World Series Futures Odds Update
With a month and a half remaining in the MLB regular season the oddsmakers still have the Atlanta Braves set as their 2023 World Series betting favorite.
At the Bovada Sportsbook the Braves are +290 favorites on the 2023 World Series futures followed closely by the Los Angeles Dodgers at +300
The Braves continue to boast the best record in baseball and are handily running away with the National League East. Atlanta did not make any major impact moves at the deadline but its rotation improved thanks to the return from the IL of Max Fried, who fits in well alongside Spencer Strider and Charlie Morton.
The Dodgers have been on a roll since the beginning of August. This month the Dodgers are a near-perfect 13-1 which includes a nine-game winning streak. That success has allowed them to build a comfortable nine-game lead atop the NL West. At the trade deadline the Dodgers added Lance Lynn to their rotation and brought back Kiké Hernandez. They also got Clayton Kershaw back from the IL, have received much better production from Julio Urias, and may get another late-season boost if Walker Buehler can return from Tommy John surgery.
It looks like a matchup between the Dodgers and the Braves in the postseason may be inevitable. They’ve met only three times this season with Los Angeles taking two of three. In their last 10 games versus the Braves the Dodgers are 7-3 and they’ll host them in Los Angeles in the first week of September in what could be a postseason tune-up.
Rangers, Astros, Orioles, Rays follow on the futures
Following the Dodgers and Braves on the World Series futures is a long list of American League teams including the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros at +600, the Baltimore Orioles at +700, and the Tampa Bay Rays at +850.
The Rangers reloaded their rotation at the deadline by acquiring Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery. Scherzer has been the ace the Rangers hoped for with three wins and a 1.80 ERA in three starts. When Scherzer arrived Nathan Eovaldi went on the IL with a forearm strain. If Eovaldi can return late in the season and dominate like he had been before the injury the Rangers could be tough to beat in a playoff series.
The Astros, the defending World Series champions, reunited with an old friend at the trade deadline and brought back Justin Verlander. Verlander and Framber Valdez atop the Houston rotation could be what the Astros need to repeat as champs.
The Orioles continue to be one of the biggest surprises this season and currently own the best record in the AL. The Orioles added Jack Flaherty to try and bolster their starting staff and will need their young talent including Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson to deliver in the postseason if they’re going to win their first World Series since 1983.
The Rays could be missing some important pieces late in the season. Ace Shane McClanahan is already out for the rest of the season and headed for Tommy John surgery and Wander Franco has been placed on the restricted list pending an MLB investigation.
The World Series odds on other notable teams that could be bound for the playoffs include the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies both at +1800, the Minnesota Twins at +2500, the Seattle Mariners and the Milwaukee Brewers at +3000, the San Francisco Giants at +3500, and the Chicago Cubs and the Miami Marlins both at +4500.