The 2021 Major League Baseball season may not long be over, but already attention is turning to next season and who is likely to be the 2022 World Series winners.
The Atlanta Braves won the 2021 title by defeating the much-fancied Houston Astros by 4 games to 2.
They completed the World Series win with an emphatic 7-0 victory over the Astros last Tuesday, avoiding the need to go into a winner takes all decider.
This was the Braves’ first World Series win this century, and although they’re not a household name like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox, the Braves do have four World Series titles to their name.
The win also places them in the top ten most successful MLB franchises of all time, but what chance the Braves can defend their crown next season? Let’s take a look at the latest MLB betting odds.
| 2022 MLB World Series Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| LA Dodgers | +450 | +500 |
| Houston Astros | +650 | +650 |
| New York Yankees | +900 | +950 |
| Atlanta Braves | +1200 | +1000 |
| Chicago White Sox | +1200 | +1600 |
| Boston Red Sox | +1400 | +1400 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +1400 | +1600 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +1400 | +1400 |
| San Diego Padres | +1400 | +1600 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +1400 | +1600 |
| New York Mets | +1800 | +1800 |
| San Francisco Giants | +1800 | +1800 |
| St Louis Cardinals | +2500 | +2500 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +2800 | +2800 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +3300 | +3300 |
The LA Dodgers are the favorites to win the title they last won in 2020.
As the defending champions, the Dodgers went into the 2021 season as the +450 favorites to go back-to-back.
Dave Roberts’ team did make it to the final of the NLDS, but they came up against an in-form Atlanta who defeated them 4-2 to put paid to their dream of doubling up.
Next in the betting odds come this year’s beaten finalists, the Houston Astros. Dusty Baker’s team couldn’t quite get over the line and win their second-ever World Series.
This was the third time in five years that the Astros had made the World Series though, showing that they clearly have the pedigree to go all the way.
In this year’s final, the Astros lost the first, third, and fourth matches. They were always going to be up against it after that, and they did well to take it to a sixth match having been 4-0 down following the 1st innings of Match 5.
The Astros showed that they did have the character to fight for the title by coming back to take that match 9-5 and keep the series alive.
Ultimately the three losses in the first four matches left them too much to do.
But they are a team who should be there or thereabouts at the end of the 2022 season and are well worth a bet at +650.
All-in-all, the Yankees had a disappointing 2021.
The Bronx-based team did finish second in the AL East with a 92-70 win/loss record and make it to the Wild Card match.
But their season there as they lost 6-2 to the Boston Red Sox, this despite going into a 2-0 lead on 1st innings.
Even though they are third betting favorites, odds of +950 suggest the bookmakers are lukewarm on them.
If the Yankees can improve their roster of players, they could still be a major force next season.
The 2021 World Series was won against the odds by the Atlanta Braves.
Not only were they the outsiders going into the 2021 season, but they were also the outsiders going into the 2021 World Series final against the Houston Astros.
The Astros had the better season all round, winning 95 matches in the AL West, as opposed to the Braves who won 88 in the NL East.
But take a look at the more recent form, and you can see why the Braves were crowned winners and the World Series odds reflect that.
Going into the World Series, the Braves’ last ten matches record was 8-2, while the Astros read 4-6.
Clearly, the Braves were in the better form, and although most pundits, punters, and tipsters all expected the Houstons to turn their form around, they were wrong!
Defending the World Series is hard work though. In the past 100 or so years, only exceptional sides like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Oakland Athletics have done it, and no one has managed it this century.
The last side to do it was the Yankees, who actually managed three wins in succession, 1998, 1999, and 2000.
With this in mind, I would be cautious about picking the Atlanta Braves to win this year. They are a good side, obviously, but not a great side.
Another of the betting favorites is the Chicago White Sox. In 2021 the White Sox topped the AL Central with an impressive 93-69 record.
The White Sox were then well beaten in the ALDS playoff final by the Astros.
They flattered to deceive in the crunch postseason best of five series, and despite the 3-1 scoreline, they were well beaten.
There’s a bit of a difference on the sportsbooks for the White Sox though. BetUS has them at +1200, while BetOnline is pricing them at +1600.
The +1200 available on them next season doesn’t make for much value, and too be honest I’d be pushed to take them at +1600 as well.
Finally, the last team I want to look at in the 2022 World Series winner betting is the legendary Boston Red Sox.
As can also be the case when sides take on the New York Yankees, the Red Sox are one of those teams who strike fear into the opposition by their name alone.
The Red Sox finished level with the Yankees in the AL East last season, they had a 92-70 record. They beat the Yankees in the Wild Card match and then defeated Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in the ALDS.
They eventually fell at the penultimate hurdle, losing 4-2 to the Astros in the League Championship series.
The Red Sox will be a threat this season, and at +1400 are good value odds.
