros Houston Astros +800 Phillies Philadelphia Phillies
2021 Braves Atlanta Braves +1,000 Astros Houston Astros
2020 Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers +600 Rays Tampa Bay Rays
2019 Nationals Washington Nationals +1,800 Astros Houston Astros
2018 Red Sox Boston Red Sox +1,200 Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers
2017 Astros Houston Astros +1,600 Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers
2016 Cubs Chicago Cubs +1,050 Guardians Cleveland Guardians
2015 Royals Kansas City Royals +1,500 Mets New York Mets
2014 Giants San Francisco Giants +2,000 Royals Kansas City Royals

Teams with most World Series titles

Team World Series titles Most recent championship
Yankees New York Yankees 27 2009
Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals 11 2011
Athletics Oakland A's 9 1989
Red Sox Boston Red Sox 9 2018
Giants San Francisco Giants 8 2014
Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers 7 2020
Reds Cincinnati Reds 5 1990
Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates 5 1979
Tigers Detroit Tigers 4 1984
Braves Atlanta Braves 4 2021
Cubs Chicago Cubs 3 2016
Orioles Baltimore Orioles 3 1983
Twins Minnesota Twins 3 1991
White Sox Chicago White Sox 3 2005

Despite not playing for a championship since 2009, the New York Yankees are the most decorated team in MLB history, and it isn't close. In addition to winning a whopping 27 titles, they've played in 40 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second all-time with 21 World Series appearances.

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