The Los Angeles Dodgers were already atop the 2021 World Series odds, having broken their 32-year championship drought last year and returning a roster primed to add to their title haul.
And now, as if the other 29 MLB teams didn’t have a tall enough task already, the Dodgers have made a massive addition to their pitching rotation. Yesterday, it was announced that 2020 National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer was signing with the champs for three years and $102 million.
Last season with the Cincinnati Reds, Bauer was 5-4, with a league-leading 1.73 ERA and 100 strikeouts in only 73 innings. He won the Cy Young by a landslide over Yu Darvish, who has also swapped the NL Central for the NL West.
The Dodgers already had a loaded rotation. Now they could have as many as three former Cy Young winners in their rotation. That is, if David Price returns as planned after opting out of the 2020 season. There is three-time NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, Bauer, 2012 AL Cy Young winner Price, and rising star Walker Buehler. Then there is the trio of Julio Urias (3-0, 3.27 ERA in 10 starts in 2020), Dustin May (3-1, 2.57 ERA in 10 starts in 2020), and Tony Gonsolin (2-2, 2.31 ERA in 8 starts in 2020), each of whom has an argument to start.
With that stacked set of starters and a star-studded lineup led by two former MVPs in Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, can the Dodgers be dethroned in 2021? There has not been a repeat World Series winner in two decades, but this year presents as good a chance as any.
Updated 2021 World Series Odds
- Los Angeles Dodgers +350
- New York Yankees +550
- San Diego Padres +800
- Chicago White Sox +850
- Atlanta Braves +1000
- New York Mets +1000
- Minnesota Twins +1800
- Oakland A’s +2200
- Toronto Blue Jays +2200
- St. Louis Cardinals +2400
- Houston Astros +2500
- Tampa Bay Rays +2500
- Cincinnati Reds +3200
- Washington Nationals +3200
- Chicago Cubs +3500
- Philadelphia Phillies +3500
- Cleveland Indians +3700
- Los Angeles Angels +4000
- Milwaukee Brewers +4500
- Boston Red Sox +5000
- Miami Marlins +6500
- Seattle Mariners +8000
- Detroit Tigers +10000
- Baltimore Orioles +11000
- Kansas City Royals +11000
- San Francisco Giants +11000
- Arizona Diamondbacks +13000
- Colorado Rockies +15000
- Pittsburgh Pirates +15000
- Texas Rangers +15000
Odds via Fanduel as of Saturday, February 6 at 8:00 am ET
Bauer Addition Puts More Distance Between Dodgers and the Field
Bauer chose a return home, where he starred for UCLA, over a move to the New York Mets. It appeared that the Mets were in pole position to land him, but he opted to pass on their hefty offer in favor of the Dodgers’ offer.
With Bauer now in the fold, the Dodgers are now -280 to win their ninth straight NL West title. They are also +400 to win their fourth National League title in five seasons. The Padres, despite being one of the 2021 World Series odds favorites, are only +210 to win the NL West and +400 to win the NL pennant.
Mets Still Poised to Contend, But Braves Hold Edge in NL East
The Mets have already made a big splash by trading for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. As a result, they are still considered one of the 2021 World Series odds favorites even without Bauer. The Mets are +550 to win the NL pennant, and they are +145 to win the NL East. However, with Bauer choosing to pair up with three-time Cy Young winner Kershaw over two-time winner Jacob deGrom, the Mets are still just behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East for now.
The Braves, meanwhile, boosted their hopes of going further than last season’s National League Championship Series loss by signing slugger Marcell Ozuna to a long-term deal. With Ozuna back in their ranks after his stellar 2020 season and Bauer opting for the West Coast, the latest odds have the Braves as a +125 favorite to win their fourth straight NL East title.
