Record-setting betting action expected on Yankees-Dodgers World Series
Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet
A World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers is a dream scenario for everyone with a vested interest in baseball.
The league, its partners, and now sportsbooks are set to benefit from a clash between two of the sport's most iconic franchises featuring some of the league's brightest stars, most notably Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
"These are two of the biggest and most well-supported teams not only in the MLB, but all of sports," said David Barnes, senior risk and trading manager at ESPN Bet and theScore Bet. "We really couldn't have asked for a more explosive matchup."
The Yankees and Dodgers were the two most bet-on teams this season. Combined, games including one of the two teams accumulated 14% of all the money wagered on MLB this year.
"The Dodgers and Yankees have been favored to win their respective pennants since the markets opened, and their games always attract the highest handle," Barnes said.
"We’re expecting this to be a high-action World Series with the highest handle in our history."
Betting data for this year's playoffs highlights the popularity of the Yankees and Dodgers, as well as bettors' excitement for the World Series.
And compared to last year's final between the Rangers and Diamondbacks - the sixth and 14th most bet-on teams, respectively, last year - it's easy to understand why sportsbooks expect record-setting action.
For this year's postseason games, the average per-game handle is up 47% and the average bet count is 2.32 times higher compared to last year's World Series games.
Bettors have already made four times as many wagers for 22% more handle in the off days leading up to Game 1 of this year's World Series compared to 2023. The majority of the World Series action is expected to come in Friday before Game 1.
Despite this dream matchup between two of the largest sports markets in the world, Barnes said a Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets may have been bigger, especially with ESPN Bet's recent launch in New York.
Had the Yankees faced the Mets, the Pinstripes would have been favored. Instead, the Dodgers are slight favorites at -125 odds (55.6% implied probability) to win the franchise's eighth World Series title.
Bettors are split on who's going to win it all. As of Thursday, 45% of the bets and 51% of the handle has been on the Yankees, despite ESPN Bet's presence in New York.
It's worth noting that sports betting is not yet legal in California.
Those in New York, though, are backing their Yankees. For bets placed in New York for Game 1, 95% of the handle and 76% of the bets are on the Bronx Bombers.
The Dodgers are sending Jack Flaherty to the mound Friday and are -130 favorites to take the early series lead over the Yankees, who are answering by starting Gerrit Cole.
Game 1 starts Friday at 8:08 p.m. ET from Dodger Stadium.