World Series 2016 Betting Odds: Royals Not Favored To Repeat, Mets With Good Chance To Win Title

The Kansas City Royals are the 2015 World Series champions, and they’ve been MLB’s best team over the last two years. But despite their recent success, oddsmakers haven’t given them a very good chance to repeat next season.

After beating the New York Mets in five games to win this year’s Fall Classic, the Royals have been given the 10th-best odds to win the title next season. Shortly after the final out of Sunday’s game, Kansas City had 18/1 odds to win the World Series at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

Kansas City lost the 2014 World Series in seven games, and they had the American League’s best record in the 2015 regular season. After losing last year’s World Series, six teams were given better World Series odds. But the Royals enter the offseason with ace starter Johnny Cueto, left fielder Alex Gordon, and utility player Ben Zobrist all expected to test free agency.

The Royals also don't have recent history on their side. The World Series champion has missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, and the San Francisco Giants finished eight games out of the postseason in this year’s attempt to defend their title. It has been 15 years since a team repeated as World Series champion when the Yankees won in 2000.

The New York Mets are tied with four teams for the second-best 2016 championship odds at 10/1. New York made a surprising run to the World Series, but they nearly won the title, having an eighth-inning lead in four of the five games. They could lose Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy in free agency, but they will return the best starting rotation in baseball.

New York got the better of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, but L.A.’s outlook for next season is considered to be even more positive. The Dodgers stand alone as the 2016 World Series favorites with 8/1 odds.

The Dodgers were made World Series favorites after they were eliminated in the 2014 NLDS, as well. They easily won the NL West this year, winning at least 92 games and reaching the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. Clayton Kershaw will be back, but there’s no guarantee the probable NL Cy Young winner will return in 2016. Greinke opted out of the final three years of his contract, but could still re-sign with Los Angeles.

The Toronto Blue Jays are the American League favorites at 10/1. They were the AL’s best team in the second half of the season, and they entered the postseason as the World Series favorites. Toronto easily had MLB’s best offense, leading every other team by at least 127 runs scored. They could lose David Price in free agency after acquiring the pitcher at the trade deadline.

The Yankees (16/1) are the Blue Jays’ biggest competition in the AL. The Yankees made the playoffs for the first time since 2012 this season, but their appearance didn’t last very long, as they were shut out by the Houston Astros in the AL Wild-Card Game.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ 300/1 odds are the worst in baseball, ahead of the Colorado Rockies (150/1) and Atlanta Braves (100/1).

Below are complete betting odds for the 2016 World Series, courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

Los Angeles Dodgers 8/1

New York Mets 10/1

Toronto Blue Jays 10/1

Chicago Cubs 10/1

Washington Nationals 10/1

St. Louis Cardinals 12/1

Texas Rangers 12/1

Houston Astros 12/1

Pittsburgh Pirates 12/1

New York Yankees 16/1