The 2025 Major League Baseball season begins with the Tokyo Series on Tuesday, March 18. A pair of games in Tokyo, Japan, are scheduled between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. It marks the start of the Dodgers’ World Series title defense after they took down the New York Yankees in five games last October.
Having substantially bolstered what was already a stacked roster, Los Angeles is a significant favorite to win a second consecutive championship. The Yankees also have realistic World Series aspirations despite some injury issues, while traditional powerhouses like the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies could also contend.
World Series Odds for 2025-26
Let's look at the odds, favorites and best bets to make for the upcoming MLB season. Here are the latest odds:
- LOS ANGELES DODGERS +290
- ATLANTA BRAVES +750
- NEW YORK YANKEES +850
- PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES +1200
- NEW YORK METS +1200
- HOUSTON ASTROS +1500
- BALTIMORE ORIOLES +1600
- BOSTON RED SOX +2000
- ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS +2500
- TEXAS RANGERS +2500
- MINNESOTA TWINS +2500
- SEATTLE MARINERS +2800
- SAN DIEGO PADRES +2800
MLB 2024-25 Season Recap
The usual suspects found themselves atop the MLB standings in 2024. Los Angeles secured the best record in the National League (98-64), edging out Philadelphia by three games. In the American League, a 94-68 mark was enough to give the Yankees the AL East crown and the No. 1 seed. Although there weren't particularly competitive division races in either league, the wild card was a battle. The Braves and Mets played a thrilling final regular-season series to slip in ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL; the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers held off the Seattle Mariners in the AL.
As usual, the postseason produced all kinds of drama. In the early stages, the Mets delivered the theatrics, coming up with all kinds of timely hits to oust the Milwaukee Brewers and the Phillies before eventually succumbing to the Dodgers in the NLCS. The ALCS between New York and Cleveland lasted just five games, but each team played its part with memorable home runs in clutch moments.
Similarly, the World Series featured only five games but is remembered for one swing of the bat. Freddie Freeman sent the Dodgers on their way to the trophy with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs and his team down by one run.
Dodgers, Yankees Were the Story of the Offseason
Among the Dodgers’ offseason acquisitions were Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki, giving them an entire pitching staff of possible all-stars. They also re-signed Teoscar Hernandez and added Michael Conforto. And, oh yeah, Shohei Ohtani will be able to pitch this season after being strictly a hitter in 2024 due to an elbow injury.
Not to be outdone, the Yankees landed lefty ace Max Fried. However, the even bigger story was the Bronx Bombers’ losses. Juan Soto went to the Mets and – in far more unexpected and devastating fashion – Gerrit Cole was felled for the entire year by a torn ulnar collateral ligament that will require Tommy John surgery.
Elsewhere in the American League, Alex Bregman moved from the Houston Astros to the Boston Red Sox. Anthony Santander departed Baltimore and took his talents to the Toronto Blue Jays. Meanwhile, a couple of stars jumped ship from the AL to the NL. Juan Soto famously changed locations within the same city, trading his Yankee pinstripes for the Mets’ orange and blue. Formerly with the Orioles, Corbin Burnes will now pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
NL East Foes Among the Favorites
Oddsmakers currently have three National League East representatives among the top five favorites to win it all. And why not? The Braves, Phillies and Mets are loaded.
Atlanta was depleted by injuries last year but still made the playoffs. If Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley can get healthy and stay healthy, the Braves are arguably the second-most talented team in baseball. Philadelphia was not particularly active in free agency, but the core of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola can keep this club in contention. In addition to inking Soto, the Mets also re-signed Pete Alonso. New York always wins the offseason; there is no reason it can’t finally start winning on the field, too.
Best World Series Bet: Baltimore Orioles +1600
The regular season has not been a problem for Baltimore in the past couple of years. Now, it’s time for this franchise to get the job done in what matters most. The Orioles won 101 games in 2023, earning the No. 1 seed in the American League, only to get swept in the Division Series by the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers. They easily secured the top AL wild-card spot with 91 wins in 2024 but once again got swept right away, this time by the Kansas City Royals.
With their foundational pieces well in place, the Orioles are running it back for the most part in 2025. Gunnar Henderson is a legitimate MVP candidate, while Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday are rising stars. That’s not to say that Baltimore was entirely stagnant during the offseason. It strengthened the back end of the pitching rotation by signing veteran Charlie Morton and Japan’s Tomoyuki Sogano. The 35-year-old played 12 seasons for the Yomiuri Giants, compiled a 2.45 lifetime ERA and won MVP of the Central League three times – including in 2024.
If Morton and Sogano can eat up innings and Grayson Rodriguez can get healthy, the Orioles – even without Burnes – may have enough pitching to successfully compliment a loaded lineup.
Longshot World Series Pick: San Diego Padres +2800
The Padres went 93-69 in 2024 and were twice one win away from ousting the Dodgers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. San Diego led 2-1 in a five-game series but could not seal the deal; the rest is history.
There is no denying that San Diego was very good last season despite being overshadowed – again – by its division rival. With Dylan Cease still on the roster, Yu Darvish not slowing down much, and Michael King on the rise, the Padres have plenty of pitching. Their hitting is potent, too. A well-rounded lineup includes Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill. At long odds, this team is way too good to overlook.
