The 2022 MLB Season is already underway, and the top two teams in the MLB futures betting are the LA Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. So with plenty of punters fancying the chances of the Dodgers this season, what chance the Blue Jays can upset the favorites and win the world series?
The LA Dodgers won the 2022 World Series. While you have to go back nearly 30 years to 1993 to find the last time the Blue Jays won the title. On paper, the LA Dodgers look like the team to beat this year. The Blue Jays are looking better than in previous years. But are they the best bet to prevent the betting favorites from winning their 8th World Series title?
2022 World Series Winner Betting Odds
After winning the title in 2020 and only being stopped by some incredible performances last season, the LA Dodgers are the favorites in the MLB 2022 World Series betting odds.
| 2022 MLB World Series; Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| LA Dodgers | 5.74 | 5.00 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 8.79 | 8.50 |
| Houston Astros | 9.33 | 9.00 |
| Chicago White Sox | 11.44 | 12.00 |
| Atlanta Braves | 12.61 | 14.00 |
| New York Yankees | 13.38 | 13.00 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 13.46 | 15.00 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 14.59 | 15.00 |
| New York Mets | 14.65 | 16.00 |
| San Diego Padres | 15.80 | 18.00 |
| Boston Red Sox | 20.90 | 18.00 |
| San Francisco Giants | 22.46 | 21.00 |
| St Louis Cardinals | 27.15 | 25.00 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 21.96 | 25.00 |
Their chief rivals look set to be the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros, last season’s losing finalists.
Winners last season, the Atlanta Braves, are fifth in the betting at 12.61. The fourth side making up the top five in the betting is the Chicago White Sox at 11.44.
The Sportsbooks make LA Dodgers the Team to Beat!
The LA Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites with the best online sportsbooks. Sports Interaction makes the Dodgers their 5.74 betting favorites, just ahead of Toronto at 8.79. But when you look south of the border, the US sportsbooks have a far wider gap between the teams in the betting odds.
The Dodgers didn’t win their division last year, finishing second to the San Francisco Giants in the National League West. To put that in perspective though, the Giants far exceeded the expectations of everyone on their way to winning 107 matches with a percentage of 0.660.
The Giants’ record was just one win better than the Dodgers, who finished with 106 wins at a percentage of 0.654
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The 106 wins was a record-breaking season for the Dodgers franchise last season. So even though they failed to defend the title, it was still a great effort. The even better season from the Giants also ended the Dodgers’ run of eight successive National League West titles.
In the latest MLB betting odds, the Dodgers are just 1.43 to win back the league title this season. The Giants are 6.51 third betting favorites to defend their title. Furthermore, in the betting to win the National League in 2022, the LA Dodgers are also the favorites. They can be bet on at a more attractive price of 3.18 in this more competitive market.
I think this is a better value bet, and I’m making the LA Dodgers my pick to win the 2022 National League.
Can the Blue Jays Build on Home Comforts?
So what of the Blue Jays? Let’s take a look at their chances of winning the World Series, and also their betting to win the American League and American League East.
In the American League, the Blue Jays are the betting favorites with Sports Interaction, at 4.88; just ahead of the Houston Astros at 5.05. Not a nailed-on certainty in the eyes of the best Canadian sportsbooks.
At 2.47 to win the American League East, the Blue Jays are also the betting favorites. Their main rivals in that market are the New York Yankees at 3.36. This looks like an open betting group with Tampa Bay at 3.54, and Boston at 6.71. Baltimore is the exception at 184.00.
The Blue Jays’ 2020 and 2021 seasons were disrupted with the team playing the majority of home matches outside of their traditional home venue. Last season they had a 91-71 record. But with the addition of Matt Chapman and with all this season’s home matches scheduled to be at the Rogers Centre, they are expected to be far more settled.
Whether those improvements are enough to win the World Series, I’m not so sure. But odds of 2.47 to win the AL East look good to me and I’m happy to go with that for my Toronto Blue Jays pick.
Giants set to Underperform this Season
Finally, let’s have a look at last season’s surprise package, the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants are not fancied at all this year. This is mainly down to the over-achievements of last season, along with the losses of Kevin Gausman, Kris Bryant, and the retired Buster Posey.
In the betting odds to reach the playoffs, they are 1.71 Yes, and 2.15 No. Compare that to the odds on the Dodgers, who are 1.08 Yes, and 8.66 No, and you can see how different the sportsbooks are expecting this season to be for the Giants.
To win the World Series they are 22.46, and I don’t see any value there at all. If I was going to have any bet on San Fran this year, it would be on the 2.15 on them not to make the playoffs.
