The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading into the 2026 MLB postseason as the absolute overwhelming +210 favorite to lift the World Series trophy, according to BetMGM. Yeah, you heard that right. This isn’t just a slight lean; they opened the season at +350 and they’ve only gotten *more* favored as the playoffs kick off. It’s wild to see the market this confident in one team before the first playoff pitch even drops.
Dodgers Dominance, With a Twist
So, the Dodgers are the team to beat. Again. They’re coming off back-to-back World Series titles, an insane run that just proves how stacked that team is. They cruised to another NL West title this year with a stellar 100-62 record. That’s a powerhouse, no doubt. But here’s the kicker, and this is where it gets interesting: even with all that hype and a century of wins, they actually fell *short* of their projected win total of 102.5. And get this: the Milwaukee Brewers actually ended up with the best record in the National League, clocking in at an even more impressive 103-59. So, how can a team that didn’t even have the best record in their own league, and didn’t hit their own projected win total, be such a dominant favorite? That’s the million-dollar question heading into October.
Vegas Bets Big on Blue, With Big Risks Elsewhere
It’s all about the money, baby! Matthew Rasp, a senior trader at BetMGM, summed it up: “Heading into the playoffs the sportsbook is in great position on the World Series futures market,” because a lot of the top contenders like the Dodgers, Brewers, and Yankees are “winners for the book.” That means BetMGM will make a profit if those teams win. Who are their biggest headaches? The Padres and the White Sox are the “two biggest remaining liabilities” if they manage to pull off an upset. When you look at where the cash is going, it’s clear who everyone thinks is winning. The Dodgers have scooped up a massive 11.8% of all World Series tickets and a jaw-dropping 20.8% of the total dollars wagered at BetMGM. The New York Yankees are a distant second, grabbing 8.8% of tickets and 9% of the total cash. The Chicago White Sox, meanwhile, are basically afterthoughts at 40-1, sitting with the longest odds to win it all.
Wild Card Gauntlet and a Missing Rival
Before anyone can even think about challenging the Dodgers, a brutal wild-card round has to play out. We’re looking at some intense matchups right out of the gate: the New York Yankees (-160) are facing off against the Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros (-135) take on the Chicago White Sox (+115), the San Diego Padres (-130) battle the Chicago Cubs (+110), and the Atlanta Braves (-130) go head-to-head with the Philadelphia Phillies (+110). Every single one of those series is gonna be a dogfight! What’s missing from the playoff picture, though? The Toronto Blue Jays. Remember them? They pushed the Dodgers to seven games in the 2025 World Series. Well, after that thrilling run, they totally missed the postseason this year, finishing dead last in the AL East with a 79-83 record. Talk about a fall from grace! Now the focus is squarely on the teams that *did* make it. Can anyone, starting with these wild-card brawls, actually dethrone the two-time champs? Or is this just the Dodgers’ World Series to lose? Get ready, because October baseball is about to get absolutely nuts!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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