The Major League Baseball season starts next Thursday on March 30. Heading into the season, defending champion Houston has become the outright favorite over a couple of co-second choices, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. But although the favorites look tough to beat, this is baseball where anything can happen.
Check out MLB betting lines and analysis for three favorites, smart picks, and dark horses.
MLB Favorites, Smart Picks, and Dark Horses To Win the 2023 World Series
MLB Season Info | Updated MLB Odds
Duration: Thursday, Mar. 30 – Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
Number of games: 162 games
Number of teams: 30 teams
Houston Astros +600 | Favorites
The Houston Astros have a terrific batting lineup and even better starting rotation. Both Framber Valdez and Christian Javier are Cy Young contenders.
The team can repeat for sure. Among the three favorites, no doubt, Houston is the best play.
MLB Favorite Picks: Bet Houston Astros To Win World Series
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Los Angeles Dodgers +700 | Favorites
At +700 odds, the Los Angeles Dodgers are tough to back. First, LAD has failed to win the World Series in the past two seasons even though they’ve started 2021 and 2022 the chalk to win the Fall Classic.
Second, the Dodgers’ rotation could suffer because Walker Buehler is injured. In addition, Julio Urias has never carried the load as an ace and Clayton Kershaw is 35. Pass unless you truly believe.
MLB Favorite Picks: Bet Los Angeles Dodgers To Win
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New York Mets +700 | Favorites
The New York Mets are a better play than the Dodgers to win the World Series. There’s nothing wrong with NYM. If Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Kodai Senga stay healthy, the Mets should dominate opposing batters. NYM might be worth a bet at +700.
MLB Favorite Picks: Bet New York Mets To Win World Series
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Toronto Blue Jays +900 | Smart Picks
The Toronto Blue Jays are a smart play to win the World Series. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads a formidable batting lineup.
The rotation should be decent. Alek Manoah could win the Cy Young this season. Manoah is listed second on the depth chart behind ace Kevin Gausman. Both starters are good enough to win the Cy.
MLB Smart Picks: Bet Toronto Blue Jays To Win World Series
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Philadelphia Phillies +1600 | Smart Picks
Sure, Bryce Harper may not return until July. Still, the Philadelphia Phillies are a solid squad. The rotation proved it can handle National League opponents.
Also, Philly has more bats in the lineup than just Bryce’s. The team got a taste of success in 2022. Sometimes, success becomes an addiction. We shouldn’t rule out a return trip to the Fall Classic.
MLB Smart Picks: Bet Philadelphia Phillies To Win World Series
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Tampa Bay Rays +2200 | Smart Picks
If Tyler Glasnow returns to the form that made him a Cy Young contender, the Tampa Bay Rays will challenge the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East Division title.
Glasnow is second in the rotation behind solid Shane McClanahan. Jeffrey Springs is the third starter. His ERA is 2.46.
MLB Smart Picks: Bet Texas Rangers To Win World Series
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Texas Rangers +3300 | Dark Horses
Texas is the first of two AL West dark horse teams that can get it done. The Rangers boast a pair of ace pitchers in Jacob DeGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.
The Texas Rangers must find a way to make the postseason. If they do, they’ll have a shot to win the World Series if DeGrom and Eovaldi are healthy because Texas should score plenty of runs.
MLB Dark Horse Pick: Bet Texas Rangers To Win World Series
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San Francisco Giants +3500 | Dark Horses
The San Francisco Giants don’t often stay down for long. In 2021, the Giants won 107 games. A return to that excellent season isn’t probable but it could happen.
The key will be for Logan Webb to develop into a legit shutdown ace starter. It will also help if Sean Manaea rediscovers his best stuff. If those two things happen, the Giants could upset the Padres and Dodgers and win the NL West.
MLB Dark Horse Pick: Bet San Francisco Giants To Win World Series
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Los Angeles Angels +5000 | Dark Horses
The Angels boast MLB’s two best players, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. This season, everything could come together.
The key will be former Dodgers’ starter Tyler Anderson. If Anderson becomes the Halos’ second ace behind Shohei, the Los Angeles Angels can win the World Series, no matter what the massive odds imply.
MLB Dark Horse Pick: Bet Los Angeles Angels To Win World Series
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