2025 MLB Pennant Odds & Predictions for AL and NL

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Now that the season has turned to spring, and our calendars are heading into April, that means it’s baseball time. And, the 2025 MLB season is shaping up to be an exciting one for both leagues.

The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the year as the odds-on favorites to win the National League pennant and the 2025 World Series. In the American League, the New York Yankees sit on top of the betting boards as they aim to win another championship.

Without further ado, let’s figure out which teams will win the MLB Pennants and head to the World Series.

2025 American League Pennant Odds

Check out the latest American League Pennant odds:

The opening odds for the 2025 American League pennant show a strong field of contenders, with the Yankees leading the pack at +330. The Orioles and Astros are right behind at +650, signaling a competitive season ahead. Notably, the Blue Jays, Athletics, and White Sox are facing long odds, but surprises can always emerge.

American League Favorites

The following American League teams are considered the favorites, according to the top sports betting sites:

New York Yankees (+330)

The reigning AL champion New York Yankees check in as the favorites to win the pennant for the second consecutive year. However, this isn’t the same team we saw advance to the World Series in 2024. Juan Soto – who could’ve easily won AL MVP last season after coming over in an offseason trade from the San Diego Padres – swapped the Bronx for Queens by signing with the crosstown rival New York Mets this winter.

The Yanks were dealt another blow this spring when ace Gerrit Cole announced he will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his ailing pitching elbow. Soto and Cole were a couple of the driving forces that helped the Bombers reach the Fall Classic last season, and removing them from the mix weakens the roster considerably.

All things considered, I’m a bit surprised to see the Yankees still listed as +330 favorites to win the American League. New York did add a couple of veteran former NL MVP bats to the lineup in Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger, but you can also argue that the best days for both hitters are firmly in the rearview mirror. They also used some of the would-be Soto money to sign former Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried to a new deal worth in excess of $200 million, but the rotation would’ve looked a lot more formidable if they were pairing Fried with Cole.

The lineup will be anchored by 2-time AL MVP Aaron Judge. However, Giancarlo Stanton is currently sidelined by an injured elbow, and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will be out for at least 3 months with a lat strain. The injuries are already piling up, and Opening Day hasn’t even arrived yet. I’d pass on betting on the Yankees at their current +330 odds to win the AL for a second straight year.

Houston Astros (+650)

The Houston Astros have been postseason stalwarts for the past decade, but this is another potentially weakened superpower. This offseason was a costly one in H-Town, as the Astros lost all of Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Ryan Pressly, and Justin Verlander.

Whether they’ve managed to replace all of that departed talent remains to be seen. The Astros are awfully high on Cam Smith, who came over from the Chicago Cubs in the Tucker trade. Smith has yet to play a single game at the MLB level, though, so he may need time to adapt even if he makes Houston’s roster out of spring training.

The team attempted to fortify the roster by adding veterans like Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes, while Jose Altuve is set to move to left field after spending the first decade-plus of his career as the team’s franchise second baseman.

While the Astros are still the favorites to win the AL West, the rest of the division finally appears to be catching up. The +650 odds on Houston to win the AL yet again offer decent profit potential, but there’s a decent chance this team’s title window slammed shut a couple of years ago.

Baltimore Orioles (+650)

The Baltimore Orioles have spent most of the last decade in a rebuilding phase, and it’s finally starting to bear fruit. Baltimore generated plenty of preseason hype last year, only for the team to falter in the second half. The O’s were ultimately swept in 2 games by the Kansas City Royals in the Wild Card Round despite holding home-field advantage.

The Orioles’ 2025 AL pennant hopes depend on just how well their young talent continues to develop. Jackson Holliday had a rough go of it as a rookie despite making the team’s roster out of camp. Hopes are still high for the former No. 1 overall prospect, but Holliday slashed just .189/.255/.311 as a rookie. Baseball is hard, as it turns out.

Despite a bevy of intriguing prospects, the O’s didn’t do much to add veteran talent this winter. Ace Corbin Burnes is now in Arizona, which leaves a gaping hole at the top of the starting rotation. To make matters worse, Grayson Rodriguez – the would-be new ace of the staff – is dealing with inflammation in his pitching elbow. Whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day is an open question.

Is a rotation headlined by Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, and Dean Kremer good enough to get the Orioles through a long postseason? I have serious doubts, and Rodriguez missing an extended period of time would make their outlook even murkier. This team should be able to put runs on the board, but they’re likely going to have to make a big swing for an ace in the trade market if they want to make a serious World Series run this fall.

As of now, I’d rather bet on Houston than Baltimore at the same +650 AL pennant odds.

The Best American League Betting Value

The following teams offer the best betting value due to their current odds and projections for the season:

Texas Rangers (+900)

All things considered, the Texas Rangers may be poised to make another World Series run after winning their first-ever championship in 2023. The team’s title defense season went quite poorly considering they failed to even make the playoffs, but they’ve had a productive offseason.

Texas has added a couple of established bats in Jake Burger and Joc Pederson to what was already a decent lineup. Evan Carter, Josh Jung, and Wyatt Langford are 2 of the most promising young hitters in the league, while Corey Seager is an MVP-caliber player if he can stay healthy.

The Rangers’ chances will come down to whether their pitching staff can hold up. Jacob deGrom hasn’t been able to stay healthy in recent years, but he’s likely to start the year in the team’s rotation. Nathan Eovaldi and Jon Gray have also battled injuries, while Tyler Mahle will start the year in the rotation after recovering from Tommy John surgery late last season.

At +900 to win the AL, you’re getting pretty good value on a Rangers team primed to improve after struggling through their 2024 campaign.

Seattle Mariners (+1100)

The Seattle Mariners are a tale of 2 teams. They have the best starting rotation in baseball. They also may have the worst offense in the sport. We can safely expect the M’s to be involved in their fair share of tight, low-scoring games this season, and the starting staff alone should be enough to keep them relevant in the hunt for an AL West title.

Unfortunately, their inability to score runs will likely be their downfall. Julio Rodriguez – the face of the franchise – is fresh off of a down season in which he hit just .273/.325/.409 with 20 home runs. He should bounce back this season, but he doesn’t have much help. To make matters more difficult, the Mariners play their home games in the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in the league.

Making the postseason will be key. That’s something the Mariners have accomplished just once in the last 23 years, so it’s a tall task. If they can punch a ticket, though, they’ll be a team nobody wants to play. Pitching wins championships, and Seattle has pitching in abundance.

Top American League Longshot

The Athletics (+10000) have astronomical odds, but this team seems to be trending in the right direction. The A’s have developed a nice young core headlined by Lawrence Butler, Shea Langeliers, Mason Miller, and Brent Rooker, and they’ve actually spent money this winter in an attempt to infuse some veterans.

Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Jose Leclerc are just a few of the vets the A’s added to the roster. While winning an improved AL West division will be a lot to ask, this team could be pesky enough to crack the postseason picture.

Advancing through the AL playoffs and into the World Series will be an incredibly difficult task, but you’re getting great bang for your buck here at the Athletics’ current +10000 odds to do just that.

American League Pennant Prediction

Given the Yankees’ noteworthy defections and injury problems, the American League pennant race looks wide open heading into the new campaign. I understand why the Yanks are favored, but I don’t think their AL pennant odds should be twice as good as any other team in the league.

You might as well take a shot on one of the value bets. The Rangers are the team that stands out the most given the roster’s mix of proven stars and up-and-coming young talent. If they can stay healthy, the Rangers certainly have what it takes to represent the AL in the Fall Classic for the second time in the last three years.

Bet: Texas Rangers (+900)

2025 National League Pennant Odds

Check out the latest MLB odds for the National League Pennant race:

The National League landscape is headlined by the Los Angeles Dodgers at +170, followed by the Atlanta Braves (+425) and Philadelphia Phillies (+650). While Los Angeles is the clear frontrunner, value plays exist deeper in the odds, with teams like the Cubs, Padres, and Giants offering intriguing upside.

For those looking for expert insights on these bets, checking out the best handicappers can provide valuable analysis and recommendations to refine your picks.

National League Favorites

These teams are the early favorites to emerge victorious in the National League in 2025:

Los Angeles Dodgers (+170)

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to set the standard in the National League. With an elite roster and depth in every position, they remain the team to beat. Los Angeles won the World Series in 2024, and anything but a repeat victory in 2025 would be deemed a failure.

The Dodgers already boasted an absurd amount of talent. All they did this winter was get even better. Los Angeles spent tons of money on the free-agent market to bring in the likes of Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Michael Conforto, Kirby Yates, and Tanner Scott, among others.

LA lost a few pieces – including Gavin Lux and Walker Buehler – but the team’s core of talent is intact and as formidable as ever. Shohei Ohtani – the reigning National League MVP – will return to the mound this year after serving exclusively as a hitter in his first season with the team. Whether Ohtani can stay healthy will be interesting to see, but the team is hardly dependent on Ohtani as a pitcher.

The rotation is simply absurd. In addition to Snell, Ohtani, and Sasaki, the Dodgers have Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw are back from injuries. The staff is deep good that Bobby Miller – a former top prospect- will start the year in Triple-A.

Baseball is a random enough sport to where nothing is guaranteed, but it’s admittedly difficult not to bet on the Dodgers to win the NL pennant at the current +170 odds. This may be the most talented roster we’ve ever seen at the Major League level.

Atlanta Braves (+425)

Atlanta’s combination of youth and experience keeps them as one of the strongest threats in the NL. Their deep lineup and powerful rotation make them a formidable contender.

However, the Atlanta Braves‘ 2024 season didn’t go as planned after they finished with the best record in the National League the year prior. 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. tore his ACL for the second time last season, and he won’t be ready to return by Opening Day. Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy also battled injuries last season, while Atlanta lost a couple of key starters in Max Fried and Charlie Morton in free agency. Spencer Strider – one of Atlanta’s aces – won’t be healthy to start the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery last season.

Defending NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale is back, while there’s still enough offensive talent to keep the Braves in the thick of things in the NL East. All things considered, though, I don’t really see why Atlanta’s odds to win the NL pennant are better than the Phillies’ or Mets’.

I’ll pass on betting on the Braves at +425.

Philadelphia Phillies (+650)

Philadelphia’s success in recent years has solidified them as a legitimate World Series contender. Philadelphia has been one of the most aggressive teams in terms of spending money in recent years, and they did win the NL pennant back in 2022 before losing in the Fall Classic to Houston.

The Philadelphia Phillies didn’t make any huge moves this offseason. Rather than adding stars, the Phillies worked to round out the edges of the roster. Newcomers like Jesus Luzardo, Jordan Romano, and Max Kepler add solid depth, but the Phillies’ ultimate success will depend on whether their stars deliver when it matters most.

Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos give the Phillies one of baseball’s most imposing lineups. Turner has largely struggled since inking a contract worth over $300 million heading into the 2023 season, but this team’s ceiling will rise if he can rediscover his old form.

The issue is the NL East may be baseball’s best division, as the Braves and Mets are also vying for the top spot. Still, Philadelphia looks like a terrific value wager at +650 to win the NL in 2025.

The Best National League Betting Value

The following MLB teams offer betting value to win the National League pennant:

Chicago Cubs (+1500)

The Cubs have made several offseason moves to bolster their roster. At +1500, they provide strong value, particularly if their pitching holds up. The addition of Kyle Tucker in a trade from the Astros was the biggest splash, but the Cubs also added some useful veterans in Ryan Pressly, Matthew Boyd, and Justin Turner.

Replacing Cody Bellinger with Tucker will be a boost to Chicago’s offensive output, but the starting staff could be a question mark. Shota Imanaga could be due for some regression after an incredibly impressive rookie campaign last year, though Justin Steele looks like one of the game’s most steady, underrated left-handed starters. Beyond them, however, Chicago’s rotation lacks depth.

Still, the Cubs’ +1500 NL pennant odds offer upside if they catch lightning in a bottle. This team seems to be trending in the right direction, and they’re poised ot make some noise in a very weak NL Central.

San Diego Padres (+1300)

Most expected the San Diego Padres to take a step back after trading Juan Soto prior to last season, but they wound up improving considerably. The Padres pushed the Dodgers to the brink in the postseason, as they ultimately lost a 5-game NLDS showdown after taking a 2-1 series lead over the eventual World Series champions.

San Diego hasn’t been afraid to add payroll in previous years, but they didn’t do much to improve this winter. The departure of Jurickson Profar could prove costly, while the Padres also lost Tanner Scott, Ha-Seong Kim, and Kyle Higashioka this offseason. San Diego’s rotation is also missing Joe Musgrove, who won’t be ready to return until midseason at the very earliest.

Still, we just saw the Pads defy the expectations last season, so doing so again in 2025 is hardly a leap. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado are superstars, while Jackson Merrill appears to be on his way. We know the Padres won’t be afraid to make splashy trades in an attempt to bolster the roster in-season, as well.

Top National League Longshot

The San Francisco Giants (+3500) have a solid pitching core and enough offensive depth to challenge for a playoff spot. If they overachieve, they could be a sleeper pick.

The Giants have struggled to attract free-agent talent in recent years, but they did improve their prospects by adding Willy Adames on a big-money deal this winter. If Justin Verlander still has anything left in the tank, San Francisco’s rotation could also raise some eyebrows.

The issue for the Giants – and the rest of the NL West – is that they share the division with the mighty Dodgers. Barring an epic collapse from Los Angeles, any NL West team lucky enough to make the playoffs will likely have to do so as a Wild Card.

National League Predictions

Baseball is random, but the Dodgers’ roster will put that randomness to the test. In the end, the cream generally rises to the top. Given the talent and depth in this organization, it’s very hard to imagine a scenario in which the Dodgers don’t go on to win over 100 games this season and breeze their way into yet another postseason.

Of course, anything can happen in a short playoff series. The Dodgers nearly lost to the Padres last fall before ultimately bouncing back and making a title run. Anything can happen, but I’d prefer to simply bet on the Dodgers while we can still get them at plus-money odds to win the NL for the second straight year.

Bet: Los Angeles Dodgers (+170)

MLB Pennants Prop Bets

Check out the following MLB prop bets courtesy of Bet365:

Which Division Wins The National League?

• NL West (-150)
• NL East (+150)
• NL Central (+550)

The NL West is the heavy -150 favorite to present the National League in the World Series again this season, and rightfully so. In addition to the Dodgers, the NL West also features potential contenders in the Padres, Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Any of these teams is capable of making a run.

The NL East (+150) is a solid bet, too, with the Braves, Phillies, and Mets all firmly in the mix.

Bet: NL West (-150)

Which Division Wins The American League?

• AL East (-135)
• AL West (+290)
• AL Central (+325)

On the AL side, the East (-135) is also an odds-on favorite. I’m less convinced about this one, especially considering the Yankees’ fragile status as early favorites. I’d rather take a shot on the AL West (+290), with the Astros, Rangers, Mariners, and Athletics all potentially ticketed for improvement this season. To me, this MLB Division offers solid betting value considering the amount of talent in the AL West.

Bet: AL West (+290)

MLB Pennant Winners