MLB Betting: Does Ohtani Make the Dodgers the 2024 World Series Favorite

The biggest prize of the MLB offseason was claimed over the weekend when it was announced that Shohei Ohtani will sign a $700-million contact with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2023 AL MVP will move across town to join an already loaded Dodgers team in hopes of winning his first World Series Ring.

While MLB betting sites have installed the Dodgers as the new favorite to win the 2024 World Series, we aren’t quite sold. Below, we will share LA’s new odds to win this season’s title, how Ohtani makes them better, and what reservations we have.

US Sportsbooks now have the Dodgers as the World Series favorite, but not by much. Below are their odds to win a title from a few of the industry’s major bookmakers.

First and foremost, Ohtani gives the Dodgers yet another elite bat for the heart of their lineup. Both Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts were in the top three of the NL MVP race this season, and they will now be joined by another elite bat. All three of those stars can hit for both average and power, making that stretch of the lineup a nightmare for pitchers. 

The Dodgers were second in the league with 249 home runs last season, and Ohtani will give them even more power. The 29-year-old had 44 home runs and 95 RBIs in just 135 games last season. Ohtani also finished with a .304 batting average last season, which was a career high. Given those stats, there is little doubt that the Dodgers now have the best offense in the league. 

As important as Ohtani’s bat will be, a big reason for the record-breaking contact is his ability to pitch. The righty has a career record of 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA, which will boost a young and inexperienced Dodgers staff. While LA could add another arm to their rotation, Ohtani should take over as the team’s top arm.

If you look at the stats, there is no question that Ohtani immediately makes the Dodgers a better team. However, we aren’t sold that they will be getting the same player we have seen in Anaheim the last two seasons. One big reason why is the injury to his elbow at the end of last season. Ohtani had surgery to fix the issue but was unable to pitch over the final month of the season.

Before the injury, Ohtani had regressed on the mound in 2023. While his numbers aren’t bad, he had a couple rough stretches of the season, thanks largely to some issues with his control. It has led to more walks and home runs being allowed. A repaired elbow could cause those problems to worsen in 2024, making the MVP a one-dimensional player.

As well as Ohtani played at the plate in 2023, those numbers came during a contract year. We have seen players put up their best efforts at the end of their contracts, especially when they can command hundreds of millions of dollars. We know Ohtani is one of the greatest players in history, but we don’t think he will be able to replicate his 2023 success at any point with the Dodgers.