MLB World Series odds update: Braves, Dodgers lead the pack

The 2023 MLB playoffs are just over five weeks away. That's right: The marathon that is the regular season is very close to its end.

Let's take a look at how the World Series odds are shaping up as we quickly approach playoff baseball.

Note: Listed teams are 75/1 or shorter.

It's a two-horse race up top, with the Braves and Dodgers neck and neck.

The Braves own the league's best record and are almost unstoppable offensively. Unfortunately, they have some rotation questions that may hamper their chances of winning a title.

The Dodgers are hot on their tail. They're 21-9 over the past 30 games, which slots them second in the majors, and are a whopping 40-19 against teams over .500. Their starting pitching has improved of late. Coupled with a lethal offense, this team seems poised to contend once again.

Next up, in a tightly knit second tier, are the Astros, Rangers, and Orioles. They're all good teams, but each carries real question marks.

With Cristian Javier taking a step back, Lance McCullers Jr. injured, and Hunter Brown starting to look more like a rookie, the Astros' rotation isn't nearly as good as it once seemed. At this point, it feels as if the defending champs are fighting for a wild-card spot more than a divisional spot.

Meanwhile, the Rangers have dropped six consecutive games, and their grip on the AL West is significantly loosening. They own the second-best run differential in the league, though, and the additions of Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery will provide necessary stability to the rotation. I expect them to right the ship, even if their 15-15 record over the last 30 is concerning.

Then there's the Orioles. They're a fun team loaded with high-end young talent but lack meaningful experience and have been the league's luckiest team, according to Baseball-Reference's Pythagorean Luck metric.

The Blue Jays find themselves smack in the middle of the pack. They have the pieces to make noise in a wide-open AL but can never seem to fire on all cylinders. Toronto is a tough team to get behind for that reason.

The Mariners and Cubs are a couple of longer shots that appear very interesting.

Seattle owns the league's best record over the past 30 games. Its pitching staff is absolutely loaded, and the Julio Rodriguez-led offense is really coming to life. With so many question marks in the AL, there's a path to stealing a division title and really making some noise.

The Cubs' rotation talent - or lack thereof - will make it very difficult for them to get by the Braves or Dodgers come playoff time. That said, +4000 is a very interesting price for a red-hot team that's scoring nearly six runs per game in August. Not many teams can match that kind of output.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.