BetOnline opened the LA Dodgers as a big -190 favorite to win the 2020 World Series versus the Tampa Bay Rays, who would pay out $165 for every $100 bet with a win.
With starting pitchers undecided for Game 1, books have made the Dodgers a -161 favorite and Tampa Bay a +148 dog. Remember that BetOnline offers a true dime line up to -199. Other books had LA at -166 and the Rays at +143.
Both teams made it a seven-game series to land in this year's World Series. Tampa Bay owned its series against Houston before the Astros managed to come from behind. LA was the team to play catch up in its series against Atlanta following the Braves 2-0 start.
Despite the shortened schedule and expanded playoffs, the teams with the best record in each league meet in the World Series for just the fourth time since Major League Baseball realigned each league into three divisions in 1995.
Tampa Bay’s only other World Series appearance was in 2008, when it lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.
The innovative Rays led the AL with a 40-20 record in the pandemic-shortened season. Known for their pitching and defense, they also introduced the concept of the starter and sometimes deploy a four-man outfield.
The Dodgers have been favored to win the World Series since the start of this most unusual season. They present the biggest liability to bookmakers.
Reigning NL MVP Cody Bellinger, newcomer Mookie Betts and manager Dave Roberts’ Dodgers went 43-17, the best record in the majors by eight wins.
“From the moment we were able to put a season together, once they figured out that COVID thing, everybody was expecting us to get to the World Series. We were expecting to get to the World Series,” said Kiké Hernández, who tied Game 7 with a pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
