MLB World Series 2025 Odds and Predictions: Are the Dodgers Unstoppable?

Los Angeles Dodgers (+330)

As the favorites to win the World Series in 2024, the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games to capture their eighth title in franchise history. It’s usually difficult for squads to maintain their talent levels after a championship season.

It can be much harder to improve and become a better team. Well, the Dodgers appeared to be able to do just that. They added some talented arms to their rotation, and on paper, look the part. However, injuries hit the Dodgers’ pitching staff hard, and they’ve had an up-and-down season.

With a record of 72-54, they’re in a solid position, but have allowed the San Diego Padres to play catch-up. Now, the Padres are only two games behind them in the NL West. By their standards, it hasn’t been a fantastic season, but will they be at their best in the postseason?

Pitching Staff

When they are healthy, the Dodgers could have one of the strongest pitching staffs in baseball. However, injuries have hit the rotation harder than any other team in the Major Leagues. They’ve had to navigate through several key injuries this season, and the hits have kept coming.

Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Clayton Kershaw, and Tony Gonsolin have all made it onto the injury report for the Dodgers. They’re getting healthier now, though, as Sasaki and Gonsolin are the only remaining from this group on the IL. And, with Shohei Ohtani back on the mound, Gonsolin’s absence is moot.

Snell has been excellent upon his return, with two earned runs allowed across 16 innings in three starts. He’s going to be a tremendous asset for the Dodgers in the postseason. Unfortunately, the timeline on Sasaki’s next start isn’t promising.

Blake Snell has 10 strikeouts through 5 innings! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CQqOCiehAM

— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2025

Overall, the Dodgers are only 18th in the Major Leagues with a team ERA of 4.14. It’s very mediocre numbers, but that’d be lower if the Dodgers had a healthy rotation for a full schedule.

With Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the ace role and the Dodgers getting arms back at the right time, they’re in a much stronger position for October baseball.

Batting

The Dodgers have no shortage of heavy hitters in their lineup to punish opposing pitchers again this season. They finished fourth with a team batting average of .258 in 2024. Additionally, the Dodgers were third in home runs and second in runs.

This season, the Dodgers rank fourth with a .254 batting average through 127 games. They are also second in home runs and first in the National League with 188 long balls. With 633 RBIs, the Dodgers have also been able to put runs on the scoreboard.

Ohtani leads the Dodgers with 44 home runs and 83 RBIs. He’s well on his way to winning his fourth MVP award in his career as the best player in the National League. The Dodgers’ supporting cast is also in good shape, with Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Freddie Freeman all delivering.

Shohei Ohtani crushes his 44th home run 💪 pic.twitter.com/COf7roPmyA

— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2025

That said, the Dodgers are dealing with injuries to key players, including Max Muncy, Enrique Hernandez, and Tommy Edman. Fortunately, these aren’t expected to impact the Dodgers for the postseason. The Muncy injury is particularly damning for the Dodgers, but he should be prepared in time.

Milwaukee Brewers (+700)

The Milwaukee Brewers have been the hottest team in baseball since the All-Star break. There is always one club that catches fire after the mid-way point, and that honor belongs to the Brewers in 2025. With a record of 79-48, the Brewers have a six-game advantage on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

They are 23-7 since the All-Star Game and went on a 14-game winning streak to break a franchise record. Did the Brewers peak too early, or are they going to carry this momentum into September and the postseason?

Pitching Staff

As September approaches, the Brewers have one of the brightest pitching staffs in baseball. They are loaded with a mix of young talent and savvy veterans on the mound. Led by ace Freddy Peralta, the Brewers are tied with the Royals for the third-best ERA in the Majors.

Freddy Peralta is the first pitcher to record 15 wins this season!

(MLB x @loanDepot) pic.twitter.com/gQvqkuziIg

— MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2025

Through 127 games, they hold a collective ERA of 3.58 and 1.22 WHIP. Peralta leads the rotation with a 2.78 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 142.2 innings. With Brandon Woodruff back on the mound, there is massive depth in this starting rotation. Woodruff came off the IL and immediately started throwing darts.

He has a 2.47 ERA and 0.85 WHIP through 43.2 innings of work since his return on July 6. Along with Chad Patrick, Jose Quintana, Quinn Priester, and Jacob Misiorowski, there isn’t enough room for all these wonderful hurlers in the postseason.

Misorowski has the worst number out of this rotation, and that’s a 4.17 ERA! The Brewers’ bullpen is in solid shape, too, with the fourth-best number in the National League! A lot of people haven’t given the Brewers as much attention as they should, but this is one potent pitching staff.

Batting

The Brewers’ offense has played a big role in their resurgence this season. While they don’t hit the most home runs, they make solid contact and work pitchers on the mound. It’s hard to get outs on this team, as they are extremely well-disciplined at the plate.

With a .258 batting average and 443 walks, the Brewers are in the top 5 in both regards. Only the Toronto Blue Jays have a higher batting average than the Brewers this season. Additionally, with 606 RBIs, the Brewers are fifth in MLB.

Christian Yelich over his last 49 games:

.314 AVG
.381 OBP
.546 SLG
12 HR
159 wRC+#MLBCentral | @Brewers pic.twitter.com/3F434SIOjF

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 18, 2025

The power numbers are lacking, as the Brewers are 18th in home runs with 135. That being said, Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio show some pop with their bats. Yelich leads all Brewers with 26 long balls in 2025. 25-year-old second baseman Brice Turang has heated up in the second half as well.

Armed with a well-balanced lineup, the Brewers have the talent to win with their pitching or offense. My primary concern is that the Brewers peaked too early and can’t sustain this pace in October.

Philadelphia Phillies (+700)

It wouldn’t be August without discussing the Phillies being a World Series contender. They are in a familiar position with the second-shortest World Series odds behind the Dodgers.

As of August 21, the Phillies are first in the NL East with a record of 74-53. Despite the Mets signing Juan Soto, this looks like a carbon copy of last year when the Phillies won the division by six games. Currently, the Phillies have a 6.5-game lead over the Mets.

Enough talk about regular-season success with this club, though. Is 2025 finally the year that Bryce Harper and the Phillies finish in the postseason?

Pitching Staff

The Phillies have arms in their rotation that can lead this team deep into October. They have an outstanding 1-2 punch with Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler pacing the Phillies’ pitching.

Sanchez has been excellent and is giving Paul Skenes a run for his money in the NL Cy Young race. Currently, Sanchez has a 2.46 ERA and 1.10 WHIP through 25 starts. He’s allowed two or fewer earned runs in 13 of his previous 15 outings heading into late August.

Cristopher Sánchez was striking out the world tonight!

6.1 IP
6 H
2 R
2 BB
12 SO🔥

Sánchez has a 1.57 ERA through his last 15 starts! pic.twitter.com/o2RiQQVrYq

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 20, 2025

Wheeler has taken a bit of a backseat, but he’s been in top form as well. The 35-year-old veteran holds a 2.71 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 24 games and 149.2 frames. Add in Ranger Suarez and Taijuan Walker, and the Phillies have four dangerous arms with an ERA of 3.34 or better.

If the bullpen were stronger, I’d be more confident in the Phillies. They have the fourth-worst make in the National League with a 4.30 ERA. The bullpen is mightily important in the postseason, so that does leave a hole on their roster. In any event, if the starters can go long in games, the Phillies will be tough to beat.

Batting

This is a roster well-known for its big bats in the lineup. The Phillies have plenty of power in their meat of the order. DH Kyle Schwarber has been a fringe participant in the NL Cy Young race this season.

45 FOR KYLE SCHWARBER!

He now has sole possession of the NL home run lead 🔔 pic.twitter.com/VfVjSk5oUf

— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2025

Schwarber is second in the Major Leagues and first in the National League with 45 home runs in 2025. He’s hit one more than Ohtani and four more than Aaron Judge. Bryce Harper’s power numbers are well behind, with 21 long balls. However, Harper has been warming up in August in Philadelphia.

Harper swatted four homers in his previous nine games, as he continues to turn a page at the right time. If Harper can keep that stroke in the postseason, pitchers are going to have a heck of a time trying to get him and Schwarber out in the batter’s box.

Overall, Philadelphia is in the top 10 in home runs, batting average, and RBIs. Their .258 batting average ranks second for a tie with the Brewers’ bats. All in all, I have no issues with the Phillies at the plate.