Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 Betting Preview: Futures Odds & Prediction

It’s time to learn if a team can become the villain of the league while employing two-way unicorn Shohei Ohtani.

After spending six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani signed a historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason.

The problem is that the Dodgers have won 100-plus games in five of the previous six seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened campaign) and have no problem spending as much money as possible to field a potent team.

Will baseball fans fully turn on the Dodgers this year, or will Ohtani’s popularity prevail? Either way, this team will be must-watch television and an MLB odds favorite in 2024.

Dodgers Futures Odds

Win Total: 103.5
NL West: -550
NL Pennant: +160
World Series: +350

The Dodgers could be a potential juggernaut this season, as they already have an implied probability of 35.7% to win the NL and 21.7% to win the World Series.

For comparison, FanGraphs currently offers Los Angeles a 15.6% chance of winning it all. Only the Atlanta Braves (25.9%) have better preseason odds to win the championship, though they are second in the latest World Series odds.

Despite its recent success of 11 consecutive playoff berths, Los Angeles has just one World Series ring over that span, which came during a 60-game season in 2020.

As such, it’s likely better to hold off on any postseason futures involving the betting favorites before opening day.

Dodgers Offseason Moves

The Dodgers had one of the busiest offseason in the league, headlined by a pair of significant additions by signing Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Additions

Departures

It was just your typical offseason for the Dodgers, who inked Ohtani to a mega deal while also making Yamamoto the wealthiest pitcher in the league before he’s thrown a single pitch in this league.

In addition, Los Angeles added pitchers Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, along with outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

Ohtani won’t pitch in 2024, but he will slot in at the top of the order, while Hernandez figures to be a starting outfielder. Yamamoto and Glasnow will make up the top of the rotation, while Paxton provides a left-handed presence as the team’s No. 4 starter.

Again, it was a normal offseason for a team that won 100 games last year.

Dodgers 2024 Betting Prediction

Prediction: Dodgers to finish with under 103.5 wins

This is one of the more nerve-wracking MLB betting picks in the preseason.

The Dodgers have been a dominant regular-season team lately, but I think they have their sights set on solving their recent postseason disappointments. 

We are also getting a lofty MLB betting win total with Los Angeles this year.

In fact, the Dodgers have the highest preseason win total since the 1999 New York Yankees had a mark of 104.5 before repeating as World Series champions. That New York team finished with 98 wins.

This year’s Dodgers team has plenty of star power, but questions must be answered. How will Mookie Betts handle the transition to shortstop? What does a bat-only season from Ohtani look like? Will there be an adjustment period for Yamamoto?

To top it off, the NL West is much more competitive. The Diamondbacks are coming off a World Series appearance. The Giants and Padres improved their roster and project to have winning seasons.

FanGraphs projects all three teams to finish with around 82 or 83 wins, while the Dodgers are forecasted for 93.8 victories.

It may be scary to take an under on a talented team, but it’s the right play to make before the season opener.

2024 MLB Team Previews & Predictions