The Los Angeles Dodgers are heavy MLB betting favourites for the 2026 World Series ahead of opening day.
Market Leaders | Odds |
Los Angeles Dodgers | 9/4 |
New York Yankees | 10/1 |
Toronto Blue Jays | 13/1 |
Seattle Mariners | 13/1 |
New York Mets | 14/1 |
Los Angeles is the first back-to-back champion in 25 years and is aiming to become only the fifth team in MLB history to complete a three-peat.
Are the Dodgers Unbeatable?
Winning one World Series is difficult enough; such is the durability and fortune required in the playoffs. The Dodgers have won consecutive titles and added yet more elite talent to their roster in the shape of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz.
No team is unbeatable in baseball. There’s always room for upsets, even more so than in NFL and NBA. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have shown signs of ageing. The bullpen still has some uncertainty, even with Diaz joining Tanner Scott at the back end.
If healthy, the Dodgers’ rotation could carry them to another title. It’s one of the most talented starting staffs in big-league history. The lineup is deep, with Tucker addressing the mine weakness from 2025.
Seattle Chasing First AL Title
The Seattle Mariners were one win away from appearing in their first-ever World Series in 2025. Seattle is rightly among the American League favourites.
The AL West feels like theirs to lose with the Texas Rangers relying on two injury-prone starters and the Houston Astros taking a step back. It’s not far-fetched that the Mariners have the best rotation in baseball, plus they have a strong lineup, with Josh Naylor extending his stay in the Pacific Northwest.
This Seattle team has everything to win the World Series. They are the best team in the American League on paper.
Threats To Dodgers
The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are the biggest threats to the Dodgers in the National League. New York revamped its rotation with Freddy Peralta joining Nolan McLean. Chicago added Edward Cabrera and replaced much of Tucker’s production with Alex Bregman.
Along with Peralta, the Mets spent big to improve their lineup, including deals for Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco. Luis Robert Jr. represents an upgrade in center field.
The Brewers look to have taken a step back, opening the door for the Cubs to win the NL Central with ease. In the NL East, the Philadelphia Phillies are weaker than in previous years and still have some uncertainty over Zack Wheeler’s health.
Other AL Contenders
After coming within a few outs of winning the World Series last year, the Toronto Blue Jays project to be in the mix again in 2026.
The New York Yankees, as ever, have short odds to make the Fall Classic, and the Boston Red Sox are a serious contender with Roman Anthony ready for his first full season in the big leagues.
Detroit kept hold of Tarik Skubal and added Framber Valdez to form a scary one-two punch, while the Baltimore Orioles look to have built at least a serviceable rotation. The addition of Pete Alonso means they might have the best lineup in baseball if Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers hit the ground running.
2026 World Series Prediction
The price(s) on the Dodgers are just too short. There are too many variables in an MLB postseason to back them at their current odds, even if it’s almost a foregone conclusion that they will make the playoffs.
It’s better to look further afield. The Jays are the latest example of a preseason outsider making it to the final series of the year. A Mets and Mariners World Series wouldn’t exactly be the biggest surprise, but both teams are well-positioned in their respective divisions and have the pitching staffs to go on a deep playoff run.
The Cubs aren’t getting much hype in spring training, yet this is a well-rounded roster in a weak division. Baltimore is going under-the-radar after a down year – don’t forget how destructive this lineup can be.
Best World Series Bets Ahead Of The 2026 MLB Season:
- Mets to win NL (7/1)
- Mariners to win AL (5/1)
- Mariners to win World Series (13/1)
- Cubs to win NL (19/2)
- Orioles to win AL (10/1)
*Odds subject to change - prices accurate at the time of writing*
