MLB Futures: Updating the Odds for the Top Five Favorites to win the 2023 World Series

The All-Star break begins next week, signaling the half-way point of the MLB season. That means now is the time to get your World Series future bets in, and we have you covered. We will go through the top five betting favorites according to DraftKings Sportsbook, reviewing why they made the list along with their chances to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy in the fall.

If you are looking for help with your World Series betting, you have come to the right place.

The Braves now have the league’s best record, and they certainly have the look of a World Series team. Atlanta has had success thanks to a balanced roster, led by NL MVP-favorite Ronald Acuna Jr, Matt Olson, and Spencer Strider. They rank in the top five of the league in batting average, home runs, RBIs, hits, ERA, wins, saves, and strikeouts. The Braves lead the NL East by nine games and should cruise to a division title that will lead to favorable playoff seeding. Unless the NL East improves, the Braves may be the safest bet on this list.

While Atlanta has dominated the NL, the Rays have been the class of the AL. They rank in the top three of the MLB in batting average, home runs, hits, RBIs, stolen bases, and wins. Their offense features three MVP candidates in Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, and Yandy Diaz. Add that to a pitching staff led by Cy Young candidate Shane McClanahan, and you have a recipe for a World Series team. Tampa will have a harder path to the World Series than Atlanta, but that could work in their favor if they manage to battle their way to an AL pennant.

While the Dodgers have been chasing the Diamondbacks in the NL West all season, bookmakers still love their chances to capture another World Series title. They have a lineup that is loaded with talent, led by Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, and Freddie Freeman. One issue that has us hesitating on taking the Dodgers at these odds is their pitching staff. While Clayton Kershaw is having another fantastic season, Julio Urias and Noah Syndergaard have both been bad. That has forced the Dodgers to bring up some of their top pitching prospects and they have looked good, but their lack of experience could cost LA in the playoffs.

The Astros remain in the top five despite being devastated by injury this season. They lost starting pitchers Luis Garcia and Jose Urquidy earlier this season, and now they recently learned they will not be getting Lance McCullers back this season as expected. Their lineup has also been without slugger Yordan Alvarez, who still does not have a firm timetable to return. The lineup has been led by Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and Jose Altuve to help make up for the loss of Alvarez, but the pitching is a different story. They are relying on rookies who have done well, but they’ll need to acquire a starting pitcher at the deadline for us to take them seriously as a World Series contender.

The Rangers may be the best bet on this list. While bookmakers see them as a borderline top-five team, Texas has proven to be among the league’s elite. Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia are having career seasons at the plate, and Corey Seager has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball. Add that to the play of rookie Josh Jung, and they have one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. Texas leads the league in batting average and RBIs, and their pitching staff has been better than expected. Even with less-than-shocking the loss of Jacob deGrom for the remainder of the season, the Rangers have shown they belong in the World Series conversation.