MLB 2016 Season: World Series Betting Odds And Projected Win Totals From Las Vegas

Jake Arrieta Chicago Cubs — The Chicago Cubs have their best chance to win the World Series in quite some time. Getty

The Chicago Cubs have the longest championship drought in all of American sports, but they enter MLB Opening Day as the 2016 World Series favorites. The Cubs have the best odds to win the title, as well as the highest projected win total at Las Vegas and online sportsbooks.

The Cubs are coming off their best season since 2003, winning 97 games and reaching the National League Championship Series, where they were swept by the New York Mets. But Chicago got even better in the offseason by signing Jason Heyward to the largest contract of any position player. With a young core of power hitters and the reigning NL Cy Young award winner in Jake Arrieta, the Cubs might have the best roster in all of baseball.

The Mets and Kansas City Royals opened the season on Sunday night in a rematch of the 2015 Fall Classic, and the Royals were victorious once again. New York might be Chicago’s biggest obstacle in the NL, but oddsmakers are doubtful that Kansas City will repeat their success. The defending champs have an over/under win total of just 84.

The San Francisco Giants have the second-best title odds after failing to reach the playoffs last year. San Francisco has won the championship in every other season since 2010, and 2016 will mean another title for the Giants if the trend continues. San Francisco missed the postseason in 2011 and 2013.

In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox have the best World Series odds. It won’t be easy for either team to make the playoffs, however, considering they might play in MLB’s toughest division. The Blue Jays, Red Sox and New York Yankees all have projected win totals of at least 85 games, and the Tampa Bay Rays are favored to be above .500, as well.

A year after leading MLB with 100 wins in 2015, the St. Louis Cardinals have an over/under win total of just 86.5. The Cardinals have won at least 86 games in each of the last eight seasons, and they are averaging 93 wins since 2011 when they won the World Series. The Pittsburgh Pirates are averaging 93 wins over the last three years, and their projected win total of 85 comes after they finished right behind St. Louis with MLB’s second-best record.

The Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds are the only two MLB teams with projected win totals below 70. Philadelphia hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2011.

Below are the complete 2016 World Series odds, courtesy of Bovada.lv. Projected win totals come from the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.

Chicago Cubs +500 (93 wins)

San Francisco Giants +800 (89 wins)

Toronto Blue Jays +1000 (86.5 wins)

New York Mets +1200 (90 wins)

Los Angeles Dodgers +1200 (90 wins)

Boston Red Sox +1400 (86 wins)

Kansas City Royals +1400 (84 wins)

Houston Astros +1600 (87.5 wins)

Washington Nationals +1800 (89 wins)

St. Louis Cardinals +1800 (86.5 wins)

Cleveland Indians +1800 (86.5 wins)