With most of Major League Baseball’s offseason in the past and spring training starting imminently, bettors are starting to more intently look into odds to win the league’s championship.

World Series odds have been out for months, but any bets made in that window are somewhat blind given that the biggest free agents — including Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette — had not yet signed with a team.

Now that those two and other top names have settled on their new clubs, we can take a clearer, more honest look at how we should be on the MLB champion for the coming season.

Scroll to see which World Series odds look like the best bets for the 2026 MLB season.

2026 World Series winner odds

MLB betting odds are current as of January 28 at FanDuel Sportsbook. We encourage you to shop at more sportsbooks not listed and compare prices.

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Best bets for World Series 2026 winner

Toronto Blue Jays (+1400) • Fanatics Sportsbook & most other operators

After falling just two outs short of winning the World Series (eventually losing to the Dodgers in extra innings), Toronto reloaded this offseason by adding Dylan Cease joining the rotation and Japanese free-agent posting Kazuma Okamoto.

Bo Bichette will be a big loss, but they already boast an unassuming yet talented lineup and, with breakout arm Trey Yesavage on a full-time rotation role, should at least challenge for a second straight AL pennant.

New York Mets (+1400) • theScore Bet & most other operators

Yes, yes, the Mets are cursed, but this price is solid even after their upgrades.

Adding Marcus Semien, Freddy Peralta, and Luis Robert via trade, plus Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco via free agency gave the lineup a significant makeover. There may be a tad too much reliance on rookie Nolan McLean in the rotation, but he has the game-changing upside to have such a role immediately.

This price isn’t terrible for the chance this reloaded team — Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor are still there, of course — to elbow their way past the Dodgers.

World Series 2026 favorites

Los Angeles Dodgers

At least it’s positive money. They could easily be a heavy favorite with negative odds, but sportsbooks have to entice some action on them.

Kyle Tucker’s addition added another infinity stone to the back-to-back champions’ already lethal lineup stockpile that includes the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts.

Sure, if you have a huge bet to lay, feel free to bet on a three-peat that could help shut down baseball starting in 2027.

New York Yankees

Though this presents a wide gap between them and the Dodgers, we’ll mention them here, as they’re not a great bet at this price.

The Yankees are “running it back” on offense after they brought back Cody Bellinger, but locking in Trent Grisham is a big part of that, and he likely overperformed last year despite some reality in his underlying breakout numbers. 

Will the rotation be able to hold down the fort until Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon return? They’re already pricing in that they will; I’m not so sure, absent them making another significant SP upgrade.

There’s little ROI at this juice to bank on a repeat of that level. They shouldn’t be this far ahead — maybe not ahead at all — of Toronto or other AL contenders.

⚾ MORE: Learn how to bet on MLB

World Series 2026 sleeper bets

Chicago Cubs (+2000) • BetMGM Sportsbook

The Cubs missed out on Kyle Tucker but reloaded elsewhere, adding 3B Alex Bregman in free agency and SP Edward Cabrera via trade.

Chicago enjoyed Pete Crow-Armstrong’s breakout (albeit with its fizzling at the end) but have an underrated makeup with several graduating prospects like SP Cade Horton and maybe even infielder Matt Shaw ready for a leap.

The NL Central typically carries a wild playoff picture, but the Cubs will continue hanging around the playoff picture, where their mix of talent could click in a short window.

Baltimore Orioles (+2500) • Caesars Sportsbook

The O’s added reliable slugger Pete Alonso in free agency and Taylor Ward via trade to complement the talented young bats that include Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Dylan Beavers.

Plus we’re getting a full year of Samuel Basallo at designated hitter, infusing another one of baseball’s top prospects into the mix.

If they can get by with their mostly makeshift rotation — or make a major trade or two to upgrade inseason — this lineup could drive them to a deep postseason run. (Psst: Kyle Bradish has the goods to develop into an ace. Trevor Rogers is coming off a career year. Shane Baz and Dean Kremer could make a huge leap.)

Texas Rangers (+3000) • DraftKings / Caesars / BetMGM

The American League isn’t necessarily wide-open, but at least it doesn’t have a Dodgers-like heavy favorite at the top. 

The 2023 World Series winners could surprise and have plenty of ceiling to offer at these odds.

Acquiring MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals bolsters an already intriguing blend of strength (Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi) and intrigue (Jack Leiter, Jacob Latz) in the rotation.

Their trade for Brandon Nimmo cost them Marcus Semien but still gives them a true leadoff hitter. They still boast one of the league’s top defenses, arguably the best after leading the league in 2025 with an 89 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved above average).

They’re likely a bullpen arm or two away from seriously challenging the Mariners in the AL West and stack up as a solid up-and-comer for a deep playoff run.

Cincinnati Reds (+4500) • bet365 Sportsbook / DraftKings

Though the Cubs are trendy and I’m keener on a Reds bet for NL Central champion (typically around +400) or NL Winner (~ +2200), Cincinnati could be the next rising NL Central squad.

Cincy’s highly touted young pitching group of Hunter Greene / Chase Burns / Nick Lodolo / Rhett Lowder (if healthy) could finally hit with the MLB team all together this season. The bats remain underrated, with Elly De La Cruz leading a simmering group of potential breakouts (Sal Stewart, Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain).

Best World Series betting apps that may be available in your area

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