With Texas Rangers jerseys still damp from champagne, sportsbooks were quick to open the World Series prices for 2024.
Expectations were low for both the Rangers and the Diamondbacks last preseason — April odds showed the Rangers at 50-1 and Arizona at 120-1 to win the Commissioner’s Trophy.
The matchup itself had odds of 1750-1. A $10 bet would have won you $17,500.
Heading into 2024, oddsmakers at FanDuel set the Atlanta Braves as the +600 favorite with the Los Angeles Dodgers not far behind at +700. The defending champion Rangers are tied with their divisional rival, the Houston Astros, at +850.
If you’re wondering where the Red Sox land, you’ll have to count 17 teams ahead of them. Bookmakers give Boson 38-1 odds. That’s a 2.56% implied probability.
Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said they are going “full throttle” this offseason to build a competitive roster. The key for them will be solidifying their two biggest issues from 2023: The starting rotation and the middle infield defense.
The organization already made one change by bringing in new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. The former Red Sox pitcher and 12-year Major League Baseball veteran will be taking over the ninth-highest payroll in baseball.
Like with Boston, the rest of the league faces a lot of unknowns when it comes to what next year has in store. Be cautious with making your bets this early as the makeup of teams could look drastically different on Opening Day.
With that said, here are four teams I have my eye on as of November.
Atlanta Braves +600
Here is what we call the “chalk” pick. Oddsmakers have good reason for making Atlanta the favorite after their 104 wins were the most in baseball. Along with expected upgrades to the rotation, the team should feel confident in another year of experience for their young core. The majority of their lineup and the top half of their pitching fall under the age of 30, which is something their National League and especially their NL East foes can’t say. Reminiscent of the 2022-23 Boston Bruins — the Braves went from the best regular season team to a disappointing early postseason exit. Trust that they won’t forget that feeling.
Los Angeles Dodgers +700
Those darn Diamondbacks. The Dodgers were a favorite to win the World Series and if getting knocked out of the playoffs early by Arizona was any lesson, they’ll come back in 2024 with some aggressive moves to improve the pitching staff. They’re also the favorite to land Shohei Ohtani. With a move like that, this price would drop significantly.
Philadelphia Phillies +1000
The Phillies had the best rotation heading into the playoffs and a lineup that was dangerous 1-9. Pressure is on the organization to make the right move when it comes to retaining or replacing free agent ace Aaron Nola. The latest word is that the Phillies might let Nola go and dive into the free-agent pool, possibly bringing in San Diego Padres starter Blake Snell. The left-hander might have had a 2.25 ERA in 2023 but had a walk issue with a walk rate in the bottom 4% of the league. Nola showed elite control all year and reliable play in the postseason with a 2.35 ERA. However, it was his rough last outing against the Diamondbacks in Game 6 that might have left a bad taste in fans’ and bettors’ mouths.
Baltimore Orioles +1300
The Orioles shocked the baseball world, finishing on top of the American League East after being projected to come in last. They have their young talent to thank with 2019 No.1 pick Adley Rutschman, star rookie Gunnar Henderson and closer Félix Bautista becoming the most clutch players on the roster. Now, they have the top prospect in the game on speed dial, Jackson Holliday, who provides a strong bat and plate discipline that adds to an already powerful lineup. While a young core brings fresh excitement, some veteran arms could be the difference that separates them in the American League.
