As the 2024 Major League Baseball season reaches its midpoint, and the all star break is right around the corner, the competition is heating up. And with that, several teams have emerged as strong contenders for the World Series. With stellar records, star-filled lineups, and strong performances at clutch moments, these six teams are leading the pack.
Here's a look at the teams with the best odds to win the World Series and why we think the odds get it right or not.
Current Odds: +310
The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a stellar season, sitting comfortably at the top of the NL West with a record of 52-33. Their balanced approach in both offense and pitching has made them one of the strongest contenders for the ring. The Dodgers boast a team batting average of .257, ranking third in MLB, and have hit 102 HRs to date, also third in the league. With their offense powered by key players like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts, we can’t argue the Dodgers have the best bats in the league.
Ohtani, a two-way sensation that is only being used one-way this season, leads the team with a .318 batting average, 21 home runs, and 53 RBIs, alongside 16 stolen bases. Freeman and Betts are also fairly consistent, with Freeman batting .301 and Betts at .304. Will Smith adds a little bit to the lineup with his .276 average and 11 home runs.
On the mound, the Dodgers have a team ERA of 3.40, ranking fourth in MLB. Tyler Glasnow leads the pitching staff. He only adds to a rotation that keeps opposing offenses in check.
The Dodgers' combination of power-hitting and reliable pitching makes them well-deserving of the top spot for the odds with a +310. Might want to take these odds while you can because we think it’ll only go lower from here. Teams with a good mix of batting and pitching tend to go deep in the playoffs.
Current Odds: +475
The New York Yankees, with a record of 54-32, are second in the AL East. Their team ERA of 3.49 ranks fourth in the AL, and they have a team batting average of .254. That’s a decent combination and a combo that teams need if they want to go deep into the playoffs. The Yankees' offense has been productive, ranking fourth in home runs in the AL.
Players making the biggest impact include Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Gerrit Cole. Soto has been a significant addition, making an impact in the lineup with his .303 average. Judge, despite a slow start, got back on the saddle and has a .316 average with a whopping 31 dingers on the season. The pitching rotation, even without Cole, has performed beyond expectations. Fortunately, they had Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman stepping up.
The Yankees' ability to perform at a high level, even with injuries and slow starts from key players, positions them as one of the better contenders for the World Series despite being second in their division.
The bookmakers putting the Yankees over the Orioles despite the Orioles holding the #1 spot in the AL East is odd but expected. These teams are neck and neck but the Yankees have had more challenges so far. They’ve done this well and just got Garrett Cole back.
Current Odds: +550
The Philadelphia Phillies are leading the NL East with a record of 55-29, demonstrating the best balance from all of the teams on our list. Their key players, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber, have been extremely important in their success. Harper is crushing it with a batting average of .303 and is a home run threat with 20 homers. Turner and Schwarber provide even more power and speed, with Turner batting .332 and Schwarber hitting 17 home runs. Everyone is pulling their weight.
While the bats seem hot, their pitching is unmatched. As a team, they lead the league in ERA with a 3.08 and 2nd with WHIP with a 1.12. That’s what you get when you have Ranger Suarez, Aaron Nola, and Zack Wheeler in the rotation. Other teams just can’t catch a break.
With their commanding lead in the division and consistent performance, the Phillies are already positioned for a strong postseason run. The odds of +550 might be a bit low for the Fightin’ Phils.
Current Odds: +800
The Baltimore Orioles have been a revelation this season. With a record of 53-31, they’re sitting in first place in the AL East. Their offensive stats are impressive. The Orioles are leading MLB in runs scored (438), slugging percentage (.462), and home runs (139). They’re absolutely dominating at the plate.
Gunnar Henderson has been the biggest contributor, leading the team with 26 HR and 58 RBI. He’s on pace for a 56 home run season. Anthony Santander, Adley Rutschman, and Jordan Westburg add to the offensive strength as well, and they’re not far behind Henderson in some of the stat areas. The Orioles have seven players with at least 10 home runs, showcasing all of their bats.
Their pitching has also been solid, ranking 3rd in ERA and 4th in WHIP. Additions like Craig Kimbrel and Corbin Burnes have bolstered their staff. Although the pitching staff isn’t as good as the Phillies, it’s still one of the best in the AL.
Like the Phillies, we think the +800 odds might be a bit low. This is a well-rounded team that dominates on the mound and the batters box. We’d like to see them closer to the +500 mark.
Current Odds: +800
The Atlanta Braves, with a record of 46-36, are second in the NL East. Their offensive firepower isn’t as good as we’d expect it to be with names like Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley. Ozuna is having an MVP-caliber season, batting .300 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI. Overall, the offense is great but needs to be better if this is going to be a team that wants to win the World Series. They’re currently 15th in batting average (.243), 17th in runs (354), and 17th in OBP (.308).
The Braves' pitching, with a team ERA of 3.50, has been solid despite a few injuries. Chris Sale has been holding up the rotation with his 10 wins, 2.79 ERA, and 118 Ks on the season. But the rest of the field (i.e., Max Fried, Reynaldo Lopez, etc.) aren’t doing too bad, considering the Braves are 4th in ERA with a 3.5 and 7th in WHIP with a 1.20.
These odds might be a bit too good for the Braves. The bookmakers have them at +800 which is on par with the Orioles which are definitely a well-rounded team. The Braves aren’t.
Current Odds: +1200
The Cleveland Guardians lead the AL Central with a record of 52-30. While this is a team that doesn’t necessarily lead the league in any stat, we have to give them credit because they’re in the extremely competitive AL. So, that has to be worth something. They have a team ERA of 3.60 which is 7th in the MLB and they have 407 runs which is 6th overall. That’s the best they have. Other major stats have the Guardians in the middle of the road.
That’s not to say they don’t have some power players in the lineup. Jose Ramirez leads the team with his .280 average, 23 HRs, and 76 RBIs, but Josh Naylor and Andres Gimenez are close on his tail. The SPs include Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee which are doing their part, but still not the best. For example, Allen has a 5.75 ERA and Bibee has a team-best 3.47.
The Guardians will need to do better than this to stay in the running. I know I said they’re in a competitive league, but only 1 team from the AL can make it to the World Series so we’re thinking the +1200 might be a bit high for the Guardians to make it that far.
Our bet is the Philadelphia Phillies. We think they’re totally underrated even though they have the 3rd best odds by the bookmakers. They have the most well-rounded team in the league and everyone on the roster is firing on all cylinders. They’re the team to beat in 2024 and we don’t think anyone else can do it. Sure, the Yankees are just above them in the rankings, but they’re working through problems and haven’t had the smooth sailing that the Phils have had.
Unless something else drastically changes, the Phillies are ready to get back in it after their NLCS loss last year.