The 2021 MLB season has reached its halfway point as the All-Star break is next week. Usually, around this time, people start thinking about which team looks like they’re built to go on a World Series run. According to BetOnline, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the most likely choice for that scenario. The sportsbook is favoring them to be this season’s champions at +325 odds.
It shouldn’t be surprising that BetOnline is going with the Dodgers. As of July 7, they have a 53-33 record — one of the best in the league — and trail the San Diego Padres (+825) by half a game for the division league. That’s not even to mention how the Dodgers are the most recent MLB World Series champions. No team has won the championship back-to-back since the New York Yankees (+1600) won three in a row between 1998 and 2000.
Aside from that, the Dodgers have a lot of other things going for them this season. They’re one of the best offense teams in the league, averaging 5.03 runs per game (4th). That certainly helps when you have players like 1B Max Muncy (18 HR, 47 RBI, .260/.416/.549) and Justin Turner (13 HR, 42 RBI, .297/.389/.479) in the lineup. On the other hand, Los Angeles is limiting opponents to just 3.65 runs per game (2nd), which shows how elite the club is on both sides of the ball. But that’s what happens when pitchers like Walker Buehler (8-1, 2.49 ERA), Clayton Kershaw (9-7, 3.39 ERA) and Julio Urias (10-3, 3.81 ERA) are all in the same rotation together.
In other words: the Dodgers have all the makings of a World Series-caliber team. Only time will tell if they can repeat as champions.
2021 World Series Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Wednesday, July 7
- Los Angeles Dodgers (+325)
- Houston Astros (+650)
- San Diego Padres (+825)
- Chicago White Sox (+850)
- Boston Red Sox (+1000)
- New York Mets (+1000)
- Milwaukee Brewers (+1200)
- New York Yankees (+1600)
- San Francisco Giants (+1600)
- Tampa Bay Rays (+1600)
- Oakland Athletics (+2200)
- Toronto Blue Jays (+2500)
- Atlanta Braves (+4000)
- Washington Nationals (+5500)
- Cincinnati Reds (+6000)
- Cleveland Indians (+6600)
- Seattle Mariners (+6600)
- St. Louis Cardinals (+6600)
- Los Angeles Angels (+7000)
- Philadelphia Phillies (+7500)
- Chicago Cubs (+8000)
- Miami Marlins (+15000)
- Minnesota Twins (+25000)
- Kansas City Royals (+50000)
- Detroit Tigers (+75000)
- Colorado Rockies (+100000)
- Texas Rangers (+150000)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (+200000)
- Baltimore Orioles (+400000)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (+500000)
Astros Beginning to Heat Up
After a slower-than-expected start to the 2021 MLB season, the Houston Astros have begun to heat up as of late. Winners of five in a row as of July 7, the Astros have the second-best odds to win the World Series at +650.
Everything is clicking for Houston right now, especially in terms of offense. The Astros lead the MLB with 5.62 runs per game, which is half a run more than the next closest team. 1B Yuli Gurriel, SS Carlos Correa and DH Yordan Alvarez have helped that statistic as each one of them have registered more than 50 RBI. They also have 2B Jose Altuve, who’s rebounded after a poor 2020 campaign by recording 18 HR and 49 RBI in 297 at-bats. Considering that puts them all on pace to finish with 100+ RBI on the season, you have to wonder which teams can handle that offense. If the Astros can keep getting this type of production from their best players, there’s no reason why they can’t challenge for a World Series title this Fall.
Padres Looking for First World Series
While the San Diego Padres might be one of the best teams in the MLB today, you might be surprised to learn that they’ve never won a World Series before. Despite being around since 1969, the Padres have only made the playoffs six times and haven’t made the World Series since 1998. With that being said, BetOnline has given them +825 odds to finally win a championship this season.
One man who has helped bring San Diego to where it is today is SS Fernando Tatis Jr. So far, he’s proven to be worth every penny of his monster contract. Through just 69 games this season, Tatis has recorded 27 HR and 58 RBI. The Padres have also been fortunate as RHP Yu Darvish has turned back the clock as he has a 7-3 record and a team-leading 2.65 ERA. As long as both Tatis and Darvish — and the rest of the roster — continue to remain consistent, the Padres look like they could finish the season with the first World Series victory in franchise history.
