Updated MLB World Series odds 2024: Dodgers, Yankees priced as odds-on favorites, Orioles among top value bets

Summer has arrived, which means the powerhouses of Major League Baseball — like thermometers — have started to heat up. And while many of the best bets to win it all come as no surprise, several red-hot sleepers have emerged from the pack to suggest the 2024 World Series could be a wide-open race. 

Looking back at the Sporting News' preseason best bets and top values, the usual suspects include the Dodgers, Braves and Astros. We even had the Yankees and Phillies — then +1000 and +1500, respectively — as solid World Series value bets (those squads are now +450 and +600, second and third behind L.A. on the board).

But other teams have overachieved and presented themselves as bonafide contenders. The Mariners and Guardians, +2000 and +7000 to win it all in the spring, are tied for the third-best record in the American League. The Brewers and Royals, +9000 and +13000 in March, now sit among the top 12 in World Series odds at +2800 and +3500.

Let's turn to BetMGM and check out the sportsbook's full list of updated 2024 World Series odds, then reveal the Sporting News' best bets and top value wagers to win it all this October. 

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World Series 2024 odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

World Series 2024 odds: Best Bets

Los Angeles Dodgers (+300)

Nothing has changed since Spring Training — the Dodgers remain the best bet in the bigs. In fact, it could be argued that they look even better than initially expected, except for the fractured wrist Mookie Betts sustained on June 16. If Betts can return by the playoffs as expected, Los Angeles should absolutely contend for MLB's top prize.

Even in the time being, the Dodgers have two of the five best offensive players in the sport in Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez continue to be two of the most underrated power hitters in the majors. And young players like starting pitcher Gavin Stone, outfielder Andy Pages, and infielder Miguel Rojas have vastly exceeded expectations.

Best yet, this dynamic offense also has a stellar pitching staff. Collectively ranked among the top four in ERA and WHIP, Los Angeles has barely felt the absence of injured superstar Clayton Kershaw or the struggles of Walker Buehler. Stone, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and James Paxton should make for a dominant four-handed rotation come October, and a deep bullpen led by Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia should help preserve the majority of late postseason leads.

Long story short, the Dodgers have it all — and once they have a healthier squad come September and October, they should be in a very good position to contend for the franchise's eighth World Series title.

New York Yankees (+450)

The Yankees have been dominant offensively and on the mound, steadily sitting alongside the Dodgers in scoring and OPS while also leading the big leagues in staff ERA.

After an injury-troubled 2023, Aaron Judge has returned to MVP form — and Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton have been pretty dang good, too. Anthony Volpe's contact rate and speed have been a big help at leadoff, and Alex Verdugo's emergence has also been crucial.

But the nicest surprise for the Pinstripers has been the pitching, with Luis Gil, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and Marcus Stroman as dominant as any MLB foursome and Luke Weaver/Clay Holmes serving as a stifling 1-2 punch at the back-end of games. Nobody will want to face the Bronx Bombers come October.

World Series 2024 odds: Top value bets

Baltimore Orioles (+800) 

The Orioles had big expectations coming off a 101-win 2023 campaign, and the fact that they have been in second place most of the 2024 season might suggest to the casual fan that this has been a disappointing encore performance. However, their 47-25 record actually equates to a .653 winning percentage, far better than its .623 win rate at the close of last season.

What doesn't Baltimore have? We're talking about a lineup with speed and power, a fantastic defense, and one of the top pitching staffs in terms of ERA and WHIP in Major League Baseball. Catcher Adley Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and ace Grayson Rodriguez are three of the best young players in the game.

And good luck catching up to Baltimore once it gets out to an early lead — the 1-2 punch of Yennier Cano and Craig Kimbrel has helped ease the pain of losing All-Star closer Felix Bautista to Tommy John surgery earlier in the year. Thank the Yankees for being able to bet the Orioles at +800 — any other year this team would be +450 or shorter.

Seattle Mariners (+900)

Seattle has an elite pitching rotation and a dominant record at home, both factors that come in real handy in a World Series run. Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo have been superb for the Mariners, and it never hurts that T-Mobile Park ranks as one of the more pitcher-friendly parks in the majors.

The Mariners also have decent speed and a little pop, so it's very possible this team remains in legit contention all season long. If Seattle finds a way to obtain another power bat to complement Luke Raley, Cal Raleigh, and Julio Rodriguez, the rest of the MLB powerhouses will need to seriously reassess their game plans against this high-powered semi-sleeper.

World Series 2024 odds: Biggest fade

Atlanta Braves (+900)

It's been one of the most disappointing stretches in years for Atlanta, which just can't seem to get anything going. The loss of reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña was also a crippling blow, as you might expect when a squad loses a player coming off a 40-70 season.

The Braves' struggles go way beyond Acuña's absence, though. Matt Olson is striking out and pulling the ball more and hitting the ball out of the park at half the rate he did in 2023. Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Orlando Arcia have also suffered brutal cold streaks at the plate. And Atlanta's bullpen has been far less dependable than usual all season. Don't look at +900 as a value — it's not. Most other teams without the Braves' name and perennial-contender status would be listed at +1500 or longer to win it all.