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World Series odds

The Los Angeles Dodgers are favourites to win the 2021 World Series after ending their 32-year title drought last season.

Should the Dodgers win a second successive World Series, they would become the first team to successfully defend since the New York Yankees won three in a row between 1998 and 2000.

It is the Yankees who enter the season as second favourites to win the World Series after they lost in the ALDS in 2020.

Another Divisional Series loser from last year, the San Diego Padres , come in as third favourites for a maiden World Series title following an active offseason.

A young New York Mets team rank just behind them in the 2021 World Series futures.

The Atlanta Braves , who lost in seven games to the Dodgers in the 2020 NLCS, are equal-fifth favourites in the World Series betting.

Joining them are the Chicago White Sox .

World Series picks and predictions

This isn’t the most exciting prediction, but there is a reason why the Dodgers have been installed as favourites for a second successive World Series win.

The best team in baseball last year has become even better in the offseason with the blockbuster signing of 2020 Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer.

Bauer’s arrival bolsters a starting rotation that was already full of talent, headlined by emerging star Walker Buehler and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.

That rotation will be rounded out by Julio Urias, who impressed in rounding out their World Series win last year, and up-and-comer Dustin May.

Add in an elite bullpen that includes David Price, Tony Gonsolin, Blake Treinen, Kenley Jansen and Brusdar Graterol, and you have the deepest pitching staff around.

The Dodgers also retained all of their key offensive weapons after re-signing veteran third baseman Justin Turner from free agency.

With Turner, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager making up the top four in their order, the Dodgers also have a lineup capable of racking up the runs all season.

If you’re looking for more value, then several teams further down the betting are worth considering.   

The Padres are set to rival the Dodgers in the NL West, a division that now contains two of the most exciting teams in the whole league.

The Friars added handsomely to their rotation in the offseason, signing 2020 Cy Young runner-up Yu Darvish and 2018 winner Blake Snell.

They will be backed up by an offense that ranked in the top five for several key statistical categories last year, including home runs and RBIs, led by two likely MVP candidates in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.

The perennially contending Yankees boast arguably the best offense in the league, headlined by DJ LaMahieu, Luke Voit, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres.

They also have one of the most talented pitchers around in Gerrit Cole, although questions remain about their rotation and bullpen depth.

There is also excitement across the Big Apple at Citi Field, where the Mets have added All-Star shortstop, Francisco Lindor.

Their rotation is led by Jacob DeGrom, widely considered to be the best pitcher in MLB right now, who is supported by the likes of Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker.

They certainly have the talent to challenge, but this is a young team who may need a few years to develop into bona fide World Series contenders.

If you’re partial to a long shot, then look no further than 2020 runners-up, the Tampa Bay Rays .

This looks a very big price for a team that dominated the AL last year, going 40-20 in the regular season before beating the Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros in the post.

The loss of Snell to the Padres may put many off, but with no further departures of key players and a few smart offseason additions, Tampa could be a dark horse again this year.

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