2024/25 MLB Preview

Can Shohei Ohtani do for MLB what Taylor Swift did for the NFL? Or perhaps a better example is comparing the $700 million acquisition of Ohtani by the LA Dodgers to Inter Miami’s sensational transfer of Lionel Messi. The point I’m trying to make is that baseball seems to be on the up and up. Sports betting sites also think so, with more sportsbooks rolling out offers on MLB futures bets, game lines, and live betting options.

But if you did not grow up in the US or never played baseball, then you may be left scratching your head thinking, Yes, but what should I bet on, and who should I support? On this page, I will answer those questions, introducing you to the best MLB teams around right now, and what types of bets you can place, as shown in our 2024/25 MLB preview.

MLB Structure and Games

Before going into my top picks for the 2024/25 MLB season, it is important to have a little background as to how the MLB is structured. Within the MLB there are two conferences: the National League and the American League. Both conferences have three divisions each: the East, Central, and West, and within each division, there are 5 teams, making for a total of 30 teams. Each team has to play 162 games during the regular season, consisting of 52 games against divisional teams, 64 against intra-league teams, and 46 games against interleague teams.

Divisional games  (6+7) x 4 = 52

6-game and one 7-game series against each of the other 4 teams

Intraleague games (6x6) + (7x4) = 64

6-game series against 6 intraleague teams and 7-game series against the other 4 intraleague teams

Interleague games 4 + (3x14) = 46

4-game series against "natural rivals" and 3-game series against the other 14 intraleague teams

Natural Rivals

The "natural rivals" are the following:

• Cubs vs Sox
• Mets vs Yankees
• Dodgers vs Angels
• Astros vs Rockies
• Athletics vs Giants
• Blue Jays vs Phillies
• Guardians vs Reds
• Mariners vs Padres
• Orioles vs Nationals
• Rangers vs Diamondbacks
• Rays vs Marlins
• Red Sox vs Braves
• Royals vs Cardinals
• Tigers vs Pirates
• Twins vs Brewers

Now this is where it gets interesting. The game series is held on consecutive days, so for example, if the 4-game series between the Dodgers and Angels starts on a Monday, the teams will play all the games through to Thursday.

2024/25 MLB Preview

The MLB is notoriously difficult to predict, and there are no "top four" or "top six" teams. Sure, some franchises have never won the World Series, but you can also find iconic franchises that have not won anything for over 15 years (not specifically pointing out the New York Yankees there though). For my top picks, I scanned the betting markets at different betting sites and finally settled for 6 teams that have a shot at winning the World Series.

New York Yankees

20 years ago, I would not hesitate to bet on the Yankees to win the World Series. They are the most famous baseball franchise by some margin. The Yankees have won 27 World Series titles, and considering the next most successful team is the St. Louis Cardinals with 11 wins, it is quite some feat. The Yankees have always been a force to consider, and their last great period of domination was in the 2000s.

But after winning their 27th World Series title in 2009, the team has seen a harsh decline. The team has a few promising players, such as shortstop Anthony Volpe and Gerrit Cole. They also purchased Juan Soto, a young Dominican outfielder, in December of 2023, who has already notched a World Series title under his belt with the Washington Nationals. Good times may be up ahead for the New York Yankees.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers last won the World Series in 2020, but after committing over $1 billion in contracts in December, the Dodgers are in pole position to win the upcoming World Series. The acquisition of Shohei Ohtani has turned many heads, not only because of his $700 million contract.

The Dodgers have a star-studded lineup and have made the playoffs every season since 2012, winning 3 NL Pennants and one World Series trophy. They are one of the powerhouses, and they can line up with many world-class players, including Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Freddie Freeman, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Houston Astros

Texas has two MLB baseball teams, the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. Both teams have only really emerged in the past decade or so, suddenly hitting the MLB with a wave of excellent performances and strong lineups. The Houston Astros have won two World Series titles, in 2017 and 2022. Before 2014, the team had only reached the World Series once, and apart from 1 NL Pennant, they had no silverware. In 2014, the franchise was moved to the American League West Division, and then within 3 years, the Astros won their first World Series. Keep an eye on Kyle Tucker, Justin Verlander, and Jeremey Pena, who are integral parts of the Astros team.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have not won the World Series since 1983, though they had a stellar season in 2023. The team finished the regular season with a record of 101-61, their first 100+ win season since 1980. They won the AL East Division but then went on to face the Texas Rangers in the first round of the playoffs and were knocked out. Despite this, Orioles fans can take comfort in the fact that good times are probably not far away.

The franchise is currently in the process of being sold to a group led by David Rubenstein, the founder of The Carlyle Group. This fresh change will undoubtedly see more money pumped into the team and some big changes behind the scenes. Manager Brandon Hyde, who has been at the Orioles since 2019, won the AL Manager of the Year award and looks set to guide the Orioles to another phenomenal season. As for World Series hopes, it may be too early, but we have seen plenty of MLB fairytales in recent years.

Atlanta Braves

43, 38, and 26 - those are the number of years between each time the Atlanta Braves won a World Series. They won in 1914, 1957, 1995, and most recently in 2021, and looking at those numbers, the gap between each World Series title is closing, but whether the Braves can break the cycle and clinch a second title in 3 years remains to be seen.

In 2022 and 2023 the Braves finished with over 100 wins during the regular season, but in both years they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Phillies. Funnily enough, in 2021 when they won the World Series, the Braves only finished the regular season with 88 wins. A strong favorite is the NL East Division, which the Braves have won for 6 years on the bounce, this year they certainly have a shot at winning the World Series.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are the current defending champions, having notched their first World Series title in 2023. The team reached the World Series Finals twice, in 2010 and 2011, but lost to the NY Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2023, under new manager Bruce Bochy, the team finished the regular season with a record of 90-72. They narrowly missed out on the top spot in the AL West Division, but then went on to achieve the unthinkable.

They beat the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles without losing a single game. The game against their local rivals, the Houston Astros, was far closer, finishing 4-3 in favor of the Texas Rangers. Their final game, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, was a tantalizing series in which shortstop Corey Seager shone, securing 3 home runs. Though a lot of punters may write off the Texas Rangers, claiming it was a one-off that they won the World Series, the team is in great shape for the upcoming 2024/25 season. It will be exciting to see what manager Bochy does, now that he has one season under his belt, and is more familiar with his team.

World Series Futures Betting Odds

There are no heavy favorites to win the 2024 World Series just yet. The two top teams, according to the odds given across the sportsbooks I have checked, are the LA Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. The Houston Astros are also in contention for winning the World Series, but their odds suggest it would be a bit of a long shot.

• LA Dodgers @ 4.75
• ATL Braves @ 6.50
• HOU Astros @ 8.00

The next five teams on the list are verging on the miraculous, but may still be worth checking out.

• NY Yankees @ 11.00
• PHI Phillies @ 12.00
• TEX Rangers @ 12.00
• BAL Orioles @ 13.00
• TOR Blue Jays @ 15.00

Bear in mind though, that at the best betting sites, you have a cash-out option. If I were to put a $10 bet on the NY Yankees at odds 11.0 and then they won the AL East Division with a record of 100+ wins, then I may even cash out my bet with a neat little profit. The long odds are a bit daunting, but really, it is the best time to start placing your futures bets at online sportsbook sites in the US.

Click here to try the best odds at Everygame Sportsbook