World Series Odds Heading Into MLB Playoffs See Dodgers Favored at +350
- The Dodgers finished 43-17, the best record in the regular season and are favored to win the World Series
- The Rays, Yankees, Twins and Padres round out the top-five
- See the rest of the 2020 World Series Odds and the best bets
Yet again the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the regular season, and yet again they sit atop the 2020 World Series odds.
The Dodgers were one of just two teams to finish with 40 wins in the 2020 regular season, joining the Tampa Bay Rays. LA rounded out the regular season with a +136 run differential as their pitching and hitting dominated.
But now the real work begins. Clayton Kershaw and company have been favorites for years, but is 2020 the season they get over the hump?
2020 World Series Odds
| Team | Regular Season Record | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 43-17 | +350 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 40-20 | +700 |
| New York Yankees | 33-27 | +750 |
| Minnesota Twins | 36-24 | +1000 |
| San Diego Padres | 37-23 | +1000 |
| Oakland Athletics | 36-24 | +1000 |
| Atlanta Braves | 35-25 | +1200 |
| Chicago White Sox | 35-25 | +1500 |
| Chicago Cubs | 34-26 | +1600 |
| Cleveland Indians | 35-25 | +1700 |
| Houston Astros | 29-31 | +2500 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 31-29 | +2500 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 30-28 | +3300 |
| Miami Marlins | 31-29 | +3600 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 29-31 | +4100 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 32-28 | +4100 |
Odds taken Sept 27 from FanDuel
While other teams have come and gone, the Dodgers have been a constant when it comes to the 2020 World Series odds. Following a disappointing NLDS exit in 2019, LA was third, behind the Astros and Yankees. Then the Mookie Betts trade happened and the Dodgers were fighting the Yankees for months.
But since August 25th, the Dodgers have been alone as the favorites as New York has fallen behind. So can they make good on all of that promise this year?
Favorite Status Won’t Faze Dodgers
The Dodgers are healthy and dangerous entering the postseason. Mookie Betts turned in a dynamic season in his first year on the West Coast, and while Cody Bellinger’s triple slash numbers weren’t up to his standards, his bulk stats were still good.
43-17 is the regular season record. Congratulations, @dodgers. What a pleasure to cover you this year. The #dodgers are the only team this year to never be shut out offensively.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) September 27, 2020
LA only totaled a 31% quality start percentage, good for 11th in the league. A big reason for that is the fact that they only averaged 4.7 innings per start. While that may not seem impressive, it could indicate that the Dodgers were simply managing their innings only to unleash everyone in October.
Do Braves Pose Biggest Threat in NL?
While both have to make it through their respective brackets, it feels like we’re on a Braves/Dodgers collision course in the National League.
Your National League home run leader 🐻#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/5vfN8FxaKI
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 27, 2020
Atlanta finished first in RBI, On-Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage and OPS, and second in home runs and average. If there’s a reason they don’t meet up with the Dodgers in the NLCS, it’ll be because of their pitching. The Braves were 13th in ERA, allowing the 13th-most hits and 16th-most earned runs.
They also had the 14th-highest WHIP and 12th-worst opponent’s average.
Which AL Teams Have the Best Chance?
If you love consistency, then the Tampa Bay Rays may be the steadiest team on the AL side. The Rays consistently got on base, drawing the second-most walks and scoring the sixth-most runs in the AL. They also logged the third-lowest ERA and WHIP, and fifth-lowest opponent’s batting average.
For the first time since 2010, your Tampa Bay Rays are AL East Champions! pic.twitter.com/n2YagBWBZ9
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 24, 2020
Meanwhile in the Central, both the Indians and White Sox are intriguing teams. Cleveland starters logged the highest Quality Start percentage (63%) and Average Game Score (59). Their bullpen also allowed just 26% of inherited runners to score.
#WhiteSox become 1st team in MLB history to finish unbeaten in a season against a left handed starter. 14-0.
— Ryan McGuffey (@RyanMcGuffey) September 27, 2020
The White Sox meanwhile, are just a streaky team. Their pitching staff finished slightly behind the Indians’ starters and relievers. They’ve got a heavy-hitting offense, but a seven-game winning streak in August and a 10-1 run in early September are a big reason why they’ll be playing in October.
Hard to Bet Against Favorites in 2020
While the Padres could be tantalizing as they share a bracket with LA, the Dodgers just look too deep. With no crossover between divisions this year it’s hard to tell who stacks up well with who, but the Dodgers and Braves should be able to handle their respective match-ups.
The AL is messier. Tampa is a safer pick, while the White Sox could pay off big or flame out early.
From start to finish though, it’s tough to overlook LA.
The Pick: LA Dodgers (+350)
Bryan has spent the last decade working in the sports industry. From the sidelines in the OHL and Rugby League to behind the scenes at TSN, Bryan has a wealth of experience with a soft spot for props and parlays.
