Dodgers’ World Series Odds Shorten to +130 Thanks to NLDS Victory Over Giants

• The Dodgers are +130 favorites to win the World Series after beating the Giants in the NLDS
• The Dodgers play the Braves in the NLCS beginning Saturday in Atlanta
• A look at odds to win the World Series with analysis can be found below

After getting past the team with the best record in the major leagues, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ odds to win the World Series have improved greatly.

The Dodgers are +130 favorites to win it all for the second year in a row. They were at +380 prior to beating the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Thursday night on the road in the winner-take-all Game 5 of their National League Division Series.

The Dodgers went 106-56 in the regular season, second in the big leagues to their NL West rival Giants, who had a 107-55 record.

The Dodgers open play in the National League Championship Series against the Braves on Saturday night in Atlanta.

2021 World Series Winner Odds

Odds as of October 15th at DraftKings.

Giant Killers

The Dodgers edged the Giants in Game 5 on Cody Bellinger’s tiebreaking single in the top of the ninth inning. Ace starter Max Scherzer then came on in relief to pitch a scoreless bottom of the ninth to earn the save.

CODY BELLINGER. pic.twitter.com/quEWBFR5hc

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 15, 2021

Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts set a personal postseason career best with four hits.

Justin Turner was hit by a Camilo Doval pitch with one out and the scored tied 1-1 to start the Dodgers’ ninth-inning rally. Gavin Lux then singled before Bellinger delivered the game-winning hit.

The Dodgers outscored the Giants 18-10 over the five games. The teams wound up splitting 24 games this season.

Back-to-Back Scherzer

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Scherzer will start Game 1 of the NLCS despite being used in relief Thursday. Scherzer threw 13 pitches while notching the first save of his 14-year career.

Mad Max might need to find a shirt before Saturday.

Max Scherzer can't keep his shirt on this postseason… pic.twitter.com/1SuW3QtjEC

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 15, 2021

Walker Buehler is likely to start Game 2 on Sunday followed by left-hander Julio Urias in Game 3 next Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Things then tricky for Roberts in Game 4 on Wednesday. He could opt to go with Scherzer on short rest or have a bullpen game.

Scherzer has started just twice on three days’ rest in his career, both times during postseason play.

Muncy Doubtful

The Dodgers were originally hoping first baseman Max Muncy would be able to play if they advanced to the NLCS. He hyperextended his left elbow during the final weekend of the regular season.

However, it now appears doubtful Muncy will be ready to face the Braves. That is a big bat missing from the lineup after he hit .249/.368/.527 with a team-high 36 home runs in 144 regular season games.

Muncy has shined in postseasons past.

October 26th, 2018
Max Muncy hits an 18th-inning walk-off home run to give the Dodgers the win in the longest World Series game ever! #MaxMuncy #GoosebumpSports #MLB #Dodgers #RedSox #WorldSeries #WalkOff pic.twitter.com/BjwSQ9Tf5f

— Goosebump Sports (@GoosebumpSports) October 12, 2021

Bellinger started three times at first base in the NLDS and Matt Beaty and Albert Pujols made one start apiece.

Getting the Better of Braves

The Dodgers went 4-2 against the Braves in the regular season, including sweeping a three-game series from Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles has won the season series five straight years since 2016 with a commanding 22-10 advantage.

Third baseman Justin Turner led the Dodgers’ charge against the Braves in 2021 by going 7 for 23 (.304) with two doubles. Muncy hit a triple and pair of home runs in 15 at-bats.

At the very least, Justin Turner said WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT pic.twitter.com/Hcizv5OfiZ

— David Rosenthal (@_therealdrose) October 3, 2021

Infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor struggled against Atlanta pitching, going 2 for 18 (.111) with eight strikeouts. Taylor was the hero of the Dodgers’ wild card game victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, hitting a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman hit just .217 (5 for 23) against the Dodgers but two of the hits were home runs. Shortstop Dansby Swanson was 4 for 20 (.200) with seven strikeouts.

Looking Further Ahead

If the Dodgers win the NLCS, they will face either the Houston Astros or Boston Red Sox in the World Series. The Dodgers split four games with Houston this season but did not face Boston.

With their odds down to +130, the Dodgers don’t present a lot of value. However, they are the best of the four teams still standing and the logical ones to wager on.