2018 World Series Odds: Astros, Dodgers Favored in Latest AL, NL Lines
July 19, 2018
On the heels of the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, the Houston Astros are favored to repeat as World Series champions.
Per OddsShark, the Astros are the World Series favorites at +410 (41-10), while the Los Angeles Dodgers are the top choice in the National League at +850 (17-2):
Ahead of the Dodgers in overall odds to win the World Series are the Boston Red Sox at +465 (93-20) and New York Yankees at +535 (107-20).
The odds favor a rematch of last season's World Series, which saw the Astros beat the Dodgers in seven games for the first championship in franchise history.
At 64-35, the Astros have the third-best record in the American League and Major League Baseball as a whole behind the Red Sox and Yankees.
They are arguably the most balanced team in baseball, though, with a lineup spearheaded by the likes of Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and George Springer, as well as a dominant starting rotation bolstered by Justin Verlander, Charlie Morton, Gerrit Cole and Dallas Keuchel.
The Dodgers got off to a rough start this season, but they are on a roll as of late and lead the NL West by a half-game over the Arizona Diamondbacks at 53-43.
L.A. made a power move Wednesday by acquiring All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles for five prospects.
Machado is hitting .315 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI, and he will join an already potent Dodgers lineup.
After the Dodgers, the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs are the second choice in the National League at +950 (19-2).
Although the NL is weak this season, the Cubbies own the league's best record at 55-38, and they lead the Milwaukee Brewers by 2.5 games atop the NL Central.
Despite owning a 58-39 record and holding the second wild-card spot in the AL, the Seattle Mariners have the worst World Series odds of any current playoff team at +2,500 (25-1).
If the odds hold up and the Astros repeat as World Series champions, they will be the first team to do so since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.