It's hard to believe, but the new MLB season is already nearing the All-Star Game break. Throughout the first half of the campaign, several teams have stepped up and been a major surprise. The long list of course includes the Dodgers, Yankees, Mariners and more. With that said, other teams have been flops. So, which team will go on to push to win the Fall Classic? As things stand, the Dodgers remain the favorites to win the 2024 World Series.
This isn't a major stunner, as the Dodgers have held brilliant baseball betting odds ever since it was announced they were signing Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year deal. LA has been hot this year too, but they're not facing some major adversity. Over the weekend, star playmaker Mookie Betts was hit by a pitch and it was discovered that he suffered a fractured bone in his hand. He's now expected to miss a lot of time, though the good news is that he won't be out for the rest of the season.
| World Series odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers to win | +270 | +270 | +270 |
| Yankees to win | +420 | +420 | +420 |
| Phillies to win | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Mariners to win | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
"Honestly, we've gone through this so much and teams go through this all the time," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when asked about the serious Betts injury. "That's part of baseball. You've got to move forward and guys know they are going to get opportunities and have to play well."
Per the best sports betting sites, which includes the reliable Bovada sportsbook review, the Dodgers hold +270 odds to win the World Series. From our chair, the Dodgers sure have what it takes to win it all. They're loaded with stud sluggers and their pitching is second to none. However, with Betts suffering his injury, it could complicate things, which is why we're going in a different direction for our selection.
Mookie Betts on his fracture: “I'll be watching the boys and cheering them on. Other than that, just kind of rest, maybe use it as a mental break and be ready to go whenever it heals up." pic.twitter.com/ia1AQacEUX
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 16, 2024
The Yankees are our pick to win the World Series this season
With the way they've looked this campaign, there are plenty of reasons the Yankees are our pick to win the World Series this season. To start things off, Juan Soto has been sensational for the Bronx Bombers, proving Brian Cashman made the right call to trade for him. Soto has been posting some amazing home runs and he's also been quite clutch for this team. The Yankees need to sign him to a new deal as soon as possible.
Not only that, but goodness, we can't say enough good things about Aaron Judge. He leads the American League in home runs and he recently has been on fire. Judge is in the AL MVP conversation once again, which he won a few years back. With Judge, Soto and Giancarlo Stanton being in the middle of the lineup, they're a threat to do real damage to opposing pitchers. Not only that, but the return of Gerrit Cole will be huge for the rotation the rest of the season too.
Gerrit Cole will be the starting pitcher for the New York Yankees on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium at 7:05 PM ET against the Baltimore Orioles, per Aaron Boone pic.twitter.com/IIx3Gd6JwZ
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 17, 2024
"Those two guys benefit from a balanced, strong supporting cast, but (also) the closeness that has existed within the team and how they're communicating with one another and how they're talking to one another," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said about Judge and Stanton via ESPN. "Certainly, Aaron and Juan being the best hitters in the sport but different. (One's) right-handed, one's left-handed. There's different matchups that favor different guys."
Yes, the Dodgers are the favorites, but the Yankees are a team to be taken seriously the rest of the way. Should LA and New York meet in the World Series, it'd be exactly what fans across the globe would have hoped for. Per the oddsmakers, the Yankees hold +420 betting odds to win the title this year. It'll be close between them and the Dodgers, but we're indeed going with the AL East side as our pick.
Could the Mariners go on a World Series run?
With the way that Seattle is playing, could the Mariners go on a World Series run? Out of nowhere, the Mariners are in first place in the AL West, which is not what anyone thought would be the case at this point of the season. In the division, the Rangers and Astros have been a major letdown. Texas won the World Series last year, but they're having a bit of a hangover.
Seattle isn't hitting too well, but they have arguably the best starting rotation in the bigs. Because of that, Seattle has a pretty sizable lead in the AL West and they're hoping to grab the division crown for the first time since 2001. In 2022, Seattle made the postseason for the first time in more than 20 years. However, they weren't able to get back to the playoffs last year.
That shouldn't be the case this fall. The Mariners are looking like a dangerous team, with Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Ty France, Cal Raleigh and others really impressing. Seattle has never won the World Series, but they have +1100 odds to make history this year. Will they? It's tough to say, but this team has what it takes to make a ton of noise in October. It'll be interesting to see what they can get done in the coming months.
