The field for the 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs has been set. The final day of the regular season can change some seeds. However, the 12-team field that will make it into the playoffs is clear. Here's a look at the 2023 World Series Odds for each of the 12 teams that will be playing baseball still after October 1st, 2023 (all odds from bet365).
2023 World Series Odds: Atlanta Braves are Favorites
- Atlanta Braves: +260
- LA Dodgers: +400
- Baltimore Orioles: +600
- Texas Rangers: +700
- Houston Astros: +800
- Tampa Bay Rays: +1100
- Toronto Blue Jays: +1200
- Philadelphia Phillies: +1300
- Minnesota Twins: +1700
- Milwaukee Brewers: +1800
- Miami Marlins: +3500
- Arizona Diamondbacks: +4000
For the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and the Chicago Cubs the bubble has recently burst. For most other teams, the bubble burst quite a while ago. These teams will next have World Series odds when sportsbooks open the 2024 World Series market. That will be done shortly after the conclusion of this year's Fall Classic.
2023 MLB Playoff Format
The format for Major League Baseball seems to be changing all of the time. This year, there will be a Wild Card round that will involve the three Wild Cards from each league plus the division winner with the worst record. At this point, things are a little cloudy from that point of view.
The AL West is the only division where matters are not settled. Bettors looking to back the Texas Rangers should not be doing so until after October 1st. You want to see Texas avoid the Wild Card round before backing them.
The Wild Card round sees the sixth seed at the third seed and the fifth seed at the fourth seed for each league. This round is a blink-and-you-are-out best-of-three series. If the series goes three games, then all three games will be played in the ballpark of the higher seed.
2023 MLB playoffs after the Wild Card Round
After the Wild Card round, the winner of the 6v3 matchup plays the No. 2 seed. The winner of the 5v4 matchup plays the No. 1. These will be best-of-five series. The higher seed will host games 1, 2, and 5 (if game five is needed). The winners in this round advance to the respective ALCS or NLCS, which is always best-of-seven. The World Series will be best-of-seven as well.
The Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles are the top seeds in the NL and AL respectively. If you went by the betting odds, then they would be facing one another in the 2023 World Series.
While the LA Dodgers have shorter odds than Baltimore, the Dodgers are on the same half of the draw as Atlanta. That means the top two betting favorites to win the World Series cannot meet in it.
Our predicted 2023 World Series matchup: Dodgers @ Orioles. That makes LA our pick to win the NLCS and Baltimore our pick to win the ALCS.
2023 World Series Odds: Long Shot Dabble
If you are looking at the betting odds above for long-shot value, then look at the Miami Marlins. Yes, they have to play in the coin-toss Wild Card round. However, they are 35 to 1. Miami was one of the strongest teams down the home stretch of the regular season. There is something to be said about a 'team of the moment' in baseball.
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