2024 World Series Predictions with Betting Odds and Expert Picks
Pitchers and Catchers are set to report to Spring Training in 12 days, as the 2024 MLB season is upon us. In what seemed like a wild offseason, there are still plenty of top tier talents on the free agent market that will likely find a home within the month as teams look to solidify their roster. And with that, who has the most talented roster? It is easy to think that after a video game like offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best team on paper. It is never too early to look ahead to October and see who Vegas likes to be the next World Series Champion.
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Los Angeles Dodgers +350
As if adding Shohei Ohtani wasn’t enough, the Dodgers solidified their roster by adding Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well as fellow pitcher Tyler Glasnow, and heavy hitter Teoscar Hernandez. The first half of the Dodgers lineup will make a lot of pitchers uneasy, with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Ohtani, and Hernandez to start, and then the proven bats of Max Muncy, Will Smith, and Chris Taylor to follow. The rotation will be deep with the return of Walker Beuhler joining Yamamoto, Glasnow, Bobby Miller. The bullpen, ranked 3rd in the MLB last season with a 3.42 ERA, should be great, and the team is hopeful to replicate that number with an even better rotation in front of them. After winning 100 games last year and then making significant improvements, it is hard to think we don’t have another dynasty on our hands.
Atlanta Braves +550
Speaking of dynasties, the Braves did a fantastic job at locking up their stars long-term. However, now thanks to the Dodgers monstrous offseason, they have some work to do if they want to compete with them. Surprisingly, they will likely have a better lineup than Los Angeles as the danger extends past the 4th hitter. With Ronald Acuna, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley followed by the likes of Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy, Marcell Ozuna, this lineup will be loaded with pop and will be even better if Orlando Arcia can repeat his numbers from last season and if a change of scenery was what Jarred Kelenic needed. The rotation has some question marks, with the aging Charlie Morton and the unpredictable Bryce Elder. However, if Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Max Fried stay healthy, the Braves can find themselves back in the World Series.
Houston Astros +800
The Astros accomplished what they needed to do this offseason by adding a top-end reliever in Josh Hader. However, Hader has been shaky over the last two seasons. And if he can’t return to form, the Astros may be forced to send some prospects to acquire another arm. However, with a solid lineup, emerging long-term catcher Yainer Diaz, and a healthy bullpen, the Astros have what it takes to repeat as AL West Champions and make a run at what would be their 5th World Series appearance since 2017. To do so isn’t easy, and they will be in the best division in baseball with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, as both squads improved over the offseason and both clubs hungry to dethrone the Astros.
New York Yankees +900
After a disappointing campaign last season, the Yankees acquired one of the league’s best bats in Juan Soto. In an attempt to retool a rotation that ranked 18th in the MLB with a 4.44 ERA, the Yankees signed Marcus Stroman. However, the Yankees might have actually done more bad than good in the Soto trade, as they sent away Michael King, who was only one of four pitchers to record over 100 innings for New York last season and ranked second among them with a 2.75 ERA. Additionally, Domingo German and Luis Severino will not be in pinstripes this season. If Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes can turn things around, then maybe this team can be competitive, but it is hard to see this team drastically improving on their 82-win season based on the offseason moves they made.
Texas Rangers +1200
The Orioles also have +1200 odds, but since the Rangers are the defending champion, it is only right to feature them on this list.
The defending World Champs will head into the season without their two best starting pitchers as Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer recover from their injuries. However, they have a lot of options to allow them to stay competitive for the first few months of the season as Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Dane Dunning, Andrew Heaney, and offseason acquisition Tyler Mahle, make a strong rotation. The Rangers also added to their bullpen by adding established arms in Kirby Yates and David Robertson. Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe, and Adolis Garcia are back, and the likes of Evan Carter, Josh Jung, and Ezequiel Duran are some young guys looking to add to the offense. If deGrom and Scherzer return in their dominant state, the Rangers will be the best team in the American League and have the pitching depth required to go deep in the playoffs.
Dark Horse: Seattle Mariners +2000
The Mariners rank 10th on the list with +2000 odds, and that may be a fair number with the Rangers and Astros being in the same division. However, this team is highly underrated. Losing Teoscar Hernandez will hurt, but they did a fine job replacing him by adding Luke Raley, Mitch Garver, and bringing back Mitch Haniger. The starting five for Seattle might also be the most underrated group in the MLB and may end up being one of the best rotations across the league. Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Luis Castillo all recorded more than 190 innings and all three posted sub four ERAs and WHIPS of 1.10 or lower. Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo also look to improve after solid rookie seasons. The bullpen will be anchored by Andres Munoz, Matt Brash, and Gabe Speier. The road will be tough, but don’t be surprised if Seattle ends the drought in a big way in 2024.
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