The conclusion of the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday marked the beginning of the business half of the 2024 MLB campaign, and the real race for the World Series is underway. Below are odds to win the championship along with some 2024 MLB World Series predictions:
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2024 MLB World Series odds, preview & picks: Dodgers World Series odds & more for second half
The Los Angeles Dodgers began the season as heavy World Series favorites and through the unofficial first half of the season, they are 15 games over .500, in first place in the NL West and remain favored to win the World Series (+333 at BetMGM).
They don't, however, have the best record in baseball. That distinction goes to the Philadelphia Phillies (+450 at BetMGM), the team that is second on the odds board and commanding the NL East over Atlanta, which has been forced to deal with losing Ronald Acuna Jr. for the season.
As we move down the board, the preseason AL favorite New York Yankees are +550 and AL East rival Baltimore Orioles are close behind at +600 (up to +800 at some sites) before we get to Atlanta at +900.
The second tier of challengers is headlined by the Cleveland Guardians (+1600), who surprisingly produced the best record in the American League during the first half of the year. They’re also joined in the second tier by the Minnesota Twins (+1600) and Houston Astros (+1600).
The Seattle Mariners (+2000) and Milwaukee Brewers (+2500) are the last teams within close contact of the favorites before a drop-off separates the rest of the league.
First things first, the Phils need to stay healthy. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber recently missed time but are both back in the lineup with no restrictions.
Philly was red-hot to start the year and still hasn’t cooled down much, even if it isn’t winning at the same historic rate. The team ranks second in combined ERA (3.41) and fourth in runs, giving them an obvious advantage most times they step onto the diamond. They also have clutch players and MVP performers, such as the aforementioned Harper, who have a proven ability to perform in the playoffs.
The Phils made the World Series in 2022 and the NLCS in 2023. The proof of concept is there for them to go on a postseason run, and like the Orioles, they will have a fire in their belly as they look to win their first World Series since 2008.
The Orioles do everything well in spite of their age. Their biggest selling point is their explosive offense, along with their employment of Corbin Burnes and Craig Kimbrel, both of which will be crucial when the postseason arrives.
The concern for Baltimore is that they’re only 14th overall in both on-base percentage and bullpen ERA. They’ll need to win within the margins if they can’t blow teams out, though their strong starting rotation (3.63 ERA - seventh) and power bats give them a chance to do just that.
The Orioles fell 0-3 to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers last year. That experience will be great for a team that depends on lots of young players. Baltimore's price ranges from around +600 to +800 at some online sportsbooks, so shop around for the best price.
With six teams in front of them, Houston indeed qualifies as a long shot at this stage. Astros were terrible at the start of the year and are only four games above .500. At the same time, they won 17 of their final 23 games before the All-Star break and have the personnel to continue a similar level of play.
Houston’s starting rotation of pitchers has been an issue, as they rank just 19th in starting ERA. However, they have dealt with injuries and should get much better when healthy. Their bullpen is also a passable 12th in ERA.
The ‘Stros have no shortage of home run hitters, whether it be Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Jose Altuve or another member of their lineup. They’ll need to streak into the playoffs but also have lots of experience as a group and will be a tough out.
Once they acquired Shohei Ohtani, there was no question about which MLB team would be favored to win the World Series. To this point, Los Angeles remains atop the odds board with a seven-game lead in the NL West over Arizona and San Diego despite losing Mookie Betts (hand) for an extended period of time. Ohani is hitting over .300 with 29 homers at the break and Los Angeles is fourth in MLB with 4.94 runs per game.
After adding Juan Soto to a lineup that already features Aaron Judge, the AL favorites began the season at +1100 to win the World Series. While the Yankees are within striking distance of the AL East, their struggles since the beginning of June are well documented. Aside from Soto and Judge, much of the team has scuffled and ace Gerritt Cole has yet to find his All-Star form. All that said, the Yankees are 18 games over .500 and safely in playoff position. New York still scores the most runs per game in the league at 4.98.
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Grant is a Virginia-based writer for Catena Media who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 with a degree in sports media & analytics. He has contributed to well-known publications such as Forbes, and appeared on the VSiN TV network.
