2021 World Series Odds Open with Dodgers as +500 Favorites to Repeat
By Bryan Thiel in MLB Baseball
Updated: March 5, 2021 at 10:29 am ESTPublished:
- The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series 4-2 over the Tampa Bay Rays
- LA is favored to repeat in the opening 2021 World Series Odds
- See who rounds out the favorites, plus early best bets in the 2021 futures market
After years of heartbreak, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally did it. The 2021 World Series champions brought LA its first title since 1988.
Abbreviated schedule or not, LA was MLB’s best team through 60 games, finishing 43-17. They were favored in all 18 of their playoff games, finally figuring out a way to close out their season with a championship.
Now the big question is: can the Dodgers repeat? So far, oddsmakers think they can.
2021 World Series Odds
| Team | 2020 Record | World Series Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 43-17 | +500 |
| New York Yankees | 33-27 | +600 |
| Chicago White Sox | 35-25 | +1100 |
| San Diego Padres | 35-25 | +1100 |
| Atlanta Braves | 37-23 | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 40-20 | +1400 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 31-29 | +1600 |
| Oakland Athletics | 36-24 | +1600 |
| Cleveland Indians | 35-25 | +2000 |
| Minnesota Twins | 36-24 | +2000 |
| Chicago Cubs | 34-26 | +2500 |
| Houston Astros | 29-31 | +2500 |
| New York Mets | 26-34 | +2500 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 28-32 | +3000 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 30-28 | +3000 |
| Washington Nationals | 26-34 | +3000 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 26-34 | +3000 |
| Boston Red Sox | 24-36 | +4000 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 29-31 | +4000 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 32-28 | +4000 |
| Detroit Tigers | 23-35 | +5000 |
| Miami Marlins | 31-29 | +5000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 25-35 | +6000 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 25-35 | +6000 |
| Kansas City Royals | 26-34 | +6000 |
| San Francisco Giants | 29-31 | +6000 |
| Colorado Rockies | 26-34 | +7000 |
| Seattle Mariners | 27-33 | +8000 |
| Texas Rangers | 22-38 | +8000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 19-41 | +10000 |
Odds as of Oct. 28th.
The Dodgers were consistently among the favorites in the 2020 World Series odds, so it’s no surprise to see them on top once again.
In Atlanta, the Braves played second fiddle to LA for all of 2020, but nearly knocked them off in the NLCS. A young core has them ready to reign over the NL East again, while in the AL, the Astros, Yankees, and Rays could be in for a lot of flip-flopping in 2021.
Dodgers Pitching Has them Primed to Repeat
LA has three players among MLB.com’s top 25 free agents for the 2020-21 offseason. To go along with Blake Treinen, Joc Pederson, and Justin Turner, Alex Wood and Kike Hernandez could hit the market too.
But the Dodgers have the means within their system to stay dominant. And they already have the arms in place.
Potential 2021 Dodgers Rotation
| Pitcher | Starts | Record | Innings Pitched | ERA | WHIP | K/BB | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker Buehler | 8 | 1-0 | 36.2 | 3.44 | 0.955 | 42/11 | 4.36 |
| Julio Urias | 10 | 3-0 | 55.0 | 3.27 | 1.145 | 45/18 | 3.72 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 10 | 6-2 | 58.1 | 2.16 | 0.840 | 62/8 | 3.31 |
| Dustin May | 10 | 3-1 | 56.0 | 2.57 | 1.089 | 44/16 | 4.62 |
| Tony Gonsolin | 8 | 2-2 | 46.2 | 2.31 | 0.836 | 46/7 | 2.29 |
*Statistics from 2020 season
You can order the names however you want, and it’s still a daunting rotation.
With Brusdar Graterol’s ascension in the bullpen and an outfield that includes Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, all the pieces are there for a Dodgers repeat.
Braves, Yankees Fighting for Starting Pitching
If there was one thing that did in both the Braves and the Yankees in the playoffs, it was starting pitching.
New York will be getting Luis Severino back in June or July, so he’ll pair with Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation. But Masahiro Tanaka, JA Happ and James Paxton are all free agents.
https://twitter.com/HoodieZack/status/1317302012778864642
Meanwhile in Atlanta, the Braves’ shallow rotation was exposed. Part of that will be solved by Mike Soroka’s eventual return, but there’s a choice to be made: wait it out with some of their younger starters, or fast forward the process on a potential contender.
The 2020/21 class of starting pitchers isn’t great, but it could lead to the two fighting over Trevor Bauer and Marcus Stroman. You could almost throw the Astros in there too, as they’re in a similar situation without Justin Verlander and some rotation questions.
Staying with Bauer, if he’s done with the Reds their 2021 World Series odds should drop a bit. So if you’re still interested in them, wait it out.
White Sox, Indians, Phillies Could Surprise in 2021
A little farther down the board, there are a pair of AL Central teams that could hold value.
The White Sox have a rotation with high upside that finished with the eighth-best ERA (3.85) and finished fifth in hits allowed (241). They have a loaded lineup and will get flamethrower Michael Kopech back at full strength as well.
The return of Michael Kopech
— Southside95 (@south_side95) October 19, 2020
Staying in the division, the Indians are another wait-and-see team. They’re always good for a stunning trade or two, and their next one could involve Francisco Lindor. If they hold onto him though, they’re an intriguing play.
In Philadelphia, the Phillies have to retain JT Realmuto, but it would go a long way in a loaded division. Like the Yankees and Braves, they could be eyeing rotation help though.
Dodgers Rightfully Atop the 2021 World Series Odds
You always have to respect the champs, and as they say: to be the man, you gotta beat the man.
The Dodgers weren’t a fluke champion either, and they’ve got the stuff to repeat.
If someone is going to knock them off, it’s going to come from the NL. And it’ll likely be the Braves. So with serious questions among the American League favorites, turn your attention to NL and its top two teams.
Sports Writer
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.
