World Series Staff Picks 2024: Who Will Win Title in Battle of Giants?
Last Updated: October 25, 2024 9:09 AM EDT • 7 min 5 sec read.
The two most iconic teams in MLB history meet in the Fall Classic, and everyone is buzzing about the matchup, including our own staff members.
There isn't much separating these teams by the World Series odds, which makes picking a winner that much more challenging.
Which small edge will either team use to its advantage? Will the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting pitching issues really come back to bite them, as many of the top baseball analysts expect in our World Series expert picks? Or will Mookie Betts help a powerhouse lineup torment a struggling New York Yankees bullpen, which is what our Mike Spector said he expects in his World Series predictions.
Personally, I'm just excited to watch it all unfold, especially considering many of the World Series MVP odds contenders are some of the biggest names in the entire sport.
We explored all the most exciting team, series, and player props with our World Series odds and lines piece. Now three of SBR's finest (depending on who you ask) are offering their picks for the four biggest betting markets with Game 1 just a day away.
With all the action beginning Friday, we also made our Yankees vs. Dodgers prediction for Game 1, with first pitch expected for 8:08 p.m. ET (FOX) from Dodger Stadium.
Staff picks for World Series 2024
| Market | Andrew Brennan | Sean Tomlinson | Esten McLaren |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Series | Yankees () | Dodgers () | Dodgers (-120 via Caesars) |
| World Series MVP | Aaron Judge (+500 via BetMGM) | Mookie Betts () | Shohei Ohtani (+230 via FanDuel) |
| Game 1 | Yankees (+110 via DraftKings) | Yankees (+110 via DraftKings) | Dodgers () |
| Home run leader | Aaron Judge () | Juan Soto (+800 via DraftKings) | Freddie Freeman (+3000 via FanDuel) |
My World Series predictions
World Series winner: Yankees (+110)
World Series odds as of Oct. 25
| Team | Best odds | Implied probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | -120 via Caesars | 54.55% | $8.33 |
| Yankees | +110 via BetMGM | 47.62% | $11 |
As you can see, I'm the lone team member with faith in the Yankees. Is it because I have a World Series ticket at +1200 from December and am simply trying to speak this into existence? No, of course not (maybe a little).
But in all seriousness, I'd take the Yankees to win at these plus-money odds regardless of my own investment.
New York is simply the more complete team. It features four capable starting pitchers to the Dodgers' two - I have a hard time calling 2024 Walker Buehler "capable" - and a lineup that heated up at the perfect time to support Aaron Judge and Juan Soto's collective Herculean regular-season efforts.
I see some writers talking about how the Yankees still lack quality beyond those two and Giancarlo Stanton. But Anthony Rizzo slashed .429/.500/.500 in the ALCS, while Anthony Volpe managed a .353/.476/.412 slash line with a stolen base.
Meanwhile, Gleyber Torres gave New York exactly what it needs from its leadoff hitter, hitting .364 and striking out only twice in the ALCS.
As far as the bullpens go, I'll give the slight edge to the Dodgers. Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, and Anthony Banda have been lights-out throughout this postseason. However, they'll be asked to log a ton of innings considering the Dodgers will once again go with a bullpen game in either Game 3 or 4.
Meanwhile, there's been a lot of talk about how Yankees relievers will need to bounce back from a tough postseason thus far. That's more narrative-based than anything else, as Clay Holmes still owns a 3.52 ERA during the playoffs, and Luke Weaver is even better at 2.61.
These teams match up fairly evenly, so I'll ride with the club that's trading at plus-money odds.
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World Series schedule
Projected pitching matchups marked by asterisk are my own, and subject to change.
| Game | Date (TV) | Location | Projected pitching matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Friday, Oct. 25 (FOX) | Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles) | Gerrit Cole (Yankees) vs. Jack Flaherty (Dodgers) |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Oct. 26 (FOX) | Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles) | Carlos Rodon (Yankees) vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) |
| Game 3 | Monday, Oct. 28 (FOX) | Yankee Stadium (Bronx) | Walker Buehler (Dodgers)* vs. Clarke Schmidt (Yankees) |
| Game 4 | Tuesday, Oct. 29 (FOX) | Yankee Stadium (Bronx) | Bullpen game* (Dodgers) vs. Luis Gil* (Yankees) |
| Game 5 (if necessary) | Wednesday, Oct. 30 (FOX) | Yankee Stadium (Bronx) | Jack Flaherty* (Dodgers) vs. Gerrit Cole* (Yankees) |
| Game 6 (if necessary) | Friday, Nov. 1 (FOX) | Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles) | Carlos Rodon* (Yankees) vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto* (Dodgers) |
| Game 7 (if necessary) | Saturday, Nov. 2 (FOX) | Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles) | Walker Buehler* (Dodgers) vs. Clarke Schmidt* (Yankees) |
World Series MVP: Aaron Judge (+500)
Yeah, I know, picking Judge to win World Series MVP is boring. But would it be less boring if I told you I've been calling him a fraud this entire postseason?
I'm mostly backing Judge to win World Series MVP because I think this price is off. The probable AL MVP should be trading closer to +350 or +400 if Ohtani is being priced shorter than +250.
The implied probability associated with Ohtani's +220 odds at BetMGM is just over 31%, while the implied probability associated with Judge's +500 price is just below 17%. You can't convince me that Judge is nearly half as likely to win World Series MVP than Ohtani.
Judge also benefits greatly from the change in scenery.
The Cleveland Guardians' Progressive Field ranked as the 17th-most home run friendly ballpark to right-handed hitters this year. Meanwhile, Dodger Stadium is fourth (and, of course, Yankee Stadium is second). That means Judge should get a significant boost to do the very thing he does best: hitting baseballs out of the park.
When you add in the fact that I'm picking the Yankees and only one player in MLB history has won World Series MVP while being on the losing team, it's easy to see why I'm riding with Judge.
I wouldn't blame anyone for siding with Stanton instead after his incredible ALCS. But he doesn't play the field, giving him fewer opportunities to provide those "wow" moments that Judge can with a diving catch or outfield assist. Those things matter when the sample size is so small and narrative perhaps matters more than pure stats.
World Series MVP odds as of Oct. 25
| Player | Odds (BetMGM) | Implied probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers | +220 | 31.25% | $22 |
| Aaron Judge, Yankees | +500 | 16.67% | $50 |
| Juan Soto, Yankees | +550 | 15.38% | $55 |
| Mookie Betts, Dodgers | +750 | 11.76% | $75 |
| Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees | +950 | 9.52% | $95 |
| Max Muncy, Dodgers | +1600 | 5.88% | $160 |
| Freddie Freeman, Dodgers | +2500 | 3.85% | $250 |
| Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers | +2500 | 3.85% | $250 |
| Tommy Edman, Dodgers | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
| Kiké Hernandez, Dodgers | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
Who will win Game 1: Yankees (+110)
Game 1 odds as of Oct. 25 via bet365
| Moneyline | Run line | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yankees | +105 | +1.5 (-200) | Over 8.5 (-115) |
| Dodgers | -125 | -1.5 (+165) | Under 8.5 (-105) |
Well, what do we have here? Surely I'm not siding with the Yankees again?
This is mostly about the pitching matchup.
Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty just simply hasn't been good during the postseason. He had one great start against the New York Mets in the NLCS but was torched in the other. And he allowed four earned runs over 5 1/3 against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, a 10-2 loss in Game 2.
Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole isn't the dominant pitcher he was even as recently as last year after dealing with injuries and missing more than half of the 2024 regular season. However, he's still been solid throughout the playoffs.
He bent but didn't break against the Guardians, allowing only two earned runs despite giving up six hits and four walks, with his ability to limit the damage helping the Yankees claim a 6-3 win. And Cole went 12 innings in two starts against the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS, allowing only four earned runs and helping the Yankees win both Game 1 and 4.
Additionally, as I noted in the odds and lines piece, the Yankees were MLB's best road team this year. I think Cole uses his experience in this setting - he made two World Series starts with the Houston Astros - to lead the Yankees to that all-important Game 1 victory.
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Who will hit the most home runs: Aaron Judge (+400)
Odds as of Oct. 25 via DraftKings
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Aaron Judge | +260 |
| Shohei Ohtani | +300 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | +320 |
| Juan Soto | +800 |
| Max Muncy | +1000 |
| Teoscar Hernandez | +1200 |
| Mookie Betts | +1200 |
| Jazz Chisholm Jr. | +2200 |
| Freddie Freeman | +2200 |
| Will Smith | +2500 |
The most significant reason I'm betting on Judge to lead this series in home runs is directly above this. DraftKings and our other best sports betting sites are pricing Judge around +250 to +300 to be the home run leader, while Caesars is at +400.
Additionally, I already mentioned how Judge could benefit from playing at Dodger Stadium, and the fact that Stanton, Rizzo, and Volpe are all hitting better should help the slugger see more pitches in the zone.
Judge crushed three home runs in three games against the Dodgers this season, and he should continue his reign of terror over the Yankees' West Coast rivals with a World Series ring on the line.
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Ohtani vs. Judge
| Ohtani | Judge | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular-season games | 860 | 993 |
| Regular-season home runs | 225 | 315 |
| Postseason games | 11 | 53 |
| Postseason home runs | 3 | 15 |
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
FOX is broadcasting the World Series.
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.
MLB betting odds pages
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| World Series MVP Odds | MLB Rookie of the Year Odds | MLB Win Totals |
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