MLB 2024 Predictions & World Series Picks to Win - Major League Baseball Odds

The MLB regular season is always a marathon, but the playoffs are anything but that. For the teams that qualify for the postseason, it’s all about getting hot at the right time and maintaining momentum. This can make predicting the winner of the World Series difficult, even toward the end of the regular season when the playoff picture starts to clear up.

Of course, Stake provides an excellent platform for baseball betting fans to bet on the MLB postseason and World Series winner. However, we thought it would be best to share an overview of the MLB season and a guide to betting on the World Series before you start to place bets at Stake Sportsbook .

2024 MLB Schedule & Overview

Like every other season - outside of the shortened 2020 season - every team will play 162 games during the 2024 MLB season. That’s 2,430 total baseball games making up the regular season. Afterward, a little less than half of the 30 teams will qualify for the postseason.

When was 2024 MLB Opening Day?

Officially, the 2024 MLB season began on March 20 when the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres played a regular-season game in South Korea. For every other team, opening day was on March 28.

When is the 2024 MLB Regular Season?

The 2024 MLB season opened on March 20, although most teams played their first game on March 28. The final day of the season is on September 29 when all 30 teams will play their regular-season finale.

When was the 2024 MLB All-Star Game?

The 2024 MLB All-Star Game was played on July 16 in Arlington, Texas. The American League defeated the National League 5-3.

When is the 2024 MLB Postseason?

The upcoming 2024 MLB postseason will begin on October 1 and will conclude in late October or early November depending on how long the World Series lasts.

When is the 2024 MLB World Series?

Game 1 of the 2024 World Series will be played on October 25. If necessary, Game 7 is scheduled for November 2.

2024 MLB Odds, Team Standings & World Series Picks

More than halfway through the 2024 MLB season, the standings are still taking shape. Most teams are still within striking distance of a playoff spot. However, there are a few teams like the Chicago White Sox, who are having a historically bad year, that have been all but eliminated from postseason contention.

MLB Picks & Predictions

Heading into the stretch run of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Baltimore Orioles are the top betting favorites to win the 2024 World Series. Of course, at this point last season, even a baseball expert would have had a hard time predicting that the Texas Rangers would play the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. In other words, there is a lot of baseball left to play and anything can happen.

Who is Predicted to Win the MLB World Series in 2024?

In the American League, the Orioles and Yankees have distinguished themselves as the top teams. The Yankees hope that MVP frontrunner Aaron Judge can carry them, although they will need better performance from reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole to make that happen. As for the Orioles, the offseason addition of Corbin Burnes and the breakout season of Gunnar Henderson have made Baltimore poised to improve upon last year’s early playoff exit.

Alas, those aren’t the only teams in the American League worth watching. The Cleveland Guardians lead the AL Central and are also competing for the best record in the AL with the Yankees and Orioles. The Twins and Royals are also in good shape for a Wild Card spot and could be intriguing teams if they reach the postseason.

There are also two teams in the AL West that are worth monitoring. After a slow start, the Houston Astros have climbed back to the top and look poised to be a division winner for the seventh time in eight years. Yet, the Seattle Mariners might have a better chance of postseason thanks to a top-notch pitching staff.

Surprisingly, teams like the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers are nowhere to be seen in the playoff picture. Despite being in the playoff race, the Rays traded away several key players at the trade deadline. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have faltered despite Vladimir Guerrero putting up MVP-caliber numbers. Finally, injuries to pitchers like Max Scherzer have hindered the Rangers in their quest to repeat as World Series champs.

In the National League, the Dodgers look like the team to beat, especially with Mookie Betts back from injury. However, even with Tyler Glasnow leading the rotation, the Dodgers are still fighting off the Padres and Diamondbacks in the NL West. Both teams have gotten hot during the second half of the season with Dylan Cease leading San Diego’s resurgence as a bonafide Cy Young candidate while Arizona’s playoff experience last year appears to be paying dividends in 2024.

The other two divisions in the National League appear to be all but settled. The Phillies and Brewers have built comfortable leads in the NL East and NL Central, respectively. The Phillies, in particular, have stood out behind Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and a deep lineup. Philly has been neck and neck with the Dodgers for most of the season for the best record in the National League.

Of course, even if the division races in the NL East and NL Central aren’t close, the Wild Card race in the National League looks like it’s going to get wild. Including the Padres and Diamondbacks, there are as many as nine teams that look to be in contention for the three Wild Card spots.

On paper, the Braves might have the best chance of being one of those playoff teams. They have Max Fried and Chris Sale leading their rotation. However, a slew of injuries, especially the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr., have left them vulnerable to missing the playoffs. That has helped open the door to the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and others to earn a Wild Card spot.

The Mets are hoping to maintain the momentum they built up in June and July when they had one of the best records in baseball. The Giants have underwhelmed for most of the season but remain within striking distance. St. Louis is trying to overcome down seasons from key players with elite pitching. The Cubs are hoping for the same, as they have Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon leading their rotation. Given recent history, the National League teams that earn a Wild Card spot could be dangerous once the postseason begins.

Baseball Betting Tips & Odds

Whether it’s during the regular season or the postseason, making baseball picks are difficult. There are 26 players on every team and almost all of them could become a potential difference-maker on any given day. It’s critical to look closely at stats and learn as much as possible about key players from sources like Baseball America. Even beyond that, there are multiple factors to consider before placing a bet, including betting odds, starting pitchers, each team’s recent success, and factors like weather or home-field advantage. Keep up to date with all the expert tips and insights here on Stake.com .

2024 MLB Future Bets

MLB futures bets are often popular before the start of the season and late in the season. By this point in the season, there is a lot of information available about each team, which can make it easier to forecast who will reach the World Series. Of course, we’ve seen in past years that the teams with the shortest futures odds don’t always succeed. It’s often a matter of what team peaks at the right time. That being said, factors like pitching depth, defense, star power, and playoff experience should all be given consideration for futures bets.

Types of Baseball Bets & How to Bet on MLB

Aside from futures bets, there are several ways to bet on baseball both during the end of the regular season and throughout the playoffs. The most common baseball bet is a moneyline bet , which is simply a bet on the outright winner of a game. There is also a handicap bet that usually involves the favored team winning by at least two runs to win the bet. It’s also possible to bet on the total runs scored in the game rather than the winner of the game.

Baseball games also offer a wide variety of prop bets. Many of these are based on the performance of individual players. For example, will a specific player hit a home run in a game? How many strikeouts will a starting pitcher have in a game? With 20 players in the starting lineup of every game, there are usually dozens of prop bet possibilities for every game.

It’s also possible to make parlay bets by combining multiple bets into a more lucrative bet. Finally, don’t forget that even after a game begins, it’s still possible to make live bets on the action as it unfolds. Make sure you learn more about Major League Baseball betting with our guide on how to bet on baseball on Stake.com .

Live Stream MLB Online at Stake Sportsbook

Every time you bet on a baseball game at Stake Sportsbook, you’re able to watch a live stream of that game on the Stake website or app. There is no additional payment or subscription necessary. As long as you have a Stake account, you’ll be able to stream any game you bet on, allowing you to track your bet and make live bets on that game as it unfolds.

Bet on Baseball with Best Odds on Stake Sportsbook

Stake Sportsbook prides itself in being a top-notch online sportsbook. Stake strives to have the best odds, supports multiple payment methods with the chance to store your funds in a vault which makes it easy for users to deposit and withdraw money . Customers can take advantage of our promotions and bonus opportunities or join the VIP program to receive even greater rewards and benefits , our VIP FAQ page has more information on this.

At the same time, Stake cares about providing excellent customer support about using the site, the VIP program, and any other questions that might come up. We also take pride in helping users practice safe gambling habits . You can learn more with Stake Smart to help ensure a fun and safe experience while betting at Stake Sportsbook.