The World Series odds are no joke this year. And while the sweet heat of summer is almost in full swing, a more sinister hunt to rule MLB is ramping up. There are lots of contenders in 2024, too.

Thanks to a glorious offseason that saw the Dodgers sign Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles is favored in the World Series odds. But the Dodgers' title odds are in jeopardy, as the Yankees, Phillies, and Orioles aren't far behind.

Who Is Favored To Win The 2024 World Series?

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Why The Dodgers Hold Top Spot In World Series Odds

Shohei. Ohtani. There's your answer. The Dodgers were already a contender for the '24 World Series, then they signed Ohtani, the most coveted free agent in MLB history. The sportsbooks loved that (shocker!), and the Dodgers are favored.

Ohtani has done nothing but rake in his first half season with the Dodgers, currently carrying the chalk spot in the NL MVP odds. That said, there's some trouble brewing in L.A. In a single week, Los Angeles lost both Mookie Betts (broken hand) and Yamamoto (shoulder strain) to significant injuries. 

The Dodgers are still guaranteed World Series contenders with a mighty order and rotation backed by Tyler Glasnow. The gap just isn't as wide.

Yankees Dominating the AL

The tandem of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto has been outrageously successful as we inch closer to the MLB All-Star break. Judge is the odds-on favorite to win AL MVP, while Soto remains productive after a brief injury scare.

And if that wasn't enough, the Yankees are pitching better than all but one MLB team (Phillies). As of June 24, New York's team 3.11 ERA ranks second in baseball. Clay Holmes is a superstar closer, but the rotation has been even better. Gerrit Cole is back in the mix, while rookie sensation Luis Gil has provided the Yanks with five legitimate starting options.

2024 World Series Value Bets

Baltimore Orioles: It's All Coming Together

The O's put everyone on notice with a 101-win season in 2023. Unfortunately, Baltimore contrasted that with an immediate playoff sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers.

The Dirty Birds returned to the drawing board and armed themselves with some added firepower for 2024. Former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes joined the squad to great success (2.35 ERA), while Gunnar Henderson has ascended into a potential 50-homer MVP candidate.

Regulars Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, and Anthony Santander are joined by Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg, who has been fantastic in his first full season. Baltimore is very scary, and a few deadline additions could shoot them up the World Series odds board.

Cleveland Guardians: How Much Do You Believe?

Through June, it's getting harder and harder to deny the Guardians' talent. Steven Kwan is hitting like Tony Gwynn, while Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor provide the necessary thump to drive him in.

While Cleveland's rotation recovered nicely from Shane Bieber's season-ending injury, the club's bullpen has been the best in baseball, with closer Emmanuel Clase poised to lead the AL in saves for a third straight season. 

Betting Strategy for World Series Futures

Evidence suggests waiting before placing World Series futures bets, but if you are keen on a pre-season wager, don't go with the chalk. In the last 10 seasons, only two pre-season favorites (the 2020 Dodgers and 2016 Cubs) have gone on to win the championship.

A middle-of-the-pack sweet spot has formed over the last decade or so. Four clubs (the 2017 Astros, the 2018 Red Sox, the 2021 Braves, and the 2022 Astros) all began their respective seasons with World Series odds between +1000 and +1200. I'd turn to those ranges for a pre-season bet in 2024.

Last 10 World Series Champions

The biggest long shot to win the World Series in the last decade was the 2015 Kansas City Royals. The '23 Rangers weren't far behind either, with +3200 odds to win the championship.

The Royals were coming off a season in which they dominated all the way to the World Series (not losing a single playoff game on the AL side of the bracket) and then pushed the eventual champion Giants to seven games for the title. However, they weren’t getting much respect in preseason odds the next year as KC’s +3300 Opening Day odds to win the title placed the team 17th on the board at the time.

MLB Teams with the Most World Series Titles

The New York Yankees have won the most World Series in MLB history. However, it's been a while since the Bronx Bombers added to their total. The Yankees last won a World Series in 2009, defeating the Phillies in six games.

MLB Teams That Have Never Won a World Series

Five MLB franchises have yet to win a World Series. The Seattle Mariners are the only team that’s never even been to a World Series final despite having some of the league’s best-ever players like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and Ichiro Suzuki.

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