Despite the current MLB lockout, there has been some movement in the World Series futures market. On Tuesday, March 1, the players rejected a new collective bargaining agreement and, as a result, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred cancelled the first two series of the season. There is some progress being made and fans and bettors are hopeful that the 2022 season will begin on time.
Once a new CBA is reached, watch the World Series futures board go wild. There are a ton of quality free agents like Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Kris Bryant, and more that will certainly have an impact wherever they wind up. For now, it’s no surprise which team is at the top of the board.
The Favorite…Again
For nearly the entire 2021 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were the overall betting favorite to win the World Series. Then, the Braves sent them home. Still, the roster is full of All-Star-level talent and the Dodgers find themselves at the top once again. The Boys in Blue opened at +550 but have moved to +600 since SS Corey Seager signed with Texas and Max Scherzer left for the Mets.
The lineup is still loaded and the Dodgers signed Andrew Heaney and Daniel Hudson. The pitching staff is still deep and if they re-sign Clayton Kershaw this is a team that can win it all once again.
The Contender
The top contender in the World Series futures race is Houston. The Astros are the only other MLB team listed under +1000 odds. Houston is given +900 odds after losing in six games to Atlanta in last year’s World Series. The Astros offense was the best in baseball last season and they return a ton of talent in stars like Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and Kyle Tucker.
The only issue for Houston is Correa who is expected to sign elsewhere. The pitching staff is solid and will get veteran Justin Verlander back after missing last season after Tommy John surgery.
Best of the Rest
Three worthy teams check-in at +1100 – the Mets, Yankees, and Blue Jays. The Mets went all the way from +2000 down to their current price after signing Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canna, and Eduardo Escobar. If the Mets can nail down their starting pitching rotation, they will challenge the Braves in the NL East.
Across town, the Yankees are still powerful with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Gerrit Cole could be the best pitcher in baseball, but New York could see some more turnover in their lineup. Still, the Yankees have too much star power not to be among the World Series favorites.
The Blue Jays may have the best young talent in the game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette combine with veterans like Jose Berrios and George Springer to form one of the most formidable lineups in baseball. Toronto also went out and got right-hander Kevin Gausman in the offseason to replace the departed Robbie Ray. The Blue Jays still have plenty of firepower despite Marcus Semien’s signing with the Rangers.
Don’t Forget
Bettors can’t forget about defending World Series champion Atlanta (+1300). They will have star Ronald Acuna Jr. back and if Freeman re-signs the Braves have a shot at repeating. Tampa Bay (+1400), San Diego (+1500), and Milwaukee (+1600) all have outstanding pitching staffs and pitching wins games, especially in the postseason.