World Series Betting Preview: New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are separated by 2,800 miles and haven’t played each other in the World Series in 43 years. But at one time, there was a mere 15 miles between the two teams, and they met in the Fall Classic on a regular basis.

The Yankees used to get over on those Brooklyn Dodgers, beating them in the World Series in their first five meetings – 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, and 1953. Finally, the Dodgers got a championship in 1955, and another one in 1963 after the team moved to Los Angeles. The Dodgers got their last big win in this rivalry in that meeting 43 years ago (1981). But overall in October, the Yankees have won eight series to just three for L.A.

There is the natural rivalry between the nation’s two biggest cities on opposite ends of the country. But there is also the rivalry between the two biggest stars in baseball – the presumptive National League MVP, Shohei Ohtani, and presumptive American League MVP, Aaron Judge.

We also have two of the largest fan bases in baseball, two of the largest payrolls, and two of the most iconic stadiums for the teams that began the season in March as the betting favorites to win their league pennants and meet in the World Series.

World Series Schedule

Game 1: Yankees at Dodgers, Friday, October 25

Game 2: Yankees at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 26

Game 3: Dodgers at Yankees, Monday, Oct. 28

Game 4: Dodgers at Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 29

Game 5: Dodgers at Yankees, Wednesday, Oct. 30 (if necessary)

Game 6: Yankees at Dodgers, Friday, Nov. 1 (if necessary)

Game 7: Yankees at Dodgers, Saturday, Nov. 2 (if necessary)

First pitch times TBD.

Dodgers Favored to Win World Series

The Yankees have rolled through the playoffs, dropping just one game to the Kansas City Royals in the Division Series, and losing only once to the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.

The Dodgers had a slightly harder road, losing twice in their 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres, and twice to the New York Mets in their 4-2 win in the National League Championship Series. But as we look ahead to Game 1 of the World Series, it is L.A. that is the betting favorite to win the World Series.

The Dodgers are paying -125 to win the Series, while the Yankees are in plus money at +105. Considering the way New York has dominated in these playoffs, and the way Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto have been hitting the ball, at those odds New York might present a very attractive bet.

For Friday’s Game 1, the Dodgers are -130 to win on the moneyline, while the Yankees are paying +110.

Proposition Bets

The two league MVPs, Ohtani and Judge, are the favorites to win the World Series MVP. Ohtani is paying +200, while Judge is paying +400. Soto is +500 to win the World Series MVP, and Stanton, the ALCS MVP, is at +800 repeat his win in the World Series. The last player to win both a League Championship Series and World Series MVP in the same postseason was Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña  in 2022.

Since Major League Baseball formed divisions in 1969, 12 players that won the league MVP also won the World Series MVP. The most recent to do it was Mookie Betts in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. Betts is paying +900 to win this World Series MVP, which ranks him second among the Dodgers.

Stanton hit three home runs in the ALCS, and the odds of him repeating that feat in the World Series is +285. Judge is the betting favorite to hit three home runs in the Series at +114. Ohtani is +144 to hit three homers, and Soto is playing +230.

There are four batters paying negative money to hit two homers in the World Series – Judge (-295), Ohtani (-225), Soto (-142), and Stanton (-115).