The Milwaukee Brewers (103-59) locked up the #1 seed in the National League with the best record in baseball. The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62) were the only other team to reach 100 wins this year. The Dodgers are the World Series favorite at +210 according to BetMGM, followed by the Brewers at +475.
The Tampa Bay Rays (98-64) finished with the best record in the American League. Yet, the Rays (+800) sit in fourth on the futures board behind the New York Yankees (93-68) in third at +500.
The Wild Card round is over, and eight teams remain at the start of the divisional round.
2026 World Series Odds
L.A. Dodgers +210
Milwaukee Brewers +475
New York Yankees +500
Tampa Bay Rays +800
Atlanta Braves +900
San Diego Padres +900
Cleveland Guardians +1000
Chicago White Sox +1700
#1 Milwaukee Brewers (103-59) vs #4 San Diego Padres (91-71)
NLDS Series Price: Brewers -180, Padres +150
Well-rested ace Jacob Misiorowski will start Game 1 for the Brewers in Milwaukee. Misiorowski (16-5), the heavy Cy Young favorite, leads the NL with a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 252 strikeouts. The Miz has not lost a start since the first weekend in August. The Brewers went 20-4 in his last 24 starts since May, including 9-0 the last nine times he took the mound.
Logan Henderson (11-3, 0.84 WHIP) will start Game 2. Closer Trevor Megill (3-3) saved 30 games with a 2.63 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.
The Brewers hit the second-fewest home runs in baseball, yet were second in runs scored thanks to clutch hitting. Left fielder Jackson Chourio posted a career-best season, slashing .291/.351/.487 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI.
The dynamic duo of Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis are the heart and soul of the Padres. Machado crushed at least 30 home runs for the seventh time in 15 seasons despite a career-worst .217 batting average. The reliable Tatis slashed .289/.358/.470 with his best batting average since his rookie season. He contributed 25 home runs and 83 RBI.
Michael King (12-10) and Randy Vasquez (10-6) are San Diego’s only starters with double-digit victories. Walker Buehler brings much-needed experience with 19 postseason appearances and two World Series rings, all while with the Dodgers.
The Padres boast one of the best closers in baseball with Mason Miller (5-2, 38 saves, 1.67 ERA, 0.90 WHIP). Opponents hit only .152 against him.
The Padres have a 4-2 record against the Brewers this season, including a three-game sweep in San Diego in August. They’re still a big dog in this series at +150. The Brewers are the second biggest favorite in the divisional round at -180.
#2 L.A. Dodgers (100-62) vs #3 Atlanta Braves (94-68)
NLDS Series Price: Dodgers -230, Braves +190
The Dodgers remain the team to beat as Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, and Freddie Freeman attempt a rare World Series three-peat. Kyle Tucker hopes to salvage an awful season with a productive October.
Ohtani missed 27 games yet still hit 30 home runs with 81 RBI. The Dodgers shut down the two-way star, who stopped pitching to focus exclusively on hitting.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto led the rotation with a 14-9 record, including a 2.53 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. Trade-deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal (12-7, 2.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP) went 5-2 with a 1.05 WHIP in 10 starts as a Dodger. Starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow also rejoined the staff after lengthy IL stints.
The Braves went 5-1 against the Dodgers this season, including a sweep in Atlanta. The Braves were the only Wild Card team to play a full series, which puts them at a pitching disadvantage versus a well-rested Dodgers.
In the Wild Card series against the Phillies, ace Chris Sale started Game 1 and finished Game 3 for the Braves. Sale is expected to pitch Game 2 of the NLDS. He anchored the staff with a 14-9 record, 2.16 ERA, and 0.98 WHIP. Tyler Mahle and Grant Holmes are also key starters. Closer Raisel Iglesias saved 34 games with a 1.08 WHIP.
Ironman Matt Olson, who hasn’t missed a game since joining Atlanta in 2022, led the Braves with 41 home runs and 93 RBI. Michael Harris II had a career year hitting .294 with 26 home runs and 87 RBI, then batted .455 in the Wild Card series. Catcher Drake Baldwin added 25 home runs plus 79 RBI and slashed .284/.358/.459.
The Braves are +900 to win the World Series and +450 to claim their first NL pennant since 2021. They’re the biggest underdog in the divisional round at +190.
The Dodgers are +120 to win the NL pennant and reach their sixth World Series since 2017. They’ve been the consensus World Series favorite since 2026 odds opened at the end of last October.
#1 Tampa Rays (98-64) vs. #4 New York Yankees (93-68)
ALDS Series Price: Rays -110, Yankees -110
The two best teams in the American League square off in a battle of AL East rivals. The Yankees and Rays met 13 times in the regular season, and the Rays won seven of their meetings. The Rays won the first four games earlier in the year, but the Yankees won four of their last five, outscoring them 30-16.
The Rays’ rotation featured Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) and Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) before adding Freddy Peralta at the trade deadline. Peralta went 5-2 with a 1.01 WHIP in 10 starts since moving to Tampa. Closer Bryan Baker (4-2, 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) tied for the most saves with 41.
Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, and Jonathan Aranda are a dangerous trio at the heart of the Rays’ lineup. Caminero bashed 42 home runs and 101 RBI while slashing .276/.360/.524. Diaz and Aranda both added 22 homers.
The Yankees relied on a formidable starting rotation and a lights-out bullpen. Cam Schlittler is the AL Cy Young frontrunner with a 14-6 record, 1.95 ERA, and 0.92 WHIP. Veteran starters Gerrit Cole and Max Fried will both take the mound in the ALDS.
The bullpen led the league with a 3.13 ERA. David Bednar (7-3) finished his first full season as the Yankees closer with 35 saves and 1.04 WHIP. His setup delivered down the stretch, especially lefty Brent Headrick (7-3, 2.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) and Paul Blackburn (7-4, 1.69 ERA, 1.09 WHIP).
Two-time MVP Aaron Judge (calf) could return for this series, but it’s unknown how much he will contribute. Without Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for most of this season, Ben Rice emerged as the Bronx’s big slugger with 41 home runs and 97 RBI. Rookie George Lombard Jr. hit .500 in the Wild Card series and has been a vacuum at shortstop since the Yankees called him up from the minor leagues in August.
The Yankees are the betting favorite to win the AL pennant at +180 and are ahead of the Rays at (+260). Their World Series price improved to +500 after they demolished the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card.
#2 Cleveland Guardians (85-77) vs. #6 Chicago White Sox (84-78)
ALCS Series Price: Guardians -145, White Sox +120
The Guardians clinched the AL Central on the season’s final weekend, but the second-place White Sox snuck into the playoffs as the final Wild Card team. The White Sox won their season series, 7-6.
The Guardians rely on pitching and timely hitting to compensate for limited power at the plate. Angel Martinez led the team with just 18 home runs.
Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) is Cleveland’s ace and ranked second in MLB in strikeouts with 248, only four shy of tying Misiorowski. The Guardians were only 1-3 against the White Sox in Williams’ starts with little run support.
The Guardians have a bullpen advantage with flamethrower Cade Smith, MLB’s co-leader in saves with 41, who went 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.
If you’re looking to root for an underdog, then the White Sox are your team. They lost 100-plus games in three consecutive seasons, including a record-setting 121 losses in 2024. After 102 losses last season, the White Sox shocked everyone with 84 wins this year. They swept the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card, and the surging White Sox are only three wins away from the ALCS.
Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, and rookie Munetaka Murakami combined for 99 home runs this season. Murakami has become an instant fan favorite, smacking 35 home runs with 77 RBI despite missing 35 games.
The Guardians have not won the World Series since 1948, when they were the Indians. Their last World Series appearance happened in 2016, when they lost to the Chicago Cubs. The Guardians are +275 odds to win the AL pennant and +1000 to win the World Series.
The White Sox, who last won a title in 2005, are the longest shot on the board at +525 to win the AL and +1700 to win the World Series.
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