Buy or Sell Every MLB Postseason Contender as 2025 World Series Threat
Twelve teams are going to make the Major League Baseball postseason, but even in a year without an overwhelming World Series favorite, not every club that participates in October will be a real threat to reach and win the Fall Classic.
We've taken the 15 teams that could realistically still make the postseason—if they haven't already clinched a spot—and evaluated whether they could truly make a pennant run.
Let's play buy or sell.
Toronto Blue Jays: Buy
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With the Blue Jays on track to win the AL East and clinch the No. 1 seed in the American League—which would come with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AL postseason—they have to be a team you buy.
However, there are a few things that need to happen for them to return to and win the World Series for the first time since 1993.
First of all, they need to get MLB hits leader Bo Bichette back from a left knee sprain that has sidelined him since Sept. 7.
Secondly, they need the version of Jeff Hoffman who posted a 2.28 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies between 2023 and 2024 to re-emerge, as opposed to the one with a 4.50 ERA as Toronto's closer this year.
Those two are the most important, but it wouldn't hurt if the recently activated Anthony Santander looks anything like the guy who hit 44 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles last season.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +900
Detroit Tigers: Sell
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Even if the Tigers hold off the Cleveland Guardians and win the AL Central, or they sneak into the postseason as a wild-card team, it's hard to see a scenario in which they make a deep run after a disastrous second half.
Yes, they have Tarik Skubal—who is likely to win a second-straight AL Cy Young Award—at the top of their rotation. But the margin for error with him is almost non-existent, because behind Skubal you have Jack Flaherty (4.60 ERA in 30 starts this season) and Casey Mize (5.17 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break).
Additionally, the duo of Javier Báez and Gleyber Torres—who were both All-Stars—have struggled since the Midsummer Classic. The former has hit .205 with a .501 OPS in the second half. The latter hasn't been quite that bad, but his .684 OPS since the All-Star break pales in comparison to the .812 mark he had in the first half.
For all the magic Detroit had this time a year ago, A.J. Hinch's club is just hoping to limp into the playoffs. That doesn't feel like a recipe for a parade.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +2000
Cleveland Guardians: Sell
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For the Guardians to even be in this position—they have a negative run differential and have long since lost star closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz to an MLB gambling probe—is remarkable.
There's a strong case to be made that Stephen Vogt should repeat as AL Manager of the Year.
Still, it is fair to question if the Guards have enough horses to make a second deep playoff run in a row.
José Ramírez is a future Hall of Famer, but he's the only regular position player on the team with an OPS above .775. Imagine if Cleveland had held onto Josh Naylor for his contract year, rather than trading him to the Arizona Diamondbacks after an ALCS appearance.
In the starting rotation, Gavin Williams has had a strong season (12-5, 3.06 ERA), but between a down year for Tanner Bibee (4.34 ERA in 30 starts) and a lack of depth, it's hard to see this rotation winning multiple series in October.
While it eventually ran out of gas, the Guardians had an all-time great bullpen a season ago. There's still a lot to like about the trio of Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Jakob Junis, but Tim Herrin hasn't replicated his career year and it's unclear if Clase will ever pitch in the majors again.
Again, if the Guardians even make it into the postseason, their year will be considered a success. And who knows, they may be hot at the perfect time to make a run. But a lack of World Series talent usually catches up to you eventually.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +4000
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New York Yankees: Buy
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In a deeper year for the AL, we might have sold the Yankees. There are questions about the depth of the starting rotation Aaron Boone has at his disposal, and while the bullpen boasts several big names, some have been erratic in 2025.
At the same time, this is still going to be one of the scarier lineups in the postseason. Aaron Judge could win his third AL MVP in four seasons. Cody Bellinger is going to drive in 100 runs in his first season with the Yankees. Giancarlo Stanton has hit at an MVP level since making his season debut in mid-June. Jazz Chisholm has hit 30-plus home runs in his first full season in pinstripes.
Additionally, while you might be concerned about what Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler or Will Warren would provide behind them, Max Fried (18-5, 2.92 ERA) and Carlos Rodón (17-9, 3.04 ERA) are one of baseball's best one-two punches.
Some combination of Luke Weaver, Devin Williams and Camilo Doval is going to have to pitch better in the postseason for the Yankees to have a strong enough bullpen, but you don't have to squint too hard to imagine New York competing for a second World Series trip in a row.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +700
Seattle Mariners: Buy
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If you want to talk about a team that seems to be peaking at the right time, Dan Wilson's Mariners won 15 of their first 20 games in September to take control of the AL West.
Led by AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh and his 58 home runs, the Mariners have their best lineup in a generation, particularly if Eugenio Suárez goes on a tear. Josh Naylor has been a great deadline pickup by president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, while Julio Rodríguez has a .901 OPS since the All-Star break.
While it's concerning that All-Star righty Bryan Woo is dealing with pectoral tightness, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo give the team enough starting pitching to withstand a loss if Woo is gone for part or all of the playoffs.
Led by Andrés Muñoz, Seattle also has a bullpen capable of taking down high-leverage playoff innings, with Eduard Bazardo, Gabe Speier and Matt Brash crucial in getting the ball from the starter to the closer.
Seattle has never played in a World Series. There's no reason that couldn't change over the next month.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +475
Boston Red Sox: Buy
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The Red Sox might be a year away from being a true World Series contender, but the talent on their roster makes them hard to deny in such a wide-open year.
Even with star rookie Roman Anthony unlikely to be ready for the start of the postseason as he recovers from a left oblique strain, manager Alex Cora still has a lineup that includes Alex Bregman, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and a resurgent Trevor Story.
Ace Garrett Crochet is one of the top-five pitchers in baseball, while Brayan Bello (3.34 ERA across 161.2 innings) and Lucas Giolito (3.41 ERA over 26 starts) are capable options behind him.
Perhaps the biggest weapon at Cora's disposal is closer Aroldis Chapman, who in his age-37 season has been as dominant as ever. While Chapman does have some notable playoff blowups in his career, he'll enter October with 32 saves and a minuscule 1.19 ERA to show for 66 games this season.
If Anthony was healthy, it would be a bit easier to see the Red Sox making a World Series run. But there's enough here that if you have to say yay or nay on whether they could reach the World Series, it's a definite yay.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +2500
Houston Astros: Sell
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With Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Framber Valdez and others, the Astros have a wealth of postseason experience on their roster. But that just doesn't feel like enough to carry them, given they are 28-33 since the All-Star break.
In theory, Valdez and Hunter Brown should give manager Joe Espada a strong duo at the top of his postseason rotation. But in addition to questions about the No. 3 starter behind those two, Valdez has a 5.63 ERA since the break.
At one point this year, it felt like the Astros had as good a bullpen as anyone. Bryan Abreu, Bryan King and Steven Okert are still a strong trio, but the losses of Josh Hader (left shoulder sprain) and Bennett Sousa (elbow inflammation) could loom large, especially with questions in the starting rotation.
Add in that it's unclear if Yordan Alvarez (left ankle sprain) will be back in time for the postseason–assuming Houston even gets there—and the vibes aren't great as the season winds down.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +3500
Philadelphia Phillies: Buy
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With Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez, J.T. Realmuto, and Harrison Bader scheduled to become free agents after this season—and the rest of the roster aging—this might be the last, best chance for this group of Phillies to get over the hump and win a World Series.
The good news for Rob Thomson's squad is they will enter October as one of the favorites.
Even with Zack Wheeler lost for the season, the Phillies have a strong rotation trio with Cristopher Sánchez, Suárez and Jesús Luzardo. Though it's gotten some questionable results of late, a bullpen led by Jhoan Duran, David Robertson, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering has a chance to be a really strong unit in the postseason.
Bader has been a great addition to a lineup that already included Bryce Harper and Schwarber, who has clubbed a career-high 54 home runs this season.
Trea Turner was also having his best season as a Phillie (.305 batting average and 6.7 WAR, per FanGraphs) before a right hamstring injury sidelined him earlier this month. He's expected back for the postseason, if not sooner, but it remains to be seen if the speedy shortstop will be at 100 percent.
The Phillies are headed back to the postseason for the fourth year in a row and have won the NL East in consecutive years. But these runs don't last forever, and if they don't get over the hump in 2025 as the current World Series favorites, this era may never do it.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +425
Milwaukee Brewers: Buy
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The Brewers might not have a roster loaded with household names, but they'll enter the postseason with the best overall record and the chance to have home-field advantage through the World Series.
This isn't a lineup with one NL MVP candidate, but with Brice Turang, Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, William Contreras and Isaac Collins, it's a group that has helped to turn in arguably the greatest regular season in franchise history.
Whether it's ace Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.68 ERA) at the top of the rotation or Abner Uribe (1.72 ERA in 73 games), Pat Murphy has some gifted pitchers at his disposal.
However, if there's anything that threatens to send the Brewers home early in the postseason, it's the struggles they've had recently with keeping their arms healthy.
Reliever Shelby Miller is out for the season with a right UCL sprain, while Trevor Megill (right flexor strain), Brandon Woodruff (right lat muscle strain) and Jose Quintana (left calf strain) are all on the injured list.
However, the hallmark of the Pat Murphy Era Brewers has been their ability to keep moving forward despite losses. We're not going to bet against them winning their first World Series this October, despite some concerns.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +750
New York Mets: Sell
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Even with a lineup led by Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso, the Mets are trying to stave off one of the biggest collapses in franchise history.
Why have the Mets gone 19-29 since the start of August? Well, their veteran pitching has completely failed them.
- Since being selected to his first All-Star team, David Peterson has had a 6.34 ERA over 12 starts.
- Sean Manaea has just never gotten going this season, as the lefty has a 5.59 ERA over 58 innings in the first campaign of a three-year, $75 million deal.
- Kodai Senga is currently at Triple-A after he posted a 6.56 ERA in his first eight starts of the second half.
- Clay Holmes—predictably in his first year as a starter—has seen second-half regression as the innings have piled up. He has a 4.39 ERA in 55.1 innings since the All-Star break, as opposed to 3.31 over 19 first-half starts.
Rookies Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat have all had some impressive moments early in their careers, but without any reliable veteran starters, the Mets will be lucky to get into the playoffs, let alone do damage if they get there.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +2500
Los Angeles Dodgers: Buy
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Make no mistake, the Dodgers bullpen is a major concern. Tanner Scott has basically been unusable in his first season in Los Angeles, and Blake Treinen has struggled of late as well.
Dave Roberts' bullpen could be what prevents the Dodgers from repeating.
Still, for all the trouble the Dodgers have had with keeping pitchers healthy, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell give them about as good a starting rotation as any team that will be in the postseason.
Additionally, while not impossible, it is difficult to keep a lineup with Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman down. Whether All-Star catcher Will Smith is able to return and be effective after sustaining a hairline fracture in his right hand is going to be a major key for the Dodgers.
Like many of the teams on this list, there's a wide variance of playoff outcomes for the Dodgers. Would it be surprising if the postseason ends with them hoisting the commissioner's trophy for the second season in a row? No. Would it be surprising if they are upset in the NLWCS? Also no.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +550
Chicago Cubs: Sell
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Between an uninspiring trade deadline in terms of pitching additions and their top trio of hitters plummeting in the second half of the season, the Cubs just don't feel like a World Series team right now.
The most concerning trend is that this was a team built around their lineup, and key figures have struggled since the All-Star break:
- Kyle Tucker: After posting an .882 OPS in the first half, Tucker has a .777 OPS since the All-Star break. Not only is he dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, but Tucker is also on the IL with a left calf strain.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: PCA has been one of the worst offensive players in baseball since starting for the NL team in the Midsummer Classic. He is hitting .209 with a .606 OPS in the second half, as opposed to .265 with an .847 OPS in the first half.
- Seiya Suzuki: Suzuki is hitting .200 with a .594 OPS since mid-June. Mind you, he hit .263 with an .867 OPS in the first half.
There were other concerns with the Cubs in the first half, but if their best hitters aren't performing at star levels, you can bet they'll be headed home early this October.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +1500
San Diego Padres: Buy
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Losing Jason Adam to a torn left quad was a blow, but Mike Shildt's club will still have arguably the best bullpen in the postseason with Adrián Morejón, Robert Suarez and Mason Miller.
A lineup that includes Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill also probably isn't one you want to bet against, even if the latter in that trio has had a relatively disappointing sophomore season.
The biggest question is what the Padres will get out of their starting rotation. Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA) has had a tremendous first season in San Diego. But Dylan Cease (4.64 ERA over 163 innings) and Michael King (IL stints with inflammation in right shoulder and left knee) have both had suboptimal contract years, while Yu Darvish (5.51 ERA in 14 starts) has looked every bit his 39 years.
If San Diego can get its starting rotation in order, it's not hard to imagine it making a World Series run. That's a major question, though.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +1300
Arizona Diamondbacks: Sell
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For the Diamondbacks to even be in this position is amazing. It's a testament to the organizational culture manager Torey Lovullo has built.
With that said, while Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo are going to get down-ballot NL MVP support, this is a team that traded away Eugenio Suárez, Josh Naylor and Shelby Miller at the trade deadline. They've also lost ace Corbin Burnes and their top two relievers—Justin Martinez and AJ Puk—to Tommy John surgery.
This isn't meant to rain on the parade of the Diamondbacks, because as they showed in 2023, if you get in, anything is possible. In our estimation, though, there's just not enough on this roster to compete for a World Series.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +30,000
Cincinnati Reds: Sell
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With a starting rotation headlined by Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo, we were tempted to buy the Reds as a dark-horse World Series contender. There's no doubt Terry Francona's starting staff could be dangerous in a short series.
Unfortunately for the Reds, even if they get in, there's just not enough firepower in the lineup. Elly De La Cruz has hit .239 with a .675 OPS since the All-Star break. Matt McLain and Spencer Steer haven't yet developed into the franchise pillars they were expected to be.
This team needs to make a significant investment in a veteran hitter this offseason, whether it be Bregman, Schwarber or someone else. That, coupled with some more seasoning to other key lineup pieces, might allow them to be a real threat in 2026.
DraftKings odds to win World Series: +10,000
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