2025 MLB season picks & best bets
Opening Day for the 2025 Major League Baseball season is set for Thursday. Okay, technically the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have already played two regular-season games in Tokyo, but those don’t really count. This week is the beginning of the real thing, a six-month grind to the playoffs as teams battle for either division titles or wild-card berths.
What will transpire in the diamond in 2025? Let’s break down the World Series odds and discuss the MLB best bets to be made.
World Series odds
The Dodgers won it all last year and did not rest on their laurels, hitting the free-agent market harder than almost everyone else. As a result, they are considerable favorites to secure yet another championship. However, Los Angeles could be challenged by the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles.
Here are the World Series odds to win it all this fall:
- Los Angeles Dodgers +290
- Atlanta Braves +750
- New York Yankees +850
- Philadelphia Phillies +1200
- New York Mets +1200
- Baltimore Orioles +1600
- Houston Astros +1800
- Boston Red Sox +1800
- Texas Rangers +1900
- Chicago Cubs +3000
- Seattle Mariners +3000
- Minnesota Twins +3000
- Detroit Tigers +3000
- San Diego Padres +3300
- Arizona Diamondbacks +3300
2025 MLB World Series Predictions
Pick #1: Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series (+1600)
Pick #2: San Diego Padres to win the World Series (+3300)
Pick #3: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to win AL MVP (+1400)
PICK #1: Orioles to win World Series (+1600)
The regular season has not been an issue for the Orioles of late. They won 101 games in 2023 en route to the top seed in the American League; they posted 91 wins last season for the No. 1 wild-card spot. In the postseason, however, Baltimore got swept right away in back-to-back years by the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. Now it’s time for the O’s to rise to the occasion in the playoffs. Rising stars Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday are only improving while also gaining experience.
One-year rental Corbin Burnes is gone, but Baltimore added Charlie Morton and Japan’s Tomoyuki Sogano for rotation depth. The pitching should be just fine if Grayson Rodriguez can get healthy and stay that way. This team has all the tools to win the AL Pennant, and anything can happen in the World Series – even if it’s against the Dodgers.
PICK #2: Padres to win World Series (+3300)
The Dodgers obviously steal all of the headlines in the NL West and even the Arizona Diamondbacks are getting a lot of love. With the Padres flying under the radar, they make for an enticing proposition as a longshot in the betting market. The Padres compiled a 93-69 record last season, advanced to the Divisional Round and led the Dodgers 2-1 before failing to get across the finish line. Yu Darvish and Dylan Cease are still there, while Michael King has risen to become the Opening Day starter – so the rotation is in a good place. The lineup is also dangerous, led by Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts and Luis Arraez.
PICK #3: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to win AL MVP (+1400)
As the fifth-favorite to win AL MVP honors, Guerrero has great value. The Toronto Blue Jays’ slugger is in a contract year, and more often than not that leads to huge numbers for any player as he approaches free agency. You know motivation is not going to be a problem. Guerrero was stellar in 2024, belting 30 home runs to go along with 103 RBIs and a .321 xBA after batting .376 over the final 63 games. Supported in a potent lineup by Bo Bichette, George Springer and newcomer Anthony Santander, the 26-year-old should be even better in 2025 as he enters the absolute prime of his career. He was runner-up in the MVP voting in 2021 and sixth last season. There is no reason why Guerrero can’t finally get over the hump.
