Braves early WS fave as market waits on Ohtani

The Atlanta Braves enter the offseason as the consensus favorite to win next year’s World Series at sportsbooks around the nation, but the odds could change significantly depending on where marquee free agent Shohei Ohtani lands.

The Braves are listed at 13-2 by ESPN BET, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7-1. The Houston Astros and champion Texas Rangers are each 9-1, rounding out the teams with single-digit odds to win the 2024 World Series.

The Dodgers are considered the leading contender to land Ohtani, a move oddsmakers believe could propel them past the Braves into the role of World Series favorite.

“If the Dodgers do get Ohtani, they would at least be the same odds as the Braves, possibly lower just for the perception of it as well,” Randy Blum, who oversees baseball odds for the SuperBook in Las Vegas, told ESPN.

Blum said he shaded the SuperBook’s World Series odds lower on the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants, two teams he believes are in the running for Ohtani. The Mariners are 16-1 and the Giants are 40-1 at the SuperBook. The Angels also are 40-1 but would drift longer if Ohtani leaves, Blum said.

The Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games Wednesday to win the franchise’s first World Series. Texas began the season as a 50-1 long shot, and the Diamondbacks could be found at 150-1. Arizona heads into the offseason at 25-1 to win next year’s World Series.

ESPN BET odds are provided by the risk and trading team from our partner PENN Entertainment.