Steve Starr
- The Dodgers (+375) and Yankees (+475) remain heavy World Series favorites
- Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres (+1800) are 18-12 through the season’s first half
- The Cardinals (+4000) have only played 17 games after an early-year COVID outbreak decimated their team
Well, that was quick. While endless months of player-owner negotiations felt like an eternity, the first half of the Major League Baseball season went by in the blink of an eye.
Keep in mind that the playoffs have been expanded from the usual 10 teams to 16 and will include every division’s first- and second-place teams, along with two extra wild cards from each league.
Let’s look at the updated World Series odds and provide some best bets and longshots.
2020 WORLD SERIES ODDS
| MLB Team | Odds |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +375 |
| New York Yankees | +475 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +1000 |
| Minnesota Twins | +1200 |
| Houston Astros | +1400 |
| Oakland Athletics | +1400 |
| Atlanta Braves | +1600 |
| Chicago Cubs | +1800 |
| Chicago White Sox | +1800 |
| San Diego Padres | +1800 |
| Cleveland Indians | +2000 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +3300 |
| New York Mets | +3300 |
| Washington Nationals | +3300 |
| Colorado Rockies | +4000 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +4000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +5000 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +5000 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +5000 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +10000 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +12500 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +12500 |
| Miami Marlins | +12500 |
| Texas Rangers | +12500 |
| San Francisco Giants | +15000 |
| Detroit Tigers | +20000 |
| Boston Red Sox | +25000 |
| Kansas City Royals | +40000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +50000 |
| Seattle Mariners | +50000 |
DODGERS AND YANKEES FAVORED
While there was a lot of talk that a short season could produce unpredictable results, the Dodgers (+375) are every bit as dominant as everyone expected.
Winners of 11 of their past 12, Los Angeles is the only MLB team with a winning percentage of .700 or better. Mookie Betts is playing like an MVP and last year’s NL MVP Cody Bellinger is finally heating up after a slow start, smashing six homers in his past ten games.
Cody Bellinger called game then hit a shrug ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/x96yvjiahk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 23, 2020
The Yankees (+475) remain the heavy favorite in the American League despite getting swept by the first-place Rays last week. Like last year, the Bronx Bombers are running into serious injury trouble of late, however, Aaron Judge is expected to return on Tuesday and they might have another star in Luke Volt, who has 10 dingers through 25 games.
CONTENDERS EMERGING FROM PACK
Over in the AL, Tampa Bay (+1000) has won 13 of their past 15 games despite getting hit by the injury bug. Both the Twins (+1200) and A’s (+1400) are leading their respective divisions, and the cheating Astros (+1400) are playing near .500 (15-13) baseball.
One of our preseason best bets to win the AL CY Young at +1200, Indians starter Shane Bieber is 5-0 with a 1.11 ERA and 65 strikeouts. Pitching like that makes a Cleveland World Series bet intriguing at +2000.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is on a SPECIAL run 🤯
11 HR (1st in MLB)
28 RBI (1st in MLB)
23 R (1st in MLB)
6 SB (tied for 1st in MLB) pic.twitter.com/jKkGBCFGkR— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 19, 2020
Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres (+1800) have been the best story in the National League to date. Leading the majors with 12 home runs and 29 RBI, the 21-year-old is pacing a San Diego offense that’s scored 163 runs through Sunday (second-best in the majors).
The Cardinals (+4000) could be a value after having 19 of their games postponed following a COVID outbreak. With the Brewers and Reds both four games under .500, the NL Central’s second playoff spot is wide open for a St. Louis team that has played only 17 games (9-8).
