The Los Angeles Dodgers made the first big splash on the trade market over the all-star break, trading five minor league players for Manny Machado. With this move, the Dodgers have separated from the pack as the favorite to win the National League and aren’t far behind the top three on the betting board on the updated odds to win the World Series.
World Series 2018 odds: Los Angeles Dodgers get a boost on the latest betting futures
The Los Angeles Dodgers are firmly back in the picture on the World Series betting futures at the sportsbooks after trading for Manny Machado last week.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles is going off at +500 to win the World Series at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Last month, the Dodgers were going off at +1500, not far ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks at +1800. But after entering the all-star break on a 10-4 run and then acquiring the best bat on the market, Los Angeles is now at +500, far ahead of the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks (+2500 to win the World Series), San Francisco Giants (+4000) and Colorado Rockies (+4000).
Other teams that hope to make a push in the National League include the Chicago Cubs (+650), Philadelphia Phillies (+1400), Atlanta Braves (+1400), Milwaukee Brewers (+2000), and Washington Nationals (+2500). The Cubs and Dodgers clashed in the NLCS last season, and with the way these two teams are playing, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them there again in 2018.
It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Houston Astros back in the World Series. They’ve got some stout competition in an absolutely brutal American League this season, but they’ve also got the best pitching staff in the game by a wide margin boasting a sub-3.00 Team ERA. At +425 on the 2018 World Series odds, Houston is the team to beat even without making a move at the trade deadline.
To have a chance at becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles since 2000, the Astros will have to get through at least one of the Boston Red Sox (+475) and New York Yankees (+500). The Red Sox became the first team to reach 70 wins in 2018 with only 31 losses, and both they and the Yankees are on pace to go over 105 wins each. Trade deadline rumors suggest that New York is in the market for a starting pitcher.
The Cleveland Indians (+1400), Seattle Mariners (+2500) and Oakland A’s (+4000) are all having nice seasons but will have a tough time breaking through in the crowded American League.
2018 World Series Odds
Houston Astros +425
Boston Red Sox +475
New York Yankees +500
Los Angeles Dodgers +500
Chicago Cubs +650
Cleveland Indians +1400
Atlanta Braves +1400
Philadelphia Phillies +1400
Milwaukee Brewers +2000
Arizona Diamondbacks +2500
Washington Nationals +2500
Seattle Mariners +2500
San Francisco Giants +4000
Oakland Athletics +4000
Colorado Rockies +4000
For more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news check out the OddsShark podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes or listen to it at OddsShark.libsyn.com.
