Media by Associated Press – Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner hits during a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The MLB playoffs get underway on Friday with four games in the Wild Card round. The 2022 playoff format is a new one, with six teams in each league in the postseason. The top two teams in both leagues have byes, and the first-round best-of-three series is all played in one location.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves have byes in the National League. In the American League, the byes go to the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. Those teams will all have five days off to get ready for the Divisional Series, and they can use the time off to set their pitching staff and heal any late-season injuries.
Not surprisingly, those four teams are the favorites to win the World Series. Let’s take a look at the top three bets to make on a World Series winner.
Los Angeles Dodgers +340
Look, the Dodgers have been a juggernaut all season long, winning the most games by a National League team in over 100 years. They have the October experience as well as 2020 champions and 2021 NLCS qualifiers.
It is hard to find a weakness with the Dodgers as they can hit, pitch, play defense, and have a solid manager in Dave Roberts. The pitching is the strength, as they led baseball all season long in most of the key categories, and their depth is ridiculous.
The Dodgers are ready for revenge on Atlanta, but they likely have to go through the New York Mets first. That could be a long and grueling cross-country series just to get to the NLCS. But this team has been on a mission all season long, and they are the favorites for a reason.
Houston Astros +425
The Astros have the best odds in the AL, and they stormed past the Yankees in the second half of the season. The Astros also have October experience, led by Justin Verlander on the mound. And they have a mission to finally win a title for manager Dusty Baker, who has come close multiple times.
The offense can carry the Astros. Yordan Alvarez had an MVP-caliber season if it wasn’t for Aaron Judge. Jose Altuve. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker also had fantastic seasons at the plate.
Verlander hasn’t allowed a home run since July and finished his regular season with five no-hit innings. Framber Valdez, Lance McCullers, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia, and Cristian Javier are in the mix to start games. Houston has the best bullpen in the AL, anchored by Ryan Pressly and Rafael Montero.
Atlanta Braves +500
The defending champions are on fire and have been for months now. They swept the Mets last weekend to claim the NL East and earn a week off. The Braves also get to avoid the Mets and Dodgers until the NLCS, as they will face either St. Louis or Philadelphia in the NLDS.
Not only are the Braves full of veteran experience from last year, they have the top two rookies in the NL in pitcher Spencer Strider and outfielder Michael Harris. The pitching is fantastic, led by Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and Kyle Wright. Kenley Janssen anchors a strong bullpen with 41 saves on the season.
The offense has five players with at least 20 home runs, and Matt Olson has 103 RBI. Dansby Swanson had a remarkable season, and Ronald Acuna Jr. is healthy and ready for another October run. Don’t discount the defending champs and the confidence they gained last year in beating the Dodgers and Astros.
See more MLB picks.