Less than 24 hours after claiming their drought breaking World Series title, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the preseason favourite to go back to back and claim the 2021 World Series championship.
Here are the opening odds to win the 2021 World Series, according to PointsBet:
Los Angeles Dodgers (+375)
Heading into the revised 2020 season the Dodgers were +375 favourites to win the World Series. Los Angeles maintained favouritism throughout the course of their 2020 playoff run, only being considered underdogs while down 3-1 in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves.
Now that they have proven the bookies right and claimed their first title since 1988, the consensus belief is that the Dodgers are set to win it all again in 2021. With Justin Turner, Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez up for free agency, the Dodgers dugout could look a bit different coming into spring training. However, any team with Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw and Corey Saeger is tough to bet against.
THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS. pic.twitter.com/rlvVkSwXhp
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 28, 2020
New York Yankees (+700)
For the second year in a row, the Yankees (+700) have opened as the second favourites to win the World Series. With James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka set for free agency, New York will need to bring in more relief pitchers to support Gerrit Cole. However, in terms of fire power at bat, the Yankees are unrivalled, scoring an AL-leading 315 runs in 2020 as well as leading the league in on-base percentage (.342) and on-base plus slugging (.789).
Having not appeared in the World Series since 2009 New York will come into the 2021 season looking to win the AL pennant and give themselves a shot at the title.
San Diego Padres (+750)
Still on the quest for their first World Series championship, the San Diego Padres have taken the biggest jump in World Series futures odds in 2021. Prior to the 2020 season, San Diego were +4500 to win it all and will now enter 2021 at +750.
San Diego are certainly a team on the rise, coming off their first winning season since 2010, first postseason run since 2006 and first playoff series victory since 1998. As long as Mike Clevinger, Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado are on the books, the Padres are going to be competitive in the NL East.
Minnesota Twins (+1000)
With back to back .600+ seasons to top the AL central division, the Minnesota Twins have proven to be a solid regular season team and will enter 2021 as the fourth favourite (+1000) to win the World Series. However, with an 0-5 record in their past two postseasons, many believe that Minnesota lacks the necessary star power to win it all.
At the beginning of the year, the Twins signed Josh Donaldson to help change that narrative. However, Donaldson was hurt for the majority of the 2020 and at 34 years of age, the former MVP may be past his prime. The 26-year-old Byron Buxton might have the best chance to be Minnesota’s superstar player, but he will need to prove himself again in 2021. If Donaldson and Buxton can both perform at a high level for the Twins, Minnesota will be capable of winning their first World Series since 1991.
Tampa Bay Rays +1000
Despite winning the AL pennant and taking two games off the Dodgers in the World Series, Tampa Bay have opened as the fifth favourite to claim their first World Series title in 2021.
It’s going to be interesting to see how much roster turnover occurs in Tampa Bay. However, if the Rays can keep the nucleus of their 2020 dugout together while adding top prospect Wander Franco, there is more than enough reason to expect the Rays to compete again in 2021. Great value at +1000.
RAYS WIN! RAYS WIN! WHAT JUST HAPPENED!! WOW! pic.twitter.com/2G1vyOFkji
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 25, 2020
*Odds are correct at time of publication.
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