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Dodgers, Yankees Have Identical 2020 World Series Odds; Who’s the Better Bet?

Bryan Thiel

by Bryan Thiel in MLB Baseball

Updated Aug 17, 2020 · 9:07 PM PDT

Cody Bellinger warming up
Cody Bellinger and the LA Dodgers are co-favorites to win the 2020 World Series with the New York Yankees. Photo by Wikimedia Commons (Wikimedia Commons)
  • FanDuel lists the Yankees and Dodgers as co-favorites to win the 2020 World Series
  • Both teams lead their divisions, the Yankees at 15-6 and the Dodgers at 16-7
  • Which of the two MLB powerhouses is the best bet to win the 2020 World Series?

While the MLB season has seen its fair share of twists and turns so far, the two teams everyone expected to be at the top of the standings are living up to the hype.

The Yankees and the Dodgers, perennial contenders, are currently 16-5 and 16-7, respectively, and co-favorites to win the 2020 World Series at +400.

So who should you side with?

2020 World Series Odds

Team Current Record FanDuel World Series Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers 16-7 +400
New York Yankees 15-6 +400
Minnesota Twins 14-8 +1200
Atlanta Braves 13-10 +1300
Houston Astros 11-10 +1300
Oakland Athletics 16-6 +1500
Tampa Bay Rays 14-9 +1500
Chicago Cubs 13-6 +1750
Cleveland Indians 13-9 +2100
Washington Nationals 8-11 +2200
Cincinnati Reds 9-11 +2700
New York Mets 9-14 +2800
Chicago White Sox 11-11 +3300
Philadelphia Phillies 8-9 +3300
San Diego Padres 11-12 +3500

Odds as of Aug. 17th.

Since last year’s World Series, these two have been fighting it out for favorite status in the 2020 World Series Odds.

The 2020 calendar year began with a relatively sizable gap; the Yankees hovered around +300 while the Dodgers were around +600. Then the Mookie Betts trade happened.

Since then, they have been bouncing back and forth. Each has spent time as a slight favorite, and they’ve spent plenty of time as co-favorites.

Could the 2020 World Series Be a Slugfest?

We’re actually lucky to be able to compare these two accurately. While the West divisions have been free from COVID-19-related hang-ups, we can’t say the same about the East. But the only team to be seriously impacted in the AL is the Blue Jays.

This is also important to note because the Yankees shouldn’t be worn down by a potential backlog of games down the stretch.

Yankees, Dodgers Offensive Comparison

Yankees
VS
Dodgers
36 (4) Home Runs 43 (1)
113 (T-3)
RBI 125 (1)
119 (T-3) Runs 128 (1)
.266 (2) Batting Average .243 (13)
.353 (1) On-Base Percentage .320 (12)
.481 (1) Slugging Percentage .428 (4)

In terms of counting numbers, the Dodgers are dominating with a powerful starting nine and a dangerous bench. Their average, OBP, and slugging percentage are lower than in years past. A big reason for that is the slower starts from Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy.

The Yankees are more aligned with where they finished in 2019. They’re buoyed by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton’s hot starts, and big performances from Mike Tauchman and Clint Frazier.

Yankees Surviving Despite Lengthy Injury Report

In the AL East season preview, the Yanks’ dodgy injury history was raised as a cause for concern. And now, just 20 games into the season, there are three significant names on New York’s Injured List.

Aaron Judge is adamant that he’ll be good to go by this weekend. While he’s a leading candidate for AL MVP honors, the team was right to take it slow with his calf injury. Stanton’s hamstring will have him missing the month of August, while there’s still no clarity on DJ LeMahieu’s thumb.

Those are three key bats that need to be monitored and come back at full health. Lingering injuries could sink New York.

Dodgers’ Pitching Elite Again

If there’s one thing LA has been able to rely on during their run of dominance, it’s their pitching. So far, 2020 has been no different.

Dodgers: Starters vs Relievers

Starters
VS
Relievers
3.35 (4) ERA 1.43 (1)
91 (16)
Hits Allowed 62 (6)
43 (10) Earned Runs Allowed 15 (2)
100 (7) Strikeouts 95 (11)
34 (16) Walks 32 (9)
1.11 (4) WHIP 1.00 (2)

The bullpen has locked things down for the Dodgers, but the starters have been just as good. Some of these numbers are actually inflated by would-be ace Walker Buehler, who’s carrying a 5.21 ERA and 6.35 FIP.

New York’s bullpen is slightly trailing LA’s, but the starters are where we start to see the divide.

Dodgers Hope to Get Over 2020 World Series Hump

With the Yankees, it comes down to two things: pitching and health. Their three stars could completely heal from their latest injuries or that cloud hover over Stanton and Judge for the rest of the year. The depth behind Gerrit Cole is also a modest concern.

If you want to bet the Yankees, the smart thing would be to wait and see if their price comes down with LeMahieu hitting the IL.

Otherwise, back the Dodgers. They’ve built a powerhouse that’s ready for the sprint in 2020.

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