Chris Boline
While the regular season for Major League Baseball doesn’t even get started until Thursday, that doesn’t mean that people aren’t already thinking about the postseason arriving. Before you know it, September will be here and there will be squads ready to chase their World Series dreams. Leading up to Thursday’s Opening Day, the Dodgers hold the top MLB odds to make the playoffs in 2023.
This is confusing since they don’t have the top World Series betting odds, right? Not really. What helps the Dodgers here is that they feel like locks to win the NL West this season. While the Giants and Padres will hope to prevent that from happening, we think it would be a complete and total shock if that were to happen. Not only do the Dodgers have a great lineup, but their starting rotation is one of the best in the bigs.
| Odds to make playoffs |  |  |  |  |
| Dodgers | -850 | -850 | -850 | -850 |
| Astros | -750 | -750 | -750 | -750 |
| Braves | -650 | -650 | -650 | -650 |
| Yankees | -450 | -450 | -450 | -450 |
Just how good is their rotation? Normally when you have someone like Clayton Kershaw available, you’ll send him out to open the season for you. Well, Julio Urias is ready to take the bump for the Dodgers on Thursday against the Diamondbacks. LA is considered the heavy favorite to win that game. Not only that, but this team has what it takes to potentially win it all in 2023 too.
According to the best-rated sportsbooks, which includes the reliable Bovada review, the Dodgers hold -850 MLB betting odds to make the postseason. This is indeed No. 1 for all MLB teams out there. It would be one of the biggest shockers for them to not grab a postseason spot in the National League. If you feel like putting money down on LA to make the playoffs, do so with confidence. We’re picking them to get that job done for sure.
Two days until #OpeningDayLA. pic.twitter.com/3PEjP1toU9
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 28, 2023
The Seattle Mariners are hoping to get back to the playoffs as well
Over in the American League, the Seattle Mariners are hoping to get back to the playoffs as well. It was a 2022 season to remember for the Mariners, as they were able to end their long drought. Before last fall, the Mariners hadn’t been to the playoffs since the 2001 campaign. That year, they won a mind-blowing 116 games, but they ended up having their season end thanks to a postseason loss to the Yankees.
In 2022, the Mariners managed to get back to the playoffs via an AL Wild Card spot. In the Wild Card Round, the Mariners took care of business against the Toronto Blue Jays, which not a lot of people were expecting to see. However, the Mariners lost to the Astros in the ALDS. Looking ahead to this season, Julio Rodriguez, Luis Castillo and others will be ready to try and step up for manager Scott Servais.
Seattle, buckle up.
We’re just getting started. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/ELalDM6yIE
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 28, 2023
“I know that there are going to be a lot of people watching me and what I do,” Rodriguez said in an interview with the Seattle Times. “But at the end of the day, I’m going to keep being me. I’m going to keep trying to improve every day. I’m going to keep doing the right thing. If they are going to see me as the face of the franchise, I’m going to make sure I give a good example, keep raising the bar, keep helping people out, keep getting better. That’s how we can win by everybody getting better.”
It goes without saying, but Rodriguez has pressure on him this year, but he’ll be ready to put on a show for Seattle. Per the oddsmakers, the Mariners hold -110 odds to make the playoffs. While we don’t think Seattle will be able to top the Astros for the AL West crown, we do think that the Mariners can get back into the playoffs via the Wild Card. We’re picking the Mariners to make the postseason for the second consecutive year.
The Yankees feel like locks to make the playoffs
Looking at the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees feel like locks to make the playoffs this year. With the Yankees widely expected to win the AL East, that will punch their ticket to the postseason – and they’re hoping to win the Fall Classic too. Not only do the Yankees have strong postseason odds, but their World Series betting odds are looking sharp too. The Yankees hold +750 odds to win the title.
They’re also at -450 to make the playoffs, which tells you how confident the Las Vegas sportsbooks are that Aaron Boone’s men will make that happen. What’s concerning for the Yankees is they’re already dealing with some injuries. Star left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon will miss the first month of the season, which no one was expecting. Gerrit Cole will have to lead the rotation while Rodon is out.
However, this team still has huge expectations thanks to its brilliant offense, which features Gleyber Torres, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and more. People can’t wait to see what the Yankees are able to get done in the regular season. Then after that, look for them to make noise in the playoffs as well.
