MLB power rankings: Ranking teams based on their World Series odds for Opening Day
MLB Opening Day is here, which is a huge relief to baseball fans after an offseason that largely dragged.
It's also a welcome distraction for the league, which is facing a gambling scandal involving its most popular player and a civil war within the MLB Players' Association.
Opening Day is a time of hope for all 30 teams. Everyone starts the 162-game season with a clean, 0-0 record with the chance of a playoff berth and World Series title theoretically and mathematically possible for any team. It's a sentiment that rings especially true after the Arizona Diamondbacks' unlikely World Series run following an 84-win regular season.
Here's how all 30 teams rank ahead of the start of the regular season based on World Series odds courtesy of BetMGM.
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MLB Opening Day power rankings: World Series odds
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (+350)
The Dodgers won 100 games in a year where only two starters had an ERA+ better than league average. That was largely thanks to the firepower in their lineup that features two former MVPs: outfielder (now shortstop) Mookie Betts and first baseman Freddie Freeman.
This offseason, they signed two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the two best free agents on the market. Los Angeles also traded for, then extended, starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Their upgraded lineup scored 16 runs in their first two regular season games in South Korea last week. Glasnow allowed two hits and two runs in five innings.
2. Atlanta Braves (+450)
Atlanta led MLB with 104 wins last seasons. They have already locked up their supremely talented young core – second baseman Ozzie Albies, catcher Sean Murphy, first baseman Matt Olson, third baseman Austin Riley and outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II – with contracts not expiring until the end of this decade at the earliest.
The Braves also traded for seven-time All-Star, two-time American League strikeout leader and World Series champion Chris Sale to add to the top of their starting rotation. Atlanta will be among World Series favorites for the foreseeable future.
3. Houston Astros (+800)
The Astros won the World Series in 2022 after losing star starting shortstop Carlos Correa. They followed that up with a sixth straight division title (not including the shortened season in 2020) and were just one game short of another World Series appearance in their league-record seventh straight ALCS appearance.
Houston's bullpen had the eighth-lowest ERA of all 30 teams last year. They have since added star closer Josh Hader in free agency. The Astros also extended eight-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger second baseman José Altuve.
4. New York Yankees (+900)
New York had one of their worst seasons in recent history last year. It finished with 82 wins, the fewest in a full season since 1992. Even so, ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole won the American League Cy Young Award, and outfielder Aaron Judge hit 37 home runs despite missing more than 50 games.
In the offseason, the Yankees added one of the game's best young hitters in Juan Soto, whom they acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres. They also brought in right-hander Marcus Stroman to shore up the rotation.
5. Baltimore Orioles (+1300)
The Orioles may be the most promising team in MLB for 2024. They were second in MLB with 101 wins last year, winning the AL East and earning the top seed in the American League playoffs as their contention window opened earlier than anticipated.
That was in large part due to their talented prospects stepping up and excelling early in their MLB careers. Switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman made his first All-Star Game and slugged 20 home runs, infielder Gunnar Henderson broke out in his first full season as a pro, slugging 28 home runs with a .255 batting average. In total, nine players accumulated at least 200 at-bats and finished the season with an OPS+ at or above league average.
Then they added bona fide ace Corbin Burnes to their rotation and closer Craig Kimbrel to their bullpen this offseason, strengthening the weakness their pitching staff was last year.
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6. Texas Rangers (+1400)
7. Philadelphia Phillies (+1500)
T-8. Seattle Mariners (+2000)
T-8. Toronto Blue Jays (+2000)
10. Minnesota Twins (+2500)
11. Chicago Cubs (+3000)
T-12. St. Louis Cardinals (+3500)
T-12. Tampa Bay Rays (+3500)
T-14. Arizona Diamondbacks (+4000)
T-14. Cincinnati Reds (+4000)
T-16. San Diego Padres (+4500)
T-16. San Francisco Giants (+4500)
18. New York Mets (+5000)
T-19. Boston Red Sox (+6600)
T-19. Cleveland Guardians (+6600)
T-19. Detroit Tigers (+6600)
22. Miami Marlins (+8000)
23. Milwaukee Brewers (+10000)
T-24. Kansas City Royals (+15000)
T-24. Pittsburgh Pirates (+15000)
26. Los Angeles Angels (+20000)
27. Washington Nationals (+25000)
T-28. Chicago White Sox (+50000)
T-28. Colorado Rockies (+50000)
T-28. Oakland Athletics (+50000)
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When is MLB Opening Day?
MLB Opening Day 2024 is Thursday, March 28.
Twenty-eight teams will play their first games of the season on Thursday, while the Dodgers and Padres are playing in their second series after opening the regular season in South Korea last week.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Power ranking MLB teams in order of World Series odds
