MLB World Series Odds, Predictions, Picks 2022

After a 2020 campaign with just a 60-game season and then a 2021 season that had fan capacity limits for a number of teams, the 2022 season is expected to be almost entirely normal.

That is, other than the fact that there was a 99-day lockout this offseason which pushed back Opening Day by one week. Still a full 162-game schedule with fans is on the horizon and that’s what counts.

We’re going to do our best to help you with some futures bets and we start with the MLB World Series. Below we run through the previous winners of the World Series and then pick out five teams we either think have a great chance to win in 2022 or have great value and could make a surprise run.

2022 World Series Odds

Odds taken from Caesars Sportsbook

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Favorites to Win the MLB World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers

During the offseason, it can be easy to get sucked into hyperbole. It’s been a long time (more than four months) since we’ve watched baseball that truly mattered and the anticipation is growing – something that inherently lends itself to some aggressive takes.

With that said, it doesn’t feel like a stretch to say the Dodger’s 2022 lineup, at least on paper, might be the deepest in the 21st century. For starters, eight of the nine batters in the projected Opening Day lineup hit at least 20 home runs in 2021. The one who didn’t? Cody Bellinger was the MVP just three years ago. The Dodgers were already stacked offensively and that’s before they added Freddie Freeman – you know, the best first baseman in the game who helped lead the Braves to a World Series.

On the mound, they still have the big three of Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Julio Urias, and don’t count them out of the mix to add a fourth arm to the rotation at the trade deadline. They’re the overwhelming favorite at just +475, nearly two times shorter odds than the next closest team, but it’s still worth a bet because they’re the clear front-runner.

Toronto Blue Jays

In a division that has four teams who all genuinely believe they could not just win the division, but win the World Series, this is about surviving what will be a gauntlet of a regular season. And while the Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox all have the either more recent winning pedigree or higher bankrolls, it’s the Blue Jays who we’re watching out for.

They did lose the reigning AL Cy Young Winner in Robbie Ray but were able to add 2021 All-Star Kevin Gausman to alleviate some of that sting along with Hyun Jin-Ryu. Also let’s not forget they boast a lineup with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, and Teoscar Hernandez – all of whom could realistically combine for more than 125 home runs.

Also, one last thing that shouldn’t be overlooked – unvaccinated players cannot travel to or play in Toronto. The Blue Jays seem to be in relatively good standing on that front, but not all opposing teams are. Don’t count out the possibility of key guys missing time on road games at the Blue Jays – a small, but not insignificant factor this year.

New York Mets

This is the last team with relatively short odds (they opened at +2000 but are now all the way down to +700) we will take a look at. I know what you’re thinking: the Mets? We’re seriously going to trust the Mets? As hard as it is to believe, New York’s ‘second team’ has a good path to get to the postseason and it starts with having possibly the two best pitchers in the National League – Jacob DeGrom and Max Scherzer who have combined for four NL Cy Young Awards since 2016 as well as a solid No. 3 in Chris Bassitt.

The offense is of course led by slugger Pete Alonso – he’s sandwiched in the lineup by Francisco Lindor and Robinson Cano – and the team got reinforcements this offseason in the form of Eduardo Escobar, Starling Marte, and Mark Canha. Assuming there can be something that resembles bounce-back seasons from a number of guys who struggled in 2021 (looking at you Jeff McNeil and Dom Smith), the Mets could win in what is a relatively deep division. Then, in the playoffs when you need reliable arms – there are few who could match this top three.

St. Louis Cardinals

There are a few teams across all professional sports in America that just never seem to have a down year. In baseball, that’s St. Louis. The Cardinals have finished below .500 just once (!) this century and with the addition of Albert Pujols in his final MLB season (yes, his production is way down but in terms of energy it will create in the ballpark and veteran leadership it will provide in the clubhouse it can’t be counted out) the Cardinals could make another run this season.

Start with the lineup. Yes, it will have Pujols and fellow future firs-ballot Hall-of-Famer Yadier Molina, but the real meat of this lineup is Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and Tyler O’Neill three of the most (somehow) underrated players in the game as. Then, the rotation has veteran Adam Wainwright (also likely his last year) and should get the return of Jack Flaherty, though his injury status right now is a potential concern.

St. Louis has a winning pedigree, the NL Central has two of the worst teams (Pirates and Reds) and doesn’t have any heavy-hitter at the top, as the Brewers should contend for another division title and the Cubs do have an outside shot at the Wild Card. But with so much nostalgia this year, St. Louis is a sneaky play.

Seattle Mariners

It’s a long shot, we know, but it’s no fun to just pick all the favorites. The Mariners were surprised last year, going 90-72, and were in playoff contention until the final week of the season. Yes, the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels are both picked to finish ahead of them in the division, but the Angels have disappointed for nearly a decade straight – so don’t be surprised if the Mariners end up in the top two this year.

If they do, it will be because they made some major off-season acquisitions including reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, All-Star outfielder Jesse Winker, slugger Eugenio Suarez, All-Star Adam Frazier to round out the infield, and Steven DeSouza. Essentially, the M’s added a number of veterans to an up-and-coming squad and with the expanded playoffs in 2022, do not be surprised if they’re a factor in October.

Who Won the 2021 World Series?

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros in six games to win the 2021 World Series. Here are the last 10 World Series winners

Which MLB Teams Have Never Won a World Series?

There are six organizations that are still looking to lift the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first time.

Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers, however, this year – three of those teams are among the top 10 favorites.

Which MLB Team Has Won the Most World Series?

The New York Yankees are well beyond the rest of the league with 27 World Series titles, however, they’ve won just one time (2009) in the past 21 years.

Here are the rest of the teams who have won at least three world championships: St. Louis Cardinals (11), Boston Red Sox (9), Oakland Athletics (9), San Francisco Giants (8), Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers (7), Pittsburgh Pirates (5), Cincinnati Reds (5), Detroit Tigers (4), Atlanta Braves (4) Chicago White Sox (3), Minnesota Twins/Senators (3), Baltimore Orioles (3), and Chicago Cubs (3).

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