Postseason Showdown: Dodgers vs. Phillies

The excitement is palpable as the MLB postseason advances to the National League Division Series (NLDS), where the two top World Series betting favorites will go head-to-head. The Los Angeles Dodgers enter this weekend as the betting favorite, while the Philadelphia Phillies claim the second-best odds to secure the championship title.

As anticipation builds, the odds for the other six teams participating in the American League and National League division series have positioned them at +550 or longer. These numbers are expected to shift as the Dodgers and Phillies start their best-of-five series on Saturday night.

Current World Series Odds

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the current World Series odds are as follows:

• Los Angeles Dodgers: +320 (bet $100 to win $320)
• Philadelphia Phillies: +475
• Seattle Mariners: +550
• New York Yankees: +550
• Chicago Cubs: +750
• Milwaukee Brewers: +800
• Toronto Blue Jays: +850
• Detroit Tigers: +950

Navigating the Odds

The intriguing nature of the World Series odds highlights a few key dynamics. Both the Dodgers and Phillies hold the lowest odds to win the series, yet only one team will move forward to the NL Championship Series. This allows for potential betting opportunities on teams like the Seattle Mariners, whose odds may decrease as the Dodgers-Phillies series unfolds.

Historically, the Phillies were positioned as the World Series favorite before the wild-card round, but following the Dodgers' impressive sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles has ascended to the favorite role. A significant factor might be Philadelphia's formidable home-field advantage since they boasted the best home record in baseball during the 2025 regular season.

Wild Card Trends

Adding another layer of intrigue to the postseason is the unexpected positioning of teams in the odds. Notably, the Chicago Cubs have slightly better World Series odds compared to the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers. Despite Milwaukee finishing with the best overall record in the majors, they find themselves with less favorable odds than the Cubs, even as they take the -125 series line against them in the NLDS.

In the American League, the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees hold the best bets among AL teams. Many consider Seattle to be the most well-rounded team in the American League, while the Yankees, buoyed by a solid rotation following Cam Schlittler's remarkable 12-strikeout performance, are poised to be a formidable contender in the postseason.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that recent trends reveal that since 2022, six teams emerging victorious from the wild-card round have advanced to the championship series. The Yankees, Tigers, Cubs, and Dodgers are all looking to build on this trend as they compete in the ALDS and NLDS.