After a wild offseason that saw some big names change teams, the start of the Major League Baseball season is right around the corner. The BetUS sportsbook lists reigning World Series champion Los Angeles with the shortest odds at +285 to win the World Series again according to the MLB odds.
The Los Angeles Dodgers begin the quest to be the first MLB team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the 2000 New York Yankees when the Dodgers face the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19 in the Tokyo Series at the Tokyo Dome.
Keep an eye for some MLB preseason odds.
The 2025 MLB season is quickly approaching, so check out our MLB odds page for the opening lines.
Look At Major League Baseball Preseason Odds
Before the 2025 MLB playoff bracket is set, the teams will use spring training games to prepare for the 162-game regular season.
Spring Training Games to Get Teams Ready for Playoff Glory
Established stars will look to get their timing while top prospects are ready to make their presence felt.
One thing that separates the preseason in Major League Baseball from the other major North American major professional sports is the use of split squads. Teams will play more than one game in one day and splitting the rosters in half will allow more players to get the chance to shine.
Those split-squad spring training games might help those who bet online make MLB picks once the regular season gets rolling.
Dodgers Are The Team To Beat
If the Los Angeles Dodgers hadn’t made a move in the offseason, they would still have been in contention to win another World Series title. However, the Dodgers weren’t shy about stacking the deck even more in their favor with the acquisitions of pitchers Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Roki Sasaki.
The Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites with +160 MLB odds of winning the National League pennant and are at +275 to repeat as World Series champions.
Can The Braves Challenge the Dodgers?
The Atlanta Braves saw star pitcher Spencer Strider and former National League Most Valuable Player Ronald Acuna Jr. suffer season-ending injuries. The Braves overcame those injuries to reach the playoffs. However, Atlanta lost to the San Diego Padres to make an early exit from the playoffs.
One member of that San Diego team was outfielder Jurickson Profar. After a season with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs, Profar signed with the Braves. He figures to be a popular target in the MLB props bets. The Braves also signed outfielder Bryan De La Cruz.
Getting Strider and Acuna back will be key as well.
The Braves are second among National League teams at +900 in the odds of winning the World Series and trail only the Dodgers with +500 odds of representing the National League in the World Series.
The Braves should be challenged by a pair of National League East rivals. The New York Mets re-signed slugging first baseman Pete Alonso and made a splash in free agency with the signing of outfielder Juan Soto. That helped move the Mets to be the No. 3 favorite among National League teams to win the World Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies are the reigning NL East champions and come in at +1100 in the World Series odds.
American League East Is Loaded Again
Even with pitcher Corbin Burnes leaving the Baltimore Orioles and Juan Soto lasting just one season with the New York Yankees before signing with the New York Mets, many of the top title contenders in the American League reside in the AL East.
The New York Yankees (+800) have the shortest odds to win the World Series among American League teams. The Yankees added pitchers Max Fried and Devin Williams, outfielder Cody Bellinger, and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt as they look to return to the World Series.
The Orioles (+1400 to win the World Series) added pitcher Charlie Morton as well as outfielders Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill. When looking at the MLB lines, the Orioles finished third among American League teams by covering on the run line in 88 games during the 2024 season.
The Boston Red Sox signed one of the last remaining big-name free agents with the addition of infielder Alex Bregman. Boston traded away some prospects to acquire Chicago White Sox pitcher Garret Crochet and added former American League Reliever of the Year Aroldis Chapman. Some of the players who changed teams are on the MLB injury reports.
Astros Have A Different Look
More of the key players from some of the recent World Series champions for the Houston Astros have landed elsewhere. Not only did Bregman sign with the Red Sox, but outfielder Kyle Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs.
Houston is still the slight favorite in the AL West and trails only the Yankees and Orioles among American League teams with +1800 odds to win the World Series.
What To Look For In Spring Training?
When Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers take their cuts in spring training games, it is worth paying attention. However, the unproven players should be the ones in the spotlight.
New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez, Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe, Baltimore Orioles infielder Coby Mayo and Seattle Mariners infielder Jacob Wilson are the front-runners in the American League Rookie of the Year odds. Check the MLB odds, as the Rookie of the Year race can change in a heartbeat.
In the National League, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews, Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jordan Lawlar, and St. Louis Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese could be the top rookies.
FAQs
When does the MLB Regular Season Start?
The 2025 Major League Baseball season is scheduled to begin on March 18–19 with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs held in Tokyo, Japan, before the rest of the regular season, which is set to run from March 27 to September 28.
