Dodgers and Value Everywhere Else

The MLB World Series odds board is giving us a rare mix of clarity and opportunity. On one hand, the Dodgers at +225 are clearly the team to beat. That’s an aggressive number for a sport built on variance, health, and October randomness—but it also reflects the reality that Los Angeles has separated itself in roster depth, star power, and institutional confidence. If you’re playing the Dodgers, you’re paying a premium for “most likely” in a league where “most likely” still isn’t close to certain.

And that’s exactly why there’s value elsewhere. We know 11 teams priced 10/1 or longer (with 10/1 on the Yankees) will make the playoffs.

Start with the Tigers at 25/1. If they’re truly favored to win the AL Central, that number jumps off the page. Division equity matters because it’s your cleanest path to October, and once you’re in, a team with frontline pitching can flip the board fast.

In the NL East, the market is treating it like a street fight: Phillies, Mets, and Braves all at 15/1. That’s respect, but it’s also a warning—great teams are going to cannibalize each other over 162, and the division winner may be battle-tested while another ends up in the Wild Card grind.

The Mariners at 12/1 are another clean value conversation. If they’re the AL West favorites coming off a “momentum” season, you’re buying into a club with a real runway—especially if their pitching and defense travel.

Then there’s the AL East, which looks like the toughest division top to bottom: Yankees 10/1, Blue Jays 15/1, Red Sox 18/1, Orioles 25/1, Rays 75/1. That’s a lot of legitimate paths to a playoff ticket—and a lot of landmines.

Finally, the longshot end tells its own story: the Cardinals at 250/1 is a stunning fall for a proud franchise, while the Rockies at 1000/1 are the true “break glass in case of miracle” ticket.