The 2020 MLB season is right around the corner and all 30 teams technically have a chance to be the last ones standing come October, but there are some with much greater odds than others. Here are five teams we’d bet to win the 2020 World Series, balancing the likelihood of winning it all and their relative futures odds.
2020 World Series bets to make: New York Yankees (+350)
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The Yankees were bounced by the Houston Astros in the ALCS last year, the second time in three seasons Houston beat New York in the American League Championship Series. The Yankees led the league in runs, but their biggest weakness was the pitching staff, which combined for an ERA of 4.31.
They addressed that issue by landing SP Gerrit Cole in free agency, adding him to a rotation also featuring Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino and J.A. Happ – as well as James Paxton and Domingo German, who will return midseason.
The Yankees have arguably the best lineup in baseball with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu. If Cole doesn’t flop in the hitter’s paradise that is Yankee Stadium, and Severino can stay relatively healthy, the Yankees should have no trouble making the playoffs with their lineup. Even as the odds-on favorites, they’re a good bet to break through after three years of coming up just short.
2020 World Series bets make: Los Angeles Dodgers (+400)
The Dodgers are essentially the Yankees of the National League. They boast a star-studded lineup that just added OF Mookie Betts via trade with the Boston Red Sox, as well as a deep pitching staff with Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler at the top. David Price joined the rotation, too.
They’ve come close to winning a championship in the last seven years, winning the NL West each time, reaching the World Series twice and losing in the NLCS two times. They have the second-best odds to win it all this season and considering how consistent they’ve been this decade – at least 91 wins in seven straight years – they’re a great bet to win the division and make a deep playoff run.
Their lineup is a murderer’s row of sluggers, while Kenley Jansen is the shutdown closer needed to win in October.
2020 World Series bets to make: Washington Nationals (+1400)
The defending World Series champions are only tied for the fifth-best odds in their quest to repeat, which no team has done since the Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000. The fact they play in the daunting NL East doesn’t help their chances, needing to go up against the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves all year.
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The loss of 3B Anthony Rendon to free agency hurts a lot, but OF Juan Soto is a star, Trea Turner is an outstanding shortstop when healthy and the rotation can rival any in MLB.
Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin can carry the Nats back to the postseason, where pitching typically reigns supreme. There are questions in the bullpen, but those can be sorted out at the trade deadline, if necessary.
2020 World Series bets to make: New York Mets (+2000)
The Mets weren’t supposed to be this good this quickly, but after winning 86 games in 2019, they look like contenders in the NL East. That’s primarily because of their pitching staff, which is led by Jacob deGrom, of course, as well as Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman.
Pete Alonso headlines the batting order, but Michael Conforto is poised for a big year and Wilson Ramos is one of the top catchers in baseball. As somewhat of a longshot, it’s worth putting some money on the Mets to win the World Series – even with as bad as they’ve been since the turn of the century.
2020 World Series bets to make: Chicago White Sox (+3300)
If you really want to set yourself up to cash in, look at the White Sox in the AL Central. Yes, the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians pose threats to the White Sox’s potential breakthrough season, but the added benefit of beating up on the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals helps their chances.
The White Sox have a ton of talent in their lineup, including Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu and Eloy Jimenez. The veteran additions of Yasmani Grandal and Edwin Encarnacion provide juice in the middle, too.
The rotation is admittedly lacking top-end starters, but Lucas Giolito, Dallas Kuechel and Gio Gonzalez are proven in this league. Reynaldo Lopez was good in the second half of last season, improving his ERA from 6.34 to 4.29.
A lot needs to go right for Chicago to win the World Series, but the talent – particularly with its bats – is there.
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