At the beginning of the week, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain the top baseball betting odds favorite to win the 2024 World Series. Following Los Angeles in esteem with gamblers are the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. But as gamblers know, with three wild card teams and a total of 12 clubs making the postseason, the path is more challenging than ever. Consider that the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins are showing well in the American League wild-card race. The Royals and Twins could still challenge for the AL West crown.
World Series Championship SBG Odds:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +300 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +600 |
| New York Yankees | +550 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +650 |
| Houston Astros | +1300 |
| Atlanta Braves | +1200 |
| Minnesota Twins | +2000 |
| San Diego Padres | +1500 |
| Cleveland Guardians | +1800 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +1200 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +1300 |
| Kansas City Royals | +2000 |
| All other teams | +4000 or higher |
Kansas City Royals Continue to Surprise
At the onset of the season, the Kansas City Royals were largely ignored on the offshore betting future market. However, the Royals hold an American League wild-card spot and are only two games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. Late on, Kansas City got the cash in seven of its most recent seven games. The Royals rank 6th for run production and 10th for earned run average. KC ranks 3rd for quality starts. Of great concern is a bullpen that ranks 26th.
Namely, Bobby Witt Jr is the man to watch for Kansas City. Witt has emerged as the key MLB odds asset for the Royals. So far this season, Witt has 110 runs, 37 doubles, 11 triples, 25 home runs, 92 runs batted in, and a 1.001 OPS. Salvador Perez adds 23 doubles, 23 home runs, 88 runs batted in, and a .803 OPS. Meanwhile, the starting rotation of Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Cole Ragans, and Brady Singer has earned run averages under 3.40.
Cleveland Guardians Slowing Down
The Cleveland Guardians have led the American League Central for almost all season. At one time, Cleveland looked like it would run away and hide. Now, the Guardians are feeling the charge of Kansas City and Minnesota. Of major concern is that the Guardians starting pitchers rank 29th for quality starts. Cleveland has been saved by a bullpen that ranks 1st in MLB.
Jose Ramirez is feeling the burden of carrying a mediocre lineup that is not consistently producing runs. To show, Ramirez has 94 runs, 27 doubles, 33 home runs, 102 runs batted in, and a .865 OPS.
Twin Killings
Minnesota is tied with Kanas City in the American League wild-card race. Minnesota got the cash in six of its most recent ten games. Overall, the Twins rank 7th for run production but 18th for earned run average. The twins continue to get mediocre production from a bullpen ranked 14th in MLB.
Dodgers Feeling Heat
The Los Angeles Dodgers are in first place in the National League West. However, the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks are challenging them. Despite their status, the Dodgers continue to be in the red vs. the linemakers. They have a problem with starting pitching that could prove fatal. To illuminate, Los Angeles ranks 17th for quality starts. In turn, the return of Mookie Betts to the lineup has sparked a resurgence for LA. The Dodgers saw the payout window in six of their last seven games.