World Series Odds & Prediction at All-Star Break: Can Tigers Challenge Dodgers?

The question seems eternal at this point, but we need to revisit it while analyzing the World Series odds at the All-Star break: can anyone catch the steamrolling Los Angeles Dodgers? 

The Dodgers backed into the break with a tough stretch that included a seven-game losing streak. Yet, they still easily sit atop the World Series odds from our best MLB betting sites while sporting the top record in the NL.

However, the Dodgers don't hold MLB's best record. That crown belongs to the AL-leading Detroit Tigers, who are surging in part because of their pitching and Cy Young odds front-runner Tarik Skubal.

Can the Tigers - or any team - close the gap to the Dodgers? Let's examine that and more while looking at the World Series odds at the All-Star break from the best sportsbooks.

📊 2025 World Series odds

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The Dodgers are almost exactly where they started the season, as they entered Opening Day getting +240 betting odds to take the World Series.

But as John Ewing of BetMGM notes, there's been significant movement elsewhere, perhaps most notably from the surging Tigers. They started their rise last season while moving from 78 wins the prior year to 86 and knocking off the division rival Cleveland Guardians in the wild-card round.

Still, the Tigers are a little ahead of schedule, with Skubal's dominance playing a key role.

Elsewhere, the Chicago Cubs sit just outside the top five in sixth, and their odds have risen from +3000 to +1200. The Toronto Blue Jays are the unlikely leaders in an AL East that resembles a battle dome again, with their price shuffling from +6000 in late March to +2000 now.

⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers

📊 Best odds: +260 via Caesars ($10 to win $26)
🔢 Implied probability: 27.8%

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In a development that isn't remotely surprising, Shohei Ohtani is producing yet another MLB MVP odds-leading season. His lead in that market is laughable, as the two-way wonder sits at -800 in the NL - miles ahead of Pete Crow-Armstrong in second place at +800.

He's a major reason why bettors continue to back the front-running Dodgers, who are getting 27.6% of the money at BetMGM, as Ewing also notes. Ohtani even recently returned to pitching for the behemoth defending champs, giving up just one earned run over his first nine innings of work with a K/9 of 10. Oh yeah, he also ranks third in home runs MLB-wide with 32.

🐯 Detroit Tigers

📊 Best odds: +700 via DraftKings ($10 to win $70)
🔢 Implied probability: 12.50%

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Never forget that prior to last season, the Tigers had logged seven straight campaigns with a record under .500 - including four with 95-plus losses, the most recent of which coming in 2022. They hold a whopping 11.5-game lead in the AL Central now, the largest of any division leader.

Detroit is challenging the Dodgers while edging them out for the best record in baseball at the break (58-39). It's a mark achieved partly through pitching and Skubal's mastery of the art, but also through an offense that's sixth in scoring, on-base percentage, and OPS.

Riley Greene has been doing much of the lifting, with his 24 homers already matching the outfielder's dinger production last season.

💣 New York Yankees

📊 Best odds: +900 via bet365 ($10 to win $90)
🔢 Implied probability: 10%

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Despite the continued brilliance of the Dodgers and the dominance of the Tigers in the AL, neither of those teams lead in run differential when we look at the top five clubs by the World Series odds.

That title belongs to the mashing Yankees, who have built up a massive lead in that all-important metric. The Yankees are sitting on a plus-111 run differential, which narrowly trails only the Cubs leaguewide (+119), and it's far ahead of the Tigers in third (+87).

Aaron Judge has, of course, played a key role while sitting second in home runs (35) and first in OPS by a wide margin (1.195) ahead of Cal Raleigh (1.010).

⚾ Philadelphia Phillies

📊 Best odds: +1000 via Caesars ($10 to win $100)
🔢 Implied probability: 9.09%

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Much was expected of the offensively potent Phillies to begin the season, which is reflected in their World Series odds that are remaining steady amid Philadelphia's 55-41 record.

One of the league's most well-rounded teams boasts two starting pitchers who are among the top 10 in ERA, with Cy Young Odds leading contender Zack Wheeler in sixth (2.36) and Cristopher Sanchez sitting 10th (2.50).

And as always, Kyle Schwarber has been raking with his 30 home runs (fifth) and .923 OPS (seventh).

🧑‍🚀 Houston Astros

📊 Best odds: +1100 via bet365 ($10 to win $110)
🔢 Implied probability: 8.33%

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The Astros' World Series odds grew to +2200 on May 1 after a tough start to the season. But the team with the second-best record in the AL and fourth-best MLB-wide (56-40) course corrected in a significant way, as did their odds while now shorter than Houston's +1400 to begin the season.

The Astros boast a five-game lead in the AL West, with pitching being a key factor. The Astros are fifth in ERA (3.61) and second in batting average allowed (.225).

🔮 World Series prediction

🐯 Tigers (+700)

It's exceedingly hard to go against the Dodgers, who won the World Series last year and produced three straight 100-plus win seasons before that. It's scary even, but the Tigers are ascending fast.

We know the pitching is stellar with Skubal taking charge. He leads a staff with a 3.69 ERA, much better than the Dodgers' 4.29.

The Tigers can keep pace offensively too, especially with Greene posting a career-best OPS so far (.879, 15th MLB-wide). He combines with Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter to form a formidable trio who are all putting up a hard-hit rate of 44% or higher, according to Baseball Savant.

They even share the Dodgers' weakness, with Detroit's 4.13 bullpen ERA ranked 21st, not far ahead of Los Angeles' 4.38 in 24th.

There's separation in one critical area, though: The Tigers' plus-87 run differential that sits above the Dodgers' plus-69.

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❓ World Series FAQs

Who is predicted to win 2025 World Series?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the 2025 World Series favorites while getting +260 odds, which implies a 27.78% chance to take the Fall Classic, according to our odds calculator.

Who are the favorites to win the 2025 World Series?

Beyond the World Series odds leading Dodgers, the Detroit Tigers pace the AL and are getting +700 odds, which translates to an implied probability of 12.50%. The New York Yankees (+900), Philadelphia Phillies (+1000), and Houston Astros (+1100) round out the top five.

When is the 2025 World Series?

Official dates have yet to be set, but the World Series typically begins in late October, and it could spill into early November if the series goes the distance. Game 1 of last year's World Series was on Oct. 25, and it concluded on Oct. 30.

Who won the 2024 World Series?

The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games to take the 2024 World Series.

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