World Series Expert Picks 2024: Are Baseball's Top Analysts Backing the Underdogs?

Everyone producing baseball content rejoiced when the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers set up a World Series showdown worthy of appointment viewing. As a result, there are plenty of experts across the internet ready to give their take on this star-studded matchup.

Of course, these are the two biggest teams in baseball, and they were among the World Series odds favorites for most of the season.

Now, the Yankees and Dodgers square off in the Fall Classic for the 12th time - and first since 1981 - with the probable 2024 MVPs in Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani standing on either side.

Who will emerge victorious when the dust settles? Before we look at what MLB experts are saying, let's take a closer look at this series.

We also made our Yankees vs. Dodgers prediction ahead of Game 1 on Friday, which gets underway at 8:08 p.m. (FOX) from Dodger Stadium.

Who do the sportsbooks expect to win the World Series?

As we detailed in our World Series odds and betting lines piece, the Dodgers serve as very small favorites with their longest odds being -120 at Caesars. Meanwhile, the best price on the Yankees is +110.

That tells us our best MLB betting sites are nearly split on who "should" win the World Series.

Throughout their respective championship series, the Yankees were often the World Series favorites over the Dodgers, and it wasn't until the two teams were confirmed for the Fall Classic that Los Angeles overtook its East Coast counterpart.

Our Mike Spector made his pick with his World Series predictions.

Who will jump out to an early series lead?

The Yankees are sending Gerrit Cole to the mound for Game 1, and the Dodgers will answer with Jack Flaherty.

Los Angeles is a small moneyline favorite to take Game 1 at home, with odds as long as -124 at FanDuel.

Interestingly, the total is set at 8.5, which is an entire run higher than the most common total in either championship series. Therefore, our best sports betting apps believe not even Cole and Flaherty can silence the big bats on either team.

As for who has the park advantage in this one, the Dodgers were the second-best team at home this year while the Yankees were the best road team in the league. Home-field advantage is a different beast in the playoffs, though.

World Series odds

As previously mentioned, the Dodgers are small favorites both in Game 1 and the series as a whole.

Our sites with the best sportsbook promos are pricing a six-game series as the most likely outcome, with Over 5.5 games trading at -190 and Under 6.5 games priced at -250.

World Series expert picks

Similar to our best sportsbooks, our selected experts are nearly split. Though, contrary to the betting odds, the Yankees are slightly favored by baseball analysts. Our own SBR MLB experts made their picks, too, with our World Series staff picks showing a different result.

The most common reason for picking the Yankees is their perceived starting pitching advantage. The Dodgers are still expected to roll with a bullpen game during the World Series after doing so in both the NLDS and NLCS, while the Yankees have four starters capable of taking the hill during the Fall Classic.

Top World Series predictions

Ken Rosenthal (The Athletic) - Yankees

Starting with one of the biggest names in baseball reporting, Rosenthal contributed to .

A man who understands the value of words, Rosenthal simply said: "The Yankees have more stable pitching."

Keith Law (The Athletic) - Yankees

Law, best known for his prospect rankings, had a bit more to say:

"I think the Yankees enter the World Series a much healthier team, and I think their offense will be too much for the Dodgers’ bullpen games - which in turn might spill over into games where the Dodgers’ regular starter can’t work deep into the outing because the Yankees’ lineup is so patient."

Eno Sarris (The Athletic) - Yankees

Co-creator of the Stuff+ metric - widely used by the baseball community - Sarris is also riding with the Yankees.

"The Yankees seemingly have three Babe Ruths in the lineup. The longer this series goes, and the more times they see those Dodgers relievers, the more likely it is that they will break through and put some big numbers on the board."

As a Red Sox fan, I can only assume the three Ruths are Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Alex Verdugo.

Mike Axisa (CBS Sports) - Dodgers

Not every expert is riding with the Yankees, though.

Axisa for siding with the Dodgers, and he even picked Teoscar Hernandez to win World Series MVP (Hernandez is trading at +2500 by the latest World Series MVP odds).

"I tend to lean toward the highest-powered offense in October and the Dodgers have more lineup depth than the Yankees, even with Freddie Freeman hobbled, and just as much star power.

Once you get beyond the top four hitters in New York's lineup - Gleyber Torres, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton in that order - there are some easy outs to be had.

The Yankees do have the rotation advantage, for sure, but the Dodgers have a slightly deeper bullpen, and the offense to paper over any pitching issues.

To me, the key to the series is Gerrit Cole. He's the best starter in the World Series and needs to shove accordingly to give the Yankees the best chance to win. Ultimately, I'm going with the Dodgers in an all-time classic series."

Bob Christ (The Sporting News) - Dodgers 

Christ (no, not that one) .

"It's not just former league MVPs Ohtani, first baseman Freeman (ankle; says he's 100% ready to play) and Betts leading the L.A. attack. The addition of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman in a trade-deadline swap with St. Louis has provided big-time results.

He just tied a team record for RBIs in a series with 11 in being named the MVP of the NLCS and has three steals. Just like when he was with the Cardinals, he provides depth in the lineup.

On the bases, the Dodgers rate a solid edge with their 133 steals compared with the Yankees' 88. Plus, L.A. catcher Will Smith rates among the best defensively, throwing out 31% of runners at second base. New York's Austin Wells has foiled only 20% of steal attempts. Ohtani, with 59 steals this season, no doubt will test him."

Speed could definitely play a big role in this series, especially considering Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has one of the most famous postseason steals of all time.

World Series schedule

Projected pitching matchups for the World Series marked by asterisk are my own, and subject to change.

World Series FAQs

Who is the World Series favorite?

The Los Angles Dodgers are the 2024 World Series favorites with odds of -130 through BetMGM. Those odds suggest a 56.52% chance to win it all. 

Who is the World Series MVP favorite?

Shohei Ohtani is the World Series MVP favorite with odds of +220 at BetMGM. The implied probability associated with that price is 31.25%.

When did these teams last face each other in the World Series?

The last time the Yankees and Dodgers played against each other in the World Series was 1981, with the Dodgers winning 4-2.

How many World Series have each team won?

The New York Yankees have won the most World Series at 27. They last won in 2009. The Dodgers won more recently in 2020, capturing their seventh title.

How to watch the World Series

The World Series is broadcast by FOX.

When does the World Series start?

Game 1 of the World Series is set to be played Friday, Oct. 25 at 8:08 p.m. ET from Dodger Stadium.

When will the World Series end?

The earliest the World Series can end is on Tuesday, Oct. 29, which is the date for Game 4. The latest it can end is Saturday, Nov. 2.

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