The MLB season starts in roughly 48 hours with a 60-game reduced season. According to a recent update by the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Dodgers are now the outright favorite to win the 2020 World Series at 7/2 odds, while the New York Yankees are the second-highest on the board at 4/1 odds.
Much like last season, bookies and gamblers anticipate a coastal-elite showdown between the Dodgers and Yankees.
After the Dodgers and Yankees, there’s a huge drop off in World Series odds. They’re the only teams with single-digit odds. Their closest competitor is the Houston Astros at 12/1 odds.
2020 WORLD SERIES ODDS
Los Angeles Dodgers 7/2
New York Yankees 4/1
Houston Astros 12/1
Atlanta Braves 16/1
New York Mets 16/1
Minnesota Twins 16/1
Tampa Bay Rays 16/1
Washington Nationals 18/1
Chicago Cubs 20/1
Oakland A’s 20/1
Cincinnati Reds 20/1
Cleveland Indians 25/1
Los Angeles Angels 25/1
Chicago White Sox 30/1
St. Louis Cardinals 30/1
Philadelphia Phillies 30/1
San Diego Padres 30/1
Boston Red Sox 40/1
Milwaukee Brewers 40/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 60/1
Texas Rangers 80/1
The biggest mover is the Chicago White Sox. They opened as 60/1 favorites to win the World Series, but you can snag the ChiSox right now at 30/1 odds. The Cubs are a popular pick among baseball gamblers, but their crosstown rival has become the newest “niche” pick.
Repeat in DC?
The defending champion, Washington Nationals, are 18/1 odds to repeat as World Series champions.
Typically speaking, it’s nearly impossible to repeat as World Series champs in the modern era. Only six teams won back-to-back titles in the last 60 years, and the Yankees did it thrice. No team has achieved consecutive championships in two decades since the Yankees pulled off a three-peat at the turn of the century.
WORLD SERIES REPEAT WINNERS (Since 1960)
New York Yankees 1961-1962
Oakland A’s (3) 1972-1974
New York Yankees 1977-1978
Toronto Blue Jays 1992-1993
New York Yankees (3) 1998-2000
However, we’re living in strange times. With a 60-game season, almost anything can happen versus a grueling 162-game slog. The delayed start could benefit dead-armed pitchers on the Nats, like aging superstar Max Scherzer.
Yankees vs Dodgers World Series?
The Dodgers had the best record in baseball last season. They were seeking their third-straight trip to the World Series, but were upset in the NLDS by the Washington Nationals in five games. The Nats went on to win the World Series after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in a stunning seven-game series in the NLCS.
The Dodgers pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox in the offseason to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price. However, Price opted out of the season.
The Dodgers lost in the World Series in back-to-back years against the Houston Astros in 2017 and the Boston Red Sox in 2018. Both championship teams were accused of cheating. The Dodgers, particularly Cody Bellinger, are still wicked pissed that they didn’t get a fair shake at the championship.
The Yankees were knocked off by the Houston Astros in six games in the ALCS. At this juncture, everyone who has seen Jomboy’s viral videos knows the Astros were up to their cheating shenanigans, so their appearance in the World Series has now been tainted.
The Yankees were eliminated from the postseason twice in the last three seasons at the hands of the cheating Astros. The Bronx Bombers are more focused than ever to win the championship this season, even with the added obstacle of a pandemic. The Yanks also added ace Gerrit Cole to the rotation to fill in for CC Sabathia, who retired at the end of last season.
The Yankees and Dodgers have been flip-flopping back and forth as favorites during the offseason. You can currently find the Yankees at 4/1 odds to win the championship, while the Dodgers are slightly better at 7/2 odds.
The Long Shots
Nine teams have triple-digit odds to win the championship. Oddsmakers gave six teams the kiss of death at 300/1 odds.
Everyone loves an underdog, but are there any live dogs this season? If there’s ever a chance to take a flier on a “dog with fleas,” then it’s right now during the pandemic-shortened 60-game season.
2020 WORLD SERIES ODDS LONG SHOTS
Toronto Blue Jays 100/1
Colorado Rockies 100/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 200/1
San Francisco Giants 300/1
Miami Marlins 300/1
Seattle Mariners 300/1
Baltimore Orioles 300/1
Detroit Tigers 300/1
Kansas City Royals 300/1
The Blue Jays are refugees this season. The Canadian government denied the MLB to operate games in Canada due to the uncontrollable outbreak in the US. The team is scrambling to find a suitable alternative and is looking to share a stadium with the Pittsburgh Pirates, or use Buffalo’s AAA ballpark. Sometimes crazy circumstances bring a team together, which is why out of all the long shots, the Blue Jays could be worthy of a flier.
