The 2022 Major League Baseball season will start a week late this Thursday, but there will be the full 162 games following the lockout. There is now a universal designated hitter, so you will rarely see pitchers not named Shohei Ohtani batting this year. For one more season, the runner on second base to start extra innings remains, which can definitely affect MLB totals but that’s a story for another day. Let’s take a final look at the 2022 World Series odds before Opening Day.

Odds to Win the 2022 World Series

Remember the 90s Braves? Dodgers must win World Series to avoid comparison https://t.co/kxhDVbdEqY

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) April 4, 2022

• Los Angeles Dodgers +450
• Toronto Blue Jays +900
• Houston Astros +900
• New York Yankees +1000
• New York Mets +1200
• Chicago White Sox +1200
• Atlanta Braves +1200
• Tampa Bay Rays +1400
• Milwaukee Brewers +1400
• San Diego Padres +1500
• Boston Red Sox +1800
• San Francisco Giants +2200
• Philadelphia Phillies +2500
• St. Louis Cardinals +2600
• Los Angeles Angels +3000
• Seattle Mariners +3300
• Detroit Tigers +4000
• Minnesota Twins +4000
• Cincinnati Reds +6000
• Oakland Athletics +6000
• Cleveland Guardians +7000
• Texas Rangers +8000
• Kansas City Royals +8000
• Miami Marlins +8000
• Chicago Cubs +10000
• Colorado Rockies +10000
• Washington Nationals +10000
• Arizona Diamondbacks +25000
• Baltimore Orioles +25000
• Pittsburgh Pirates +25000

READ MORE: Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (April 11th, 2022)

Who is the favorite to win the 2022 World Series?

The Los Angeles Dodgers were World Series favorites pretty much the entire 2021 MLB season until they were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. LA is favored to win its second World Series in three years at +450. While the Dodgers did lose former World Series MVP and Rookie of the Corey Seager, they re-signed three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, added former NL MVP Freddie Freeman in free agency and last week acquired eight-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the White Sox in a trade for outfielder AJ Pollock.

With Freeman, Kershaw, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers have four former MVPs on the roster, tied for the most in history. Freeman won his in 2020 and last season hit .300 with 31 homers and 83 RBI in 161 games while reaching the All-Star Game for the third consecutive season and finishing ninth in the National League MVP vote.

Kimbrel, 33, went a combined 4-5 with 24 saves in 63 games with the Cubs and the White Sox last season. He was dominant with the Cubs but struggled some with the Pale Hose. LA needed a true closer after losing Kenley Jansen. Kimbrel is entering his 13th season in the majors and is a combined 35-29 with 372 saves with a career 2.18 ERA in 646 games. He currently ranks ninth all-time in MLB Baseball in saves and is the active leader for stops.

The Dodgers announced last Friday that the club has signed manager Dave Roberts to a contract extension. This is the second contract extension for Roberts who was named NL Manager of the Year in 2016 and has led the club to six consecutive postseason appearances since joining the team in November 2015.

Who are second in line to win the World Series?

The Toronto Blue Jays are +900 as are the New York Yankees. After playing away from home for parts of the last two seasons because of a pandemic, the Blue Jays are returning to play their first full season in their home city since 2019. The club is highly motivated this year, especially after its 91-win season saw the Blue Jays fall one win short of the postseason last fall. Toronto has perhaps the most exciting offensive player in the majors in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He is coming off a second-place finish in the American League MVP race after he co-led the league with 48 home runs.

Matt Chapman’s power and defense make him a perfect fit in an infield that should only get better as first baseman Guerrero Jr., second baseman Cavan Biggio and shortstop Bo Bichette enter their primes.

A right-handed-heavy Yankees lineup got some balance with trades for outfielder Joey Gallo and first baseman Anthony Rizzo last season, and both are back. Former AL MVP Josh Donaldson adds some right-handed pop, and shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who puts the ball in play and runs well, will be a welcome change in a plodding lineup. However, the starting rotation is questionable after Gerrit Cole.

Who are third in line to Win the 2022 World Series?

The Astros (+900), Braves (+1200), Mets (+1200) and White Sox (+1200) round out the favorites. The Mets have lost two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom for likely the first two months of the season due to injury after his 2021 season was also cut short. Before going down this spring, deGrom had pitched five innings over two appearances in the Grapefruit League and struck out 10 batters, throwing his fastball in the 97-99 mph range.

The White Sox lost a Cy Young candidate for perhaps two months as well in Lance Lynn after an MRI revealed a slight tear in a tendon. Lynn was stellar in 2021, compiling a 2.69 ERA. The team re-signed him for two more years last July even as he missed a couple of starts due to the knee issue. Now he’ll miss up to two months. The injury came on the heels of lefty reliever Garrett Crochet needing Tommy John surgery and the trade of Kimbrel to the Dodgers. It’s left the Sox a little thin on the mound.

2022 World Series Expert Prediction

Dodgers over White Sox