Updated 2021 World Series Odds: Dodgers Still Favored in June

As the 2021 MLB regular season turns the calendar to June, it’s time to revisit the World Series futures market. Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still the overall favorite to repeat and win a second consecutive World Series.

MLB Bookies

What is surprising is that the Dodgers are currently in third place in the NL West. They are just two games behind division leader San Francisco – that’s a surprise! – and a game and a half behind second- place San Diego.

Here’s a look at how the World Series odds are shaping up heading into the summer.

Dodgers Still Favored

The Dodgers pulled the biggest signing of the offseason when they snagged NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. The funny thing is that on most MLB rosters Bauer would be an ace. In the Dodgers rotation, he’s lucky if he’s the third-best pitcher.

There is no doubt the Dodgers are built for a repeat. L.A.’s lineup produces the second-most runs per game (5.16) in MLB and the pitching rotation is fourth in ERA (3.19). The Dodgers have managed through some injuries to stars Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager and they are still 32-23 with a +72 run differential, the second-highest in the National League and third in MLB. That’s why the Dodgers are still +300 favorites.

MLB Odds Tonight

New Contender

The Yankees were the main contender to preventing a Dodgers’ repeat. More on New York later. Right now, the new major contender is the Dodgers NL West rival – the San Diego Padres.

San Diego has not one, but two bonafide NL MVP candidates in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Tatis may be the most exciting player in baseball. He is batting .293 with 16 homers and 37 RBIs.

The Padres also have some outstanding pitching having gone out in the offseason to acquire Yu Darvish and former AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell. San Diego leads the majors in ERA at 2.73 and they are the only team under 3.00.

San Diego’s odds have shortened to +650 and they will be the biggest threat to the Dodgers’ chances of a second straight World Series.

Other Contenders

The Yankees (+750) are still in the fight. Their lineup is loaded – Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton to name a few – but they either have been injured or simply not performing to expectation.

The pitching is solid though Gerrit Cole (6-2, 1.78 ERA) can only pitch once every four to five days. Corey Kluber (4-3) has underachieved and now he’s out for two months.

The White Sox (+750) are in first in the AL Central and have what it takes to go deep in the postseason. Chicago is fourth in the majors in batting average (.255) and fifth in runs per game (4.95). The White Sox also have a pretty solid pitching rotation and bullpen. The White Sox are fifth in the majors with a 3.29 ERA.

MLB Picks Tonight

Realistic Longshots

Tampa Bay (+1000) leads a very competitive AL East. The Rays lead Boston (+1400) by two games. The Red Sox are fourth in runs per game (5.00), but might not have the pitching to go the distance.

Oakland (+1400) is battling Houston (+1600) in the AL West. The Astros have the best offense in the majors (5.35 runs per game, .267 batting average).

The real longshot bet at the moment is on San Francisco. The Giants, not the Dodgers nor the Padres, lead the NL West. San Francisco has done it primarily with pitching and just enough offense to make them dangerous.

The Giants are 10th in runs per game (4.76) and the pitching staff has a collective 3.38 ERA which is good for sixth. San Francisco is also very good in the field. They have the second fewest errors per game (0.40) in MLB.