2025 MLB Odds: Bettors Backing Dodgers To Win National League
And the Dodgers are one squad that fans should have their eyes on.
At BetMGM, Los Angeles has been one of the best Over teams in the league, with a 53-44-3 record.
Additionally, L.A. has been one of the best YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) teams, going 54-46 in that spot.
And bettors are all over Blue to win the National League.
At the sportsbook, the Dodgers have the shortest odds to win the NL Pennant at +135 and also have the highest ticket (16.1%) and highest handle (20.9%).
Let's look at some of the team's other odds at BetMGM as of July 21.
Regular Season WinsOver 98.5: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)Under 98.5: -125 (bet $10 to win $18 total)
World Series+230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
National League West Winner-2000 (bet $10 to win $10.50 total)
World Series State of Winning TeamCalifornia (Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Angels, Athletics): +200 (bet $10 to win $30 total)
World Series Division of Winning TeamNL West: +190 (bet $10 to win $29 total)
NLCS Division of Winning teamNL West: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
So are the Dodgers the best bet to ride the rest of the way?
According to FOX Sports betting analyst Will Hill, when it comes to the NL West at least, he's backing the Giants over LAD.
"Yes, [the Giants] would have to topple the behemoth that is the Los Angeles Dodgers," Hill wrote. "But with the Dodgers' inability to keep pitchers healthy, the defending champs are vulnerable.
"With a newly acquired Devers, and perhaps more moves up their sleeves, the Giants have the ability to compete with the mighty Dodgers."
FOX Sports MLB writer Rowan Kavner also noted that the biggest questions about the Dodgers' success in the second half of the season revolve around pitching.
"After weathering a smorgasbord of pitching injuries, Glasnow is back, Snell is on a rehab assignment, and Sasaki is expected to make his return at some point before season's end," he explained.
"Still, there's a great deal of starting-pitching uncertainty, as the club leans heavily on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May. Will they try to add reinforcements at the deadline or trust in their returning arms?
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Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Facing Dodgers for first time gives Walker Buehler chance to reflect on his time in L.A.
It had been nine months since Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo, stretched his arms on the Yankee Stadium mound, and was dogpiled after recording the final outs of last year's World Series. But on Friday afternoon, ahead of Buehler's first reunion with the Dodgers since departing for the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, the memory remained vividly fresh — for him, his former teammates and coaches, and even a traveling contingent of Dodgers fans in town for this weekend's series at Fenway Park. As Buehler chatted with members of his old organization hours before Friday's series opener, Dodger fans taking a pregame tour of the stadium spotted him on the diamond. Within moments, an otherwise empty ballpark was echoing with cheers and applause, the fans shouting Buehler's name as he acknowledged them with a wave of his hand. 'That was really cool,' Buehler said later, the moment reminding him of a conversation he had with Dodgers broadcaster Orel Hershiser (a World Series hero of a different generation who became a mentor of Buehler's during his time with the team). Read more: Beyond the bullpen, how aggressive will the Dodgers be at the MLB trade deadline? 'Talking to Orel about some of that stuff that he's gone through and the way people react to him, I think it's obviously two different situations,' he added. 'But for the fans walking around to yell at me, I kind of imagine in L.A. it'll be like that for a while, I hope.' Indeed, if there was any doubt about how Buehler's Dodgers tenure was destined to be remembered, his role in last year's World Series enshrined it in legendary status. No, the right-hander didn't quite reach the Cy Young-winning expectations many had when he first came up as a highly touted prospect with a big fastball and fiery mound presence. For as dominant as he was from 2018-2021, when he went 39-13 with a 2.82 earned-run average and two All-Star selections, the end of his seven-year stint was derailed by a 2022 Tommy John surgery (the second of his career) and a disappointing regular-season performance upon his return in 2024 (when he was 1-6 in the regular season with a 5.38 ERA). Buehler's best Dodger moments, though, always came in the postseason: From his division-clinching gem in Game 163 as a rookie in 2018, to his 1.80 ERA in five starts during the Dodgers' 2020 World Series run, to when he took the ball on short rest twice in a failed title defense in 2021, to his 10 consecutive scoreless innings in the final two rounds of last year's postseason most of all; an unexpected star turn following his post-Tommy John struggles throughout the summer. 'That moment means a lot to all of us, that we were a part of it with the city and the fans that came out every day for us there,' he said, while talking to reporters in the Red Sox's home dugout. 'I think it would have been hard to leave that for anywhere — except for here.' While Buehler expressed interest in remaining with the Dodgers ahead of his free agency last winter, his eventual departure became clear in the first week of the offseason. The team didn't extend him a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer — which ended up being the same amount he signed for with the Red Sox. The Dodgers instead went after Blake Snell with a $182-million contract, and won the January sweepstakes for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. 'It was an interesting situation. I think there's obviously two sides to that situation,' Buehler said when reflecting back on his free agency. 'We had conversations about it, we talked through it. And they went and signed guys that they wanted to sign. And I signed with a place that I wanted to play. It kind of is what it is.' Read more: Shaikin: Walker Buehler struggling to rediscover his Dodgers World Series magic with Red Sox In hindsight, it was an outcome neither side seemed to be regret. In Buehler's absence, the Dodgers have managed to work around first-half injuries to several key starters, and are on track to have a potential postseason rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Snell (who could return from a shoulder injury after one last minor-league rehab start with triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday). Meanwhile, Buehler said he has enjoyed playing for the Red Sox, even though he has regressed with a woeful 5.72 ERA (sixth-worst in the majors among 107 pitchers with at least 80 innings). 'It's been a really fun year, outside of some of the playing stuff for me,' he said. 'But my family and me, we're loving it here and have felt really very welcomed here, as well, just like we were in LA.' Buehler has been better lately, giving up just three earned runs in his last 18 innings to help the Red Sox maintain the final wild-card spot in the American League. His next start, fittingly, will come in Sunday's series-finale against the Dodgers. 'It'll be interesting,' Buehler said with a laugh. 'Obviously, I was one of the last of the wave coming up there. So I've kind of got little bits and pieces of it playing against Joc [Pederson] and [Cody Bellinger] and Corey [Seager]. So it'll be nine of those for me, I guess.' Buehler wished he could have squared off against Clayton Kershaw; something he said he and the future Hall of Fame left-hander (who will instead pitch Saturday's game) joked about while meeting up on Thursday's off day. Still, Buehler added, "I think you just try to keep it as normal as you can. Obviously it'll be a little awkward or funny or whatever. But I don't know. At the end of the day, we're all playing a sport for a paycheck. The goal is go and to get one over on them. I don't think the preparation against them is really different." Friday, on the other hand, was a day for nostalgia, with Buehler receiving his World Series ring from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and most of the remaining players from last year's team during pregame batting practice. Read more: Freddie Freeman's walk-off hit saves the day, lifts Dodgers to win over Twins 'I was very fortunate to be drafted and developed and get to spend so much time there,' Buehler said. 'Should credit a lot of good success that I've had to them, and how they handled and treated me. Nothing but good things to say there." As for if his ring — a diamond-studded reminder of what, for now at least, remains the lasting image of his Dodgers career — gave him any closure, Buehler smirked. "I think you already have it,' he said. 'But I think everyone kind of knows I'm on a one-year contract, so you never know what's going to happen down the road.' Betts absent for Friday The Dodgers were without shortstop Mookie Betts, who was home in Nashville with his family attending to a personal matter. Roberts said Betts was expected to rejoin the club on Saturday, but was unsure if he'd be back in the starting lineup for that day's game. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
6 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Facing Dodgers for first time gives Walker Buehler chance to reflect on his time in L.A.
BOSTON — It had been nine months since Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo, stretched his arms on the Yankee Stadium mound, and was dogpiled after recording the final outs of last year's World Series. But on Friday afternoon, ahead of Buehler's first reunion with the Dodgers since departing for the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, the memory remained vividly fresh — for him, his former teammates and coaches, and even a traveling contingent of Dodgers fans in town for this weekend's series at Fenway Park. As Buehler chatted with members of his old organization hours before Friday's series opener, Dodger fans taking a pregame tour of the stadium spotted him on the diamond. Within moments, an otherwise empty ballpark was echoing with cheers and applause, the fans shouting Buehler's name as he acknowledged them with a wave of his hand. 'That was really cool,' Buehler said later, the moment reminding him of a conversation he had with Dodgers broadcaster Orel Hershiser (a World Series hero of a different generation who became a mentor of Buehler's during his time with the team). 'Talking to Orel about some of that stuff that he's gone through and the way people react to him, I think it's obviously two different situations,' he added. 'But for the fans walking around to yell at me, I kind of imagine in L.A. it'll be like that for a while, I hope.' Indeed, if there was any doubt about how Buehler's Dodgers tenure was destined to be remembered, his role in last year's World Series enshrined it in legendary status. No, the right-hander didn't quite reach the Cy Young-winning expectations many had when he first came up as a highly touted prospect with a big fastball and fiery mound presence. For as dominant as he was from 2018-2021, when he went 39-13 with a 2.82 earned-run average and two All-Star selections, the end of his seven-year stint was derailed by a 2022 Tommy John surgery (the second of his career) and a disappointing regular-season performance upon his return in 2024 (when he was 1-6 in the regular season with a 5.38 ERA). Buehler's best Dodger moments, though, always came in the postseason: From his division-clinching gem in Game 163 as a rookie in 2018, to his 1.80 ERA in five starts during the Dodgers' 2020 World Series run, to when he took the ball on short rest twice in a failed title defense in 2021, to his 10 consecutive scoreless innings in the final two rounds of last year's postseason most of all; an unexpected star turn following his post-Tommy John struggles throughout the summer. 'That moment means a lot to all of us, that we were a part of it with the city and the fans that came out every day for us there,' he said, while talking to reporters in the Red Sox's home dugout. 'I think it would have been hard to leave that for anywhere — except for here.' While Buehler expressed interest in remaining with the Dodgers ahead of his free agency last winter, his eventual departure became clear in the first week of the offseason. The team didn't extend him a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer — which ended up being the same amount he signed for with the Red Sox. The Dodgers instead went after Blake Snell with a $182-million contract, and won the January sweepstakes for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. 'It was an interesting situation. I think there's obviously two sides to that situation,' Buehler said when reflecting back on his free agency. 'We had conversations about it, we talked through it. And they went and signed guys that they wanted to sign. And I signed with a place that I wanted to play. It kind of is what it is.' In hindsight, it was an outcome neither side seemed to be regret. In Buehler's absence, the Dodgers have managed to work around first-half injuries to several key starters, and are on track to have a potential postseason rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Snell (who could return from a shoulder injury after one last minor-league rehab start with triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday). Meanwhile, Buehler said he has enjoyed playing for the Red Sox, even though he has regressed with a woeful 5.72 ERA (sixth-worst in the majors among 107 pitchers with at least 80 innings). 'It's been a really fun year, outside of some of the playing stuff for me,' he said. 'But my family and me, we're loving it here and have felt really very welcomed here, as well, just like we were in LA.' Buehler has been better lately, giving up just three earned runs in his last 18 innings to help the Red Sox maintain the final wild-card spot in the American League. His next start, fittingly, will come in Sunday's series-finale against the Dodgers. 'It'll be interesting,' Buehler said with a laugh. 'Obviously, I was one of the last of the wave coming up there. So I've kind of got little bits and pieces of it playing against Joc [Pederson] and [Cody Bellinger] and Corey [Seager]. So it'll be nine of those for me, I guess.' Buehler wished he could have squared off against Clayton Kershaw; something he said he and the future Hall of Fame left-hander (who will instead pitch Saturday's game) joked about while meeting up on Thursday's off day. Still, Buehler added, 'I think you just try to keep it as normal as you can. Obviously it'll be a little awkward or funny or whatever. But I don't know. At the end of the day, we're all playing a sport for a paycheck. The goal is go and to get one over on them. I don't think the preparation against them is really different.' Friday, on the other hand, was a day for nostalgia, with Buehler receiving his World Series ring from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and most of the remaining players from last year's team during pregame batting practice. 'I was very fortunate to be drafted and developed and get to spend so much time there,' Buehler said. 'Should credit a lot of good success that I've had to them, and how they handled and treated me. Nothing but good things to say there.' As for if his ring — a diamond-studded reminder of what, for now at least, remains the lasting image of his Dodgers career — gave him any closure, Buehler smirked. 'I think you already have it,' he said. 'But I think everyone kind of knows I'm on a one-year contract, so you never know what's going to happen down the road.' The Dodgers were without shortstop Mookie Betts, who was home in Nashville with his family attending to a personal matter. Roberts said Betts was expected to rejoin the club on Saturday, but was unsure if he'd be back in the starting lineup for that day's game.
New York Times
7 minutes ago
- New York Times
Dodgers welcome back Walker Buehler, who finds himself in a familiar place with Boston
BOSTON — The image is now permanently cemented in Los Angeles Dodgers lore: Walker Buehler, arms spread wide, rectifying the most trying months of his career and joining the rare club of pitchers who have recorded the final out to clinch a World Series. It was Buehler's years with the Dodgers in a nutshell: flashes of brilliance, alongside a kind of journey and brash cockiness that endeared him to a city. Advertisement That moment has replayed at Dodger Stadium almost every day this season. It's likely been viewed hundreds of thousands more times in homes across Los Angeles. Buehler said he's only seen it a couple of times, though. The moment that, as Clayton Kershaw said then, etched Buehler 'in Dodger glory and royalty forever,' is a cool memory, but that's about it. 'I don't think I really got super obsessed with it,' Buehler said. 'That moment means a lot to all of us, that we're a part of it, and the city and the fans that come out every day for us there.' The coolest thing about it, Buehler said Friday, is sharing that exclusive club with Josh Sborz, a former minor league teammate, fellow Dodgers draftee and a groomsman in his wedding. The baseball from his final strikeout of Alex Verdugo has since sold for $414,000, with the proceeds benefitting those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires this past winter. If he stayed with the Dodgers that winter, Buehler may have induced one of the loudest roars from the crowd when the players received their World Series rings in April. Instead, Buehler collected his second ring on Friday afternoon, donning a green Boston Red Sox cap as he tries to right the ship again. Walker's new ring? Yeesh. 🔥 — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 25, 2025 Buehler and the Dodgers had some dialogue this winter, with one report from AM 570's David Vassegh saying that Los Angeles, which didn't offer Buehler a qualifying offer, gave him a one-year offer of essentially equal value. Buehler wanted to come back and considered doing so. 'I think it would have been hard to leave that for anywhere except for (Boston),' Buehler said. Then the Dodgers went out and signed two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Afterward, Buehler took a one-year, $21.05 million deal from the Red Sox (the same as the qualifying offer would have been). Advertisement 'I think it was an interesting situation,' Buehler said. 'I think there's obviously two sides to that situation. We had conversations about it, we talked through it. And they went and signed guys that they wanted to sign. And I signed with a place that I wanted to play. It kind of it what it is.' The Red Sox checked boxes for Buehler. A passionate fan base and a franchise seemingly geared up to win. He'd grown accustomed to pitching in five different postseasons with the Dodgers and crafting a lore of dominating in the fall. It was a chance to take the strides he'd made last October after struggling in his return from a second Tommy John surgery and translate them into a full season. The situation gave him a chance to reestablish the value he had when he was earning Cy Young votes in his 20s. Most of that has come to pass. The Red Sox entered Friday at 55-49 and in postseason position. Buehler and his wife, McKenzie and daughter, Finley, have loved the Boston area. 'I'm enjoying the s—t out of it,' Buehler said. 'Our fans here are here long and loud. Kind of similar in a lot of ways to (Los Angeles). It's been a really fun year, outside of some of the playing stuff for me.' However, Buehler's first full season back from his second elbow surgery didn't start as planned. Through 17 starts, he's sporting a 5.72 ERA that ranks sixth-worst among pitchers with at least 80 innings under his belt this season. After an ugly start in Anaheim this season, he called his performance 'embarrassing.' His numbers are on par with how he did last summer with Los Angeles, when he left the team for a period in hopes of reworking his mechanics. It paid off that fall. Three strong starts and a memorable relief appearance got him where he is now. He's hoping he can conjure up some magic again, delivering seven strong innings and allowing just two runs in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies. 7 innings of absolute work. — Red Sox (@RedSox) July 22, 2025 'I think everyone kind of knows I'm on a one-year contract, so you never know what's going to happen down the road,' Buehler said. His next start is Sunday — against the Dodgers. That will stir different emotions than Friday, when he received his ring and exchanged pleasantries with his former teammates. A group of Dodgers fans touring Fenway Park began cheering Buehler's name. His presence, in a lot of ways, is missed. Advertisement 'He means a lot to me personally,' Roberts said. Buehler spent Thursday with Kershaw and Kershaw's son, Charley, in the Boston area before stopping by the ballpark to see his old teammates. It's hard to call this weekend closure, Buehler said, because the door was closed long ago. Still, Sunday will be a different experience. 'I think that's the way it should be,' Roberts said. 'I'm looking forward to facing him.' Buehler, in typical fashion, did some mild chirping. 'The goal,' Buehler said, 'is go and to get one over on them.'
