World Series 2019 Odds: Red Sox, Astros Are Early Favorites, Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs Top Contenders

The Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. After a record-setting season, the champions enter the offseason as the favorites to win next year’s Fall Classic.

Boston leads the way with 7/1 betting odds to win the 2019 World Series, according to OddsShark. They are tied with the Houston Astros, whom the Red Sox defeated in five games in the ALCS. The Dodgers and New York Yankees are tied with 8/1 championship odds. The Cubs Cubs (9/1) are the only other MLB team with better than 10/1 title odds.

The Red Sox set a franchise record with 108 wins during the regular season. That success carried over into the playoffs, where they lost just a single game in each playoff series. Boston clinched all three series on the road and their last two series came against the teams that met in the 2017 World Series.

Despite finishing the regular season with five fewer wins than Boston, Houston actually started the playoffs as the World Series favorites. The Astros arguably got better after winning last year’s title, going 103-59 and sweeping the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. Houston lost three straight games at home after winning one of the two ALCS games at Fenway Park.

The Yankees finished eight games behind the Red Sox in the AL East despite a 100-win season of their own. Last offseason’s Giancarlo Stanton trade made them the favorites in the division. New York had their chance against Boston when they headed to Yankee Stadium tied 1-1 in the ALDS. The Yankees came up short, suffering two of their three losses to the Red Sox by one run.

It was yet another disappointing finish for the Dodgers, who lost in the World Series for a second straight year. Los Angeles has won six consecutive NL West titles with no championships to show for it. Now, the team must figure out what’s going to happen with Clayton Kershaw, who will likely opt out of his current contract and become a free agent.

Kershaw is one of a few free agents that could shift the balance of power in MLB. The Dodgers are the favorites to sign Kershaw, but that isn’t case with free-agent-to-be Manny Machado, whom they acquired during the All-Star Break. Bryce Harper is expected to leave the Washington Nationals as a free agent.

The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to make a strong push to sign either Machado or Harper. Ten teams have better than their 20/1 World Series odds.

The Indians have 12/1 odds after cruising to an AL Central title and failing to win a playoff game, The Milwaukee Brewers have 14/1 World Series odds after losing in Game 7 of the NLCS. The Atlanta Braves enter the offseason with 14/1 odds, as well.

On the heels of a 115-loss season, the Baltimore Orioles are the biggest World Series long shots with 350/1 odds.