Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Jose Altuve.
DraftKings has released odds on potential World Series matchups and a rematch between two teams with gobs of bad blood tops the leaderboard as the favorite.
The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers have the best odds on the list at +700 to replay the 2017 World Series, which the Astros won in seven games.
2021 World Series Matchup Odds
Lines according to DraftKings as of Wednesday afternoon
| Matchup | Odds |
|---|---|
| Astros vs. Dodgers | +700 |
| White Sox vs. Dodgers | +850 |
| Red Sox vs. Dodgers | +1300 |
| Rays vs. Dodgers | +1400 |
| Astros vs. Mets | +1800 |
| Astros vs. Padres | +1900 |
| Astros vs. Brewers | +1900 |
| Astros vs. Giants | +2000 |
| White Sox vs. Padres | +2200 |
| White Sox vs. Mets | +2200 |
| White Sox vs. Brewers | +2200 |
| Yankees vs. Dodgers | +2200 |
| White Sox vs. Giants | +2500 |
| Red Sox vs. Padres | +3500 |
| Red Sox vs. Mets | +3500 |
| Red Sox vs. Brewers | +3500 |
| Athletics vs. Dodgers | +3500 |
| Rays vs. Mets | +3500 |
| Blue Jays vs. Dodgers | +3500 |
| Rays vs. Brewers | +3500 |
| Red Sox vs. Giants | +4000 |
| Rays vs. Giants | +4000 |
| Rays vs. Padres | +4000 |
| Yankees vs. Padres | +5500 |
| Yankees vs. Mets | +5500 |
| Yankees vs. Brewers | +5500 |
| Yankees vs. Giants | +6000 |
| Astros vs. Braves | +6000 |
An investigation by Major League Baseball later detailed an illicit sign-stealing operation the Astros systemically enacted during the 2017 regular season and playoffs and in parts of the 2018 season.
Former manager A.J. Hinch was fired as was general manager Jeff Luhnow. Red Sox coach Alex Cora and former Mets coach Carlos Beltran were also implicated in the scandal and lost their jobs.
The team was forced to give up first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts. No players were punished as a result of the scandal.
The Astros visited Dodger Stadium for the first time since that 2017 series on Tuesday.
Fans chanted “cheater” with each Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa at-bat while several spectators were spotted in trashcan attire, a nod to an oft-cited part of the sign-stealing scheme in which an Astros player banged a trash can in order to signal what type of pitch was forthcoming.
A rematch between the two would likely yield even more vitriol.
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The Dodgers hold four of the most-favored World Series matchups thanks to their star-studded pitching staff and lineup, which was buoyed even further by a trade deadline acquisition of three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and All-Star Trea Turner.
Los Angeles also signed former World Series MVP Cole Hamels on Wednesday.
Still, the Dodgers are 3.5 games back from the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants in the division as of Aug. 4. If the season ended on Wednesday, they’d be hosting the San Diego Padres in a one-game playoff at Dodger Stadium.
For reference, though, the Dodgers are still -190 favorites at DraftKings to eventually surpass the Giants and win the NL West.
The Astros hold five of the top eight-favorite matchups thanks to their offense, which leads MLB in batting average, hits and RBI. Houston is currently 5.5 games up on the Oakland Athletics for the AL West division and is -1400 favorites at DraftKings to hold that lead to the finish line.
