The new Major League Baseball season is less than a month away, and it’s all systems go as teams and players prepare for MLB Opening Day. After exiting the playoffs by losing the Division Series last season against the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking like they could go all the way this season.
As we head into spring training, it is the time when futures betting on the outcome of the World Series becomes most popular. Injuries and player trades can lead to the futures being adjusted; however, the Dodgers are looking like strong contenders out of the gate, with a stacked line-up that features rookie sensation Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Corey Seager, reigning NL MVP Cody Bellinger, and 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts.
They are not alone though as several other teams are also looking strong at this point in the season. Fans that are looking to place futures bets may want to use a sports app to follow along live and learn from sports analysts in the build-up to, and during, games.
The Best Lineup Ever?
In 2019, the Dodgers had one of the strongest offensive teams in the entire league. They set a record in the National League, clocking up 279 home runs and scored a total of 886 runs, second only to the 1953 Dodgers team which managed 955.
This looks like it was just the warm-up for their main performance though, with Betts joining the Dodgers for 2020. The formidable line-up is backed by a deep pitching staff including veterans Clayton Kershaw and David Price, young ace Walker Buehler, and closer Kenley Jansen. Former MLB pitcher and current special assistant at the Dodgers, Charlie Hough, recently commented that the team has more depth than it has ever had.
After the start of Spring Training, there have been a few injuries for Dodgers players. The most problematic of these is Jimmy Nelson, who has been plagued with injuries for several years. This is a common affliction in baseball shared by many players past and present, including Mark Fidrych, who had his career cut short as a result. Nelson, Joc Pederson, and Dustin May are all questionable for starting at the beginning of the season.
With such a good lineup, the Dodgers are one of the favorites to win the World Series this year. With the season not underway yet though, which teams look like they could get in the way?
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees made it to the playoffs last season, with the second-highest record in the American League. They made it to the League Championship Series but were beaten by the Houston Astros 6-4.
If the Yankees can keep outfielder Aaron Judge fit and healthy, they will be a formidable force this season. He is one of the most powerful players in the entire MLB but has not had a full season since 2017. There’s still a lot of uncertainty as to when he will be returning to play a game, although he has been taking part in the training.
Despite being one of the most famous and successful teams in the MLB, the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009. They saw a big upswing in performance in 2019 thanks to improved offensive performance. If they can build on that in 2020, the Yankees would be a significant problem for the Dodgers in the playoffs.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros made it to the final of the playoffs in 2019, losing 4-3 to the Washington Nationals. The Nationals were a wildcard team, having won just 93 of their games during the regular season, while the Astros topped the entire MLB with 107-55.
Their loss to the Nationals last year, and their involvement in the sign-stealing scheme that saw the team be sanctioned by the MLB, has seen many bookmakers give them slightly worse odds.
This is partly due to the psychological effects that the controversy will have had on the team and the fact that they have sacked A.J. Hinch from the manager position, replacing him with Dusty Baker.
They’ve also lost players, including Gerrit Cole who moved to the Yankees. That said, they’re still a strong contender for the World Series thanks to their strong lineup of players.
NL West Teams
The Dodgers look very likely to make it into the playoffs, with strong odds to top the NL West division like they did last season. While there are some good teams in the divisions, none look like they’re in a position to cause the Dodgers much trouble in 2020.
The Dodgers making it to the playoffs seems very likely at this point in the year, although that could of course change over the coming months. The real question is how far can they get when they make it to the playoffs.
