The Los Angeles Dodgers snared the biggest offseason player prize in MLB, landing Freddie Freeman, who somehow is not an Atlanta Brave anymore after a whirlwind of recent major sports moves. Our pro sports world is starting to look unfamiliar with Trevor Story in Boston, Russell Wilson in Denver and Tyreek Hill in Miami.
The Dodgers now have the best futures odds to win the 2022 World Series at +475 on Caesars Sportsbook. But which team can spoil their projected ride to a second title in three years? And who will they face in the Fall Classic?
Who Can Stand in The Way Of The Dodgers and Blue Jays This Season?
The Path To the National League Pennant
Los Angeles also obviously has the best odds to win the National League at +230. The Dodgers were fifth-best in the National League last season in team batting, but now have a more fearsome lineup that features Freeman, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Max Muncy and Justin Turner. Los Angeles did lose Max Scherzer, but retained Clayton Kershaw as a third projected starter behind Walker Buehler and Julio Urias.
Pitching could be the difference for Los Angeles, and the Dodgers’ odds increased after they acquired Craig Kimbrel. The Los Angeles starting pitching can match with anyone’s if Kershaw can stay healthy. Hopefully, Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin could hold up the back end of the rotation.
The defending champion Braves are at +500 to win the National League after losing Freeman, but Matt Olson will be more than a capable fill-in at first base, and former Dodger Kenley Jansen will now anchor the bullpen. Once Ronald Acuna Jr. is back to full health, the lineup will still be formidable with Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson further filling the card out. The starting staff is not quite as sexy as that of the Dodgers or Mets when everyone is healthy, but it can be very good from front to back, featuring Max Fried, Charlie Morton and Ian Anderson at the top.
The Mets saw their odds to win the N.L. drop to +700 after the news on Jacob deGrom’s scapula issue was announced. New York can still be a formidable contender with a healthy deGrom potentially back in the mix by the postseason. If Francisco Lindor can bounce back to his best form, he could be a big key to boosting the Mets to an opportunity to win their first World Series in 36 years.
Let’s not overlook the Brewers (+700) either, as they have a great trio at the top of the rotation in Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta, plus the best closer in baseball, Josh Hader. But their lineup may not be able to quite match up with the other contenders.
The San Diego Padres can also be a very good value to win the N.L. at +850. Adding Sean Manaea to a rotation that already includes Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove puts them right in the conversation with the other top teams in the N.L. that boast strong starting pitching.
Ultimately, though, Los Angeles has the best possible combination of hitting and pitching, and the Dodgers will be the team to beat in the National League.
READ MORE: WHY ISN’T IT THE NORTH AMERICAN SERIES INSTEAD OF THE WORLD SERIES?
The Astros Could Ruin A Possible Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series Matchup
Toronto is tied for the second-best odds to win the 2022 World Series at +1000. The Jays have a very impressive lineup and starting rotation, and could indeed be the biggest championship hurdle for Los Angeles in October. Adding Matt Chapman and Kevin Gausman further propels what was already a strong lineup and bolsters a quality rotation. A breakout campaign from Alek Manoah and a rebound year by Hyun Jin-Ryu could put Toronto over the top. Pitching would be a pivotal factor in a series with the Dodgers. Freeman vs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is must-see October viewing that we can hope for.
The Astros are also at +1000, despite losing Carlos Correa. A resurgent season from Justin Verlander and a rebound year from Alex Bregman could lead us to a Toronto-Houston ALCS battle. The starting pitching could be better than Toronto’s if all the key guys pitch up to their potential. Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez are featured in a lineup that can slug it out with the likes of the Jays or Dodgers.
The Yankees (+1100) may not be a true threat, as New York has to hope essential players such as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson avoid significant injuries, which have always been issues for them. The starting pitching is just respectable after ace Gerrit Cole.
The White Sox (+1200) may be a better value pick than the Yankees. The continued rise of Luis Robert can elevate a strong lineup that already showcases Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, and Eloy Jimenez. If Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech bust out as starting pitchers, the Sox could make a very deep postseason run.
Ultimately, it may come down to whether the Jays can outslug the Dodgers or the Astros can match up well in the World Series. Ultimately, it seems we may be on a road to a Los Angeles-Toronto World Series in 2022, with Houston having the best chance of crashing the party from the A.L. side.
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