- The Dodgers are betting favorites to win the World Series.
- The Rangers are +1400 to repeat as champions.
- The Giants are the best long shot at +5000.
The 2024 MLB season will conclude with the World Series.
World Series Schedule & Dates
Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-7 series are hosted by the team with home-field advantage. The other team hosts Games 3, 4, and (if necessary) 5. If Games 6 and 7 are played, they’re both played at the site of the team with home-field advantage.
The dates and first-pitch times are released until both the ALCS and NLCS have been completed. The series is typically started in late October or early November.
How Many MLB Teams Reach the Postseason?
After the 162-game regular season — which includes MLB’s balanced schedule in its second year — 12 teams advance to the postseason.
The current MLB postseason format was introduced in 2022. Three division winners and three Wild Card teams from each league comprise the MLB playoff bracket.
MLB Postseason Seeds
In each league, teams are seeded 1-6:
No. 1 seed: Best league record
No. 2 seed: Second-best division winner
No. 3 seed: Third-best division winner
No. 4 seed: Best record among Wild Card teams
No. 5 seed: Second-best record among Wild Card teams
No. 6 seed: Third-best record among Wild Card teams
The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds receive first-round byes to the Division Series.
For the Wild Card Series, the No. 3 seed faces the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed faces the No. 5 seed.
How Are World Series Teams Chosen?
The two teams that win their respective Championship Series — ALCS and NLCS — advance to the World Series.
The team with the best regular-season record has home-field advantage in the series.
World Series Favorites
Teams with the shortest World Series odds:
- Los Angeles Dodgers +350
- Atlanta Braves +450
- New York Yankees +750
- Baltimore Orioles +1000
- Houston Astros +1200
- Philadelphia Phillies +1300
- Texas Rangers +1400
- Seattle Mariners +2500
- Toronto Blue Jays +2500
AL Pennant Favorites
Teams with the shortest AL pennant odds:
- Yankees +325
- Orioles +475
- Astros +500
- Rangers +600
- Mariners +1100
- Blue Jays +1100
- Twins +1500
NL Pennant Favorites
Teams with the shortest NL pennant odds:
- Dodgers +175
- Braves +220
- Phillies +650
- Cubs +1400
- Diamondbacks +1800
- Brewers +2500
MLB World Series Prediction
Pick: Giants to win World Series (+5000)
Finding value this early in the season is difficult, but the San Francisco Giants are the most intriguing MLB betting long shot in April.
The Giants missed out on the biggest names in the offseason, but they actually made several strong signings to bolster their roster.
Blake Snell is coming off an NL Cy Young odds campaign, while Matt Chapman will provide strong defense at third base. Jung Hoo Lee is also an immediate NL Rookie of the Year odds contender.
The only reason why the odds on the Giants are this long is because they play in the NL West.
But this team won the division as recently as 2021, illustrating that the ceiling is there to compete with the Dodgers.
San Francisco’s odds to win the World Series have gone from +4000 to +5000, but this team is worth a sprinkle at anything 50/1 or better.
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