2025 World Series Odds, Predictions, Best Bets

Los Angeles Dodgers (+230)

As the favorites to win the World Series in 2024, the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games to capture their eighth title in franchise history. It’s usually difficult for squads to maintain their talent levels after a championship season.

It can be much harder to improve and become a better team. Well, the Dodgers appeared to be able to do just that. With a record of 27-15 and a half game lead in the NL West, I don’t believe they’ve hit their stride yet, either. Find a breakdown of their pitching and lineup below:

Pitching Staff

Despite not having Shohei Ohtani in the starting rotation, the Dodgers’ pitching staff made it work a season ago. In addition to Ohtani only batting, rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn’t up to par, and Clayton Kershaw only played in seven games.

Nevertheless, the Dodgers finished 13th in the Majors, with a team ERA of 3.90. The bullpen was in top-notch form, as they combined for a 3.53 ERA, good for fourth in baseball. If you were hoping that the Dodgers’ pitching would fall off this season, I have some bad news.

The Dodgers have depth, and it’s been on display to open this season. After Yamamoto was up and down last year, he’s on fire with a 1.80 ERA and 0.98 WHIP through 45 innings this season. Yamamoto is currently in contention for the NL Cy Young odds, with his price to win the top pitching award barely behind Paul Skenes.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s sophomore season is off to a fantastic start 👏

Could he win the NL Cy Young? pic.twitter.com/9KwJDDjUfg

— MLB (@MLB) May 13, 2025

The problem impacting the Dodgers right now is the myriad of injuries that have hit them hard early this season. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, and now rookie Roki Sasaki are all on the IL. Fortunately, though, Kershaw is set to return soon, while the three other pitchers are only on the 15-day IL.

Despite these unfortunate injuries, the Dodgers remain first in the NL West! I remain confident in their pitching staff. It’s better to have minor injuries now than in September, so I’m not concerned about the pitching woes right now. The Dodgers should have things sorted out by the time the postseason approaches.

Batting

The Dodgers have no shortage of heavy hitters in their lineup to punish opposing pitchers again this season. They finished fourth with a team batting average of .258. Additionally, the Dodgers were third in home runs and second in runs.

Ohtani was the catalyst for the Dodgers’ offense. He was unstoppable and became the first player in MLB history to join the 50-50 club, becoming the first to record 50+ home runs and 50+ steals. He concluded the 2024 campaign with a .310 average, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 steals.

Shohei Ohtani. Inevitable

Fourth career walk-off hit, second career walk-off homer ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/LmN6GgNAel

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025

He’s back to doing Ohtani things in 2024, as the Japanese is hitting an impressive .302 with 12 home runs, 21 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. Currently, Ohtani is tied for third in the Major Leagues in home runs through the Dodgers’ first 42 games this season.

As a team, the Dodgers are second in home runs and batting average with 64 long balls and a healthy average of .265 at the dish. Along with Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Mookie Betts have all returned to Los Angeles. Also, the franchise inked Teoscar Hernandez to a three-year, $66 million contract. Hernandez is currently absent with a groin strain but should make a return later this summer.

The Dodgers will have no problems putting runs up on the board this season, and their World Series 2025 odds certainly reflect that.

New York Yankees (+750)

The New York Yankees are firmly entrenched as the second favorite to win the World Series in 2025 after losing to the Dodgers last year. There was a huge gasp from Yankees fans after Gerrit Cole was ruled out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

As I noted, the Yankees’ World Series odds immediately regressed on news of Cole’s injury in the pre-season. However, the Bronx Bombers are looking up on the arm of AL Cy Young contender Max Fried.

With a record of 24-18 and leading the AL East, the Yankees’ odds have improved to +750. Is this a price worth betting on, or are the Yankees overvalued, as is typically the case?

Pitching Staff

The Yankees were expected to enter this season with some potent arms in the rotation. It took Gerrit Cole a minute to shake off a slow start last season, but heated up in the second half. Cole, however, will be absent all year after it was announced he requires Tommy John surgery.

Cole’s return to 2023 form was paramount to the Yankees’ success this season, but that’s a big blemish against them. Additionally, reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil continues to contend with shoulder soreness. Gil remains out of the lineup and isn’t expected to return for months!

With Max Fried dealing for the Yankees, it would have been a dangerous 1-2 punch to have Cole or Gill. If Fried, Cole, and Gil were all together, I’d feel highly confident about the Yankees’ 2025 World Series odds! Fried has been mesmerizing on the bump, with a 1.11 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through 56.2 innings.

Max Fried has allowed just TWO earned runs over his last 32.2 innings pitched😳

Fried has been unbelievable in Yankee pinstripes…#Yankees pic.twitter.com/BJ7wqtBzNb

— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) May 14, 2025

Fried is on fire, so what about the rest of the rotation? The Yankees are ninth in the Major Leagues, with a team ERA of 3.66 and a 1.19 WHIP. Carlos Rodon has been in fine form, posting an ERA of 3.29 and a 0.97 WHIP in nine starts and 54.2 frames.

In 2024, the Yankees finished seventh with a team ERA of 3.74. They’re slightly ahead of that curve but need to be healthier to eclipse their results from a season ago. Conversely, the trade deadline could prove to be a huge turning point for the Yankees.

Batting

The Yankees’ offense had plenty of pop in the batter’s box last season. They led the Major Leagues in home runs with 237 long balls. Additionally, they ranked second in RBIs, just ahead of the Dodgers with 815. The offense had a .248 batting average for ninth in Major League Baseball. They depended on the home run ball to score a huge chunk of their runs.

We are witnessing one of the best starts to a season EVER from Aaron Judge 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9zLsSX2zoJ

— MLB (@MLB) May 12, 2025

Of course, the Yankees’ success offensively comes down to Aaron Judge’s health. So far, all good for Judge, who is swinging a hot bat. He’s hitting an impeccable .410 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs! Judge is the clear AL MVP favorite, which goes without saying given his torrid run.

Unfortunately, Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t stepped into the batter’s box and has no end in sight for his return. The Yankees are getting good news on the DJ LeMahieu front, though. He is off the IL and expected to make his return to the Yankees shortly.

After losing Juan Soto, the Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger in the offseason. This provides the roster with added depth, and improved defense.

Goldschmidt is a four-time Gold Glove winner at first base, so this is a solid add for the Yankees. Bellinger is off to a slow start but is showing signs of getting hot. Last month, he had a .180 average and just one home run. Now, the veteran has a .229 average and five home runs.

As far as Goldschmidt is concerned, he’s been playing solid baseball from the get-go with his new team. The former D-back owns a .344 average and four home runs through 42 games.

Paul Goldschmidt laces a homer into the bullpen. pic.twitter.com/daol28fXaf

— MLB (@MLB) April 30, 2025

Currently, the Yankees rank fourth with a team batting average of .263 and lead the Majors with 74 homers! As long as Judge remains healthy, the Yankees are always going to be the biggest threat to put runs on the board in a hurry.

New York Mets (+900)

The Yankees are attracting most of the attention in New York, but don’t forget about the Mets! They are the first team in the National League to win 28 games and hold the clear edge in the NL East.

Carlos Mendoza’s club is off to a 28-15 start and are up on the Phillies by three games. Last month, the Phillies had the third-shortest odds and were one of the most popular 2025 World Series picks. However, money is tilting towards the Mets in May!

Check out the latest regarding the Mets and how their World Series chances are shaping up:

Pitching Staff

The Mets have some workhorses in their rotation that are quite underrated! Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill, and Griffin Canning don’t sound like the most imposing rotation on paper.

That said, the Mets are letting their performance on the mound do all the talking. Senga has long odds to win the NL Cy Young, but I argue he should be held in higher standing at the moment. The 32-year-old Japanese hurler is flourishing in the Mets’ rotation this season.

Kodai Senga strikes out three straight batters to get out of the jam! 👻 pic.twitter.com/SoAI43kKPa

— MLB (@MLB) May 14, 2025

Senga has been red-hot, with a 1.22 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through eight innings and 44.1 innings on the bump. He’s allowed one or no earned runs in six of his previous seven starts for the Mets.

He isn’t the only star attraction in Queens, either. The other names I mentioned above are having fantastic campaigns as well. As a team, the Mets lead the Major Leagues with an ERA of 2.81 and are second in strikeouts at 391! They have a talented core that is well-built and has the depth required for the playoffs.

The Mets are in great shape on the mound, with injuries and Senga regressing potentially the only pitfalls! I don’t know if Senga will stay this hot, but he’s amazing to watch right now.

Batting

Along with a stout pitching staff, the Mets have an offense that can put a charge into the ball. Overall, they are eighth in the Majors, with a team batting average of .254.

Additionally, the Mets are 10th in home runs with 52. That’s well off the pace of the Yankees’ 74 long balls, and they don’t have the most dangerous offense in baseball, but they can hold their own.

Pete Alonso can’t stop MASHING 🐻‍❄️ pic.twitter.com/WVcrbXlrwV

— MLB (@MLB) April 15, 2025

Four Mets’ players have hit at least eight home runs, including Juan Soto, who started slowly but has woken up recently. Soto has tattooed eight home runs with a batting average of .255. Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor lead the club in home runs, having hit nine through mid-May.

Last season, the Mets were sixth in home runs and 12th in batting average. Offensive success isn’t a surprise for the Mets. If the pitching staff stays in form, coupled with this solid offense, the Mets are in business!