Current Betting Odds to Make the MLB Playoffs in 2024
Discover the latest betting odds for the teams vying for the 2024 MLB Playoffs, as our expert analysis highlights the favorites & evaluates futures bets.
If you are an avid baseball consumer and often get lost in daydreams thinking about playoff baseball, stay right here. Whether it's the offseason, start of the season or sometime after the trade deadline in August, MLB playoff odds are always present at the finest MLB betting apps. If you have a hot take you want to back with a bet, or you just want to gauge where your team stands in the hunt for October, analyzing each teams’ chances to make the MLB playoffs can be a beneficial routine at different times of the year.
In this article, we will examine the current MLB playoff odds, dark horse teams to watch out for, odds changes, trends and history, as well as where to bet and how you can claim generous sign-up bonuses at new sportsbooks.
Current MLB Playoff Odds
In the table below, we have provided the latest MLB playoff odds 2024 from America’s #1 sportsbook: FanDuel Sportsbook. FanDuel stays close to their odds across all of their vast markets on a daily basis. Chances are, you won’t find better odds for MLB odds to make the playoffs than at FanDuel.
As we are already deep into October, the current odds have been changed to the "World Series" market, as only four teams remain:
- American League:
- Texas Rangers +175
- Houston Astros +350
- National League:
- Philadelphia Phillies +110
- Arizona Diamondbacks +1800
Betting on MLB Playoffs
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MLB Playoffs Predictions: Who Will Make the Playoffs in 2024?
At FanDuel, we can no longer bet on who makes the playoffs. However, we can still make a play on a division winner. The prediction that makes most sense in the eyes of our experts is taking the value on the Texas Rangers to win the AL West (+480 at FanDuel).
Despite potentially losing Max Scherzer for the remainder of the season due to injury, the Rangers still have a quality rotation of Nathan Eovaldi, Jordan Montgomery, Dane Dunning and Jon Gray to push them across the finish line. The series of additions Texas paid for at the deadline are paying off now in depth. Closer Aroldis Chapman lurks behind their strong arms and they still mash at the plate with one of the best offenses in baseball.
Corey Seager would have a legit shot at winning AL MVP if it weren't for some nagging injuries this season. But with him on the field, he forms the best 1-2 punch in the division with the steady Marcus Semien. The Rangers were scuffling, but are now coming out of it with a remaining schedule that features the Guardians, Mariners, Angels, Red Sox and Blue Jays - not too shabby.
MLB Playoffs 2024: Longshot Candidates to Watch
Considering we're coming down the home stretch of the MLB regular season, we have to shift our definition of longshot or dark horse here. Any team with longer than +500 odds should fit within this definition.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs might be sitting 4.5 games out after a dreadful series loss to the Rockies in Colorado, but by many measures, the Cubs have been by far the best team in the NL Central. With +600 odds to win the division at FanDuel, we believe their regression will catch up to the Brewers should they bounce back from the series loss in Colorado. The Cubs have a run differential of +93 compared to the Brewers' +50.
The Brewers have elite pitching and defense but lack hitting. The Cubs are well-rounded, and can match the Brewers in many ways when it comes to defense and pitching. A red-hot Seiya Suzuki, a return to MVP form for Cody Bellinger, consistent play from Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson, plus big play from young bucks like Christopher Morel and Pete Crow-Armstrong can help carry this team to a division crown.
The Cubs can do it if they take of business against the Pirates and Rockies in back-to-back series at home before going on the road to Milwaukee in the final series of the season. Hopefully, we get to see the division come down to that final weekend.
How Have the MLB Playoffs Odds Changed?
Since we are so deep into the season, here is a look back on MLB playoff odds 2024 on March 30 – MLB’s Opening Day:
| Team | Odds on March 30 |
|---|---|
Houston Astros | -700 |
Seattle Mariners | -160 |
Texas Rangers | +200 |
Chicago Cubs | +310 |
Toronto Blue Jays | -275 |
San Francisco Giants | +180 |
Arizona Diamondbacks | +425 |
Cincinnati Reds | +1800 |
Miami Marlins | +400 |
Boston Red Sox | +300 |
San Diego Padres | -450 |
Cleveland Guardians | -150 |
Detroit Tigers | +1500 |
Chicago White Sox | +135 |
New York Mets | -500 |
Los Angeles Angels | +150 |
New York Yankees | -500 |
St. Louis Cardinals | -225 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | +1500 |
Washington Nationals | +1500 |
Trends & Statistics for who Will Make the MLB Playoffs
When it comes to baseball – just like in the NBA or NFL – there are no guarantees. Just because you make the playoffs one season, does not mean you will make it the next. It depends on roster turnover, the development of young players, star players maintaining their performance, injuries, the division and league you play in and so much more.
The Dodgers and Braves have been playoff staples in the last handful of seasons, and both teams have proven their preseason MLB playoff betting odds were justified. However, a team like the Mets, who had -500 preseason odds of making the playoffs, sold at the trade deadline and gave up on their playoff hopes. Their veteran roster didn’t gel this year and that’s a factor you don’t take into account when a team spends the most money ever on a baseball roster.
The Orioles and Rangers, however, had unfavorable odds to make the playoffs entering the season, and now each sit atop the American League with the two best records. In baseball, teams’ chances to make the MLB playoffs increase or decrease as the season goes on based on synergy or differences in actual vs. expected performance models in key stats like team ERA, team OPS and a whole host of other advanced baseball stats.
Teams That Have Made the MLB Playoffs Most Often
Below are the top three teams to have made the MLB playoffs the most often:
- New York Yankees: 58 times
- Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers: 36 times
- St. Louis Cardinals: 32 times
Who Made the MLB Playoffs Last Year?
Since the MLB playoff format shifted entering 2022, adding a wild card team to each league, there are now 12 teams who make the postseason each year. The top two teams in each league now get a bye to the Divisional Round with a whole Wild Card Round added between seeds 3-6.
| Team | League | Season Record | Odds at beginning of last season |
|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Dodgers | National | 111-51 | -1000 |
Atlanta Braves | National | 101-61 | -300 |
St. Louis Cardinals | National | 93-69 | -110 |
New York Mets | National | 101-61 | -225 |
San Diego Padres | National | 89-73 | -275 |
Philadelphia Phillies | National | 87-75 | -130 |
Houston Astros | American | 106-56 | -400 |
New York Yankees | American | 99-63 | -400 |
Cleveland Guardians | American | 92-70 | +350 |
Toronto Blue Jays | American | 92-70 | -400 |
Seattle Mariners | American | 90-72 | +155 |
Tampa Bay Rays | American | 86-76 | -225 |
Last season, 10 of the 12 teams had favorable MLB odds to make the playoffs, this year’s current MLB playoff odds are far off from that considering the Guardians, Mets, Padres, Cardinals, Yankees and Mariners are all on the outside looking in. Six teams who were in the playoffs last year and six teams who had ‘(-)’ chances to make the MLB playoffs again this year.
FAQs
How Do Sportsbooks Calculate MLB Playoff Odds?
Sportsbooks rely on computer algorithms, power ratings, outside consultants, current standings, rosters, depth, injuries, trades and plenty of other factors to calculate current MLB playoff odds. Power ratings and computer projections carry heavy influence.
Do MLB Playoff Odds Change Throughout the Season?
Yes, MLB odds to make the playoffs are shifting all the time due to recent performance, predictive models, injuries and trades. The August 1 trade deadline, for example, marked a significant change in MLB playoff odds 2024 because teams identified whether they were pushing for the playoffs or focusing on next year.
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