Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani bats during the third inning of a baseball game against the San … [+]
The MLB Playoffs Wild Card round ended quickly for the two American League favorites. The surging Detroit Tigers swept the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals were also best in a 2-game sweep over the Baltimore Orioles. The San Diego Padres swept the Atlanta Braves to set up a showdown with their NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Divisional Series (NLDS).
“This is what everyone wanted,” Padres star Manny Machado told ESPN on facing the Dodgers.
The New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers WC series is tied 1-1 and Thursday’s winner will advance to the NLDS to face the Philadelphia Phillies.
Three of the series odds are set in the ALDS and NLDS and Game 1 matchups starting Saturday, Oct. 5 are posted at leading online sportsbooks.
The excitement and electricity of the Major League Baseball playoffs was on full display in the Wild Card round. The fans and players passion for playoff baseball brings out the best in sports and competition, and the 5-game divisional series’ will provide more engagement and watch and wager action.
The leading online sportsbooks enjoyed the Tigers upset along with the Royals, as DraftKings reported more than 70% of the money was on the Astros and Orioles to win their series. Bettors supported the San Diego Padres even more while the New York Mets were the only series underdog to take a greater percentage of money as bettors in New York support the Mets and Yankees next round in the ALDS.
But the surprising and surging Detroit Tigers have overcome huge odds to make the postseason. Detroit was given less than a 1% chance to make the postseason on August 11, according to FanGraphs. The Tigers were also as high as 350/1 to win the American League Pennant.
The MLB Playoffs will go head to head with NCAA football and the NFL for viewers and bettors on Saturday and Sunday. But baseball in October holds its own while creating memorable moments in the most special time of the sports season.
MLB Divisional Round Series And Odds
Major League Baseball odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Betting favorites (-) and underdogs (+)
MLB Postseason Series Previews, Stats, Odds, Picks and Props
The ALDS are televised on TBS, and NLDS on FOX and FS1.
Of course there are plenty of ways to bet on baseball beyond just the moneyline odds or game totals. Player props and especially home run props are most popular.
Game 1 Moneyline Odds And Pitchers
Sat., Oct. 5
Starting pitchers to be determined, and updated once announced.
- Detroit (+122) at Cleveland (-144) – 7 runs / TBD vs. T. Bibee
- Kansas City (+166) at New York (-198) – 8 runs / TBD vs. G. Cole
- San Diego (+126) at Los Angeles (-148) – 8 runs / D. Cease vs. J. Flaherty
- New York/Milwaukee at Philadelphia Phillies (-) / TBD vs. Z. Wheeler
The NLDS and ALDS winners will play in the National League and American League Championship Series with the NLDS starting Sunday, Oct. 13 and televised on FOX and FS1. The ALCS begins Monday, Oct. 14 with all games televised on TBS. The World Series starts Friday, Oct. 25 and televised on FOX.
Odds To Win World Series
Adjusted World Series odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change.
- +290: New York Yankees
- +310: Los Angeles Dodgers
- +380: Philadelphia Phillies
- +600: San Diego Padres
- +1100: Cleveland Guardians
- +1200: Detroit Tigers
- +1400: Kansas City Rotals
- +2100: Milwaukee Brewers
- +3000: New York Mets
Rich Get Richer
The teams with the highest payrolls are favorties to win the 2024 World Series. And the owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and just eliminated Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles all made the latest annual Forbes 400 list released Tuesday, ranking them among the richest people in America.
Counting on the Dodgers or Phillies to make the World Series, and for the National League (-140) to beat the American League representative.
You can bet on it.