Money at BetMGM on high-spending
Dodgers to repeat as World Series champions
[March 26, 2025]
By MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Dodgers have spent a lot of money hoping to win
their second straight World Series and bettors are putting their
cash on Los Angeles.
BetMGM Sportsbook has taken 37.8% of its futures money on the
Dodgers, which far exceeds its previous high of 21.7% of money that
was placed on the 2022 New York Mets. It's also far ahead of this
year's Mets, who at 9.4% are receiving the second-highest amount of
the handle. The New York Yankees are third at 7.7%.
The Dodgers also lead in betting tickets at 17.5%, with the Mets
next at 8.7% and the Philadelphia Phillies at 8.6%.
Opening day for most teams is Thursday.
“It's all Dodgers money,” BetMGM trading manager Halvor Egeland
said. “That's somewhat frequent when it comes to the favorites.
Favorites are going to take most of the money, but this is a level
we don't typically see. ... It's a little bit of a hole liability
wise, which is a little out of the norm for a favorite."
That's because sportsbooks typically set a high enough price in
anticipation for the rush of money, but not to this level. The
Dodgers, who already are 2-0 after a two-game series against the
Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, are +240 at BetMGM.
The next closest are the Yankees and Atlanta Braves at +900 each.
DraftKings Sportsbook race and sports operations director Johnny
Avello said the Dodgers are popular, but the futures money is fairly
well spread out. LA is +290 at DraftKings and the Braves are next at
+750 and the Yankees at +850.
“They've got a complete team,” Avello said of the Dodgers. “Will
they win it all again? I don't know. Sometimes at the end of the
year, things just need to go your way. I don't care how good you
are.”

Meet the Mets
The Mets are challenging the Dodgers on spending, and the club made
a splashy move by signing Juan Soto to a record $765 million,
15-year contract.
Bettors are banking on that aggressiveness to help the Mets win
their first World Series title since 1986.
The Mets are listed at +1200 at BetMGM and DraftKings.
“If the Mets start off good, they're going to continue to take
money,” Avello said. “If they don't start off good and we raise
their odds, they're going to continue to take money. They're going
to be bet all year long.”
Hope for the A's?
The Athletics went 32-32 after the All-Star break and then broke
their recent practice and invested money in major league payroll.
There are believers in the A's, who are about to play their first of
at least three seasons at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento,
California, before an anticipated move to Las Vegas,
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani follows through on a solo home
run in the fifth inning of an MLB Tokyo Series baseball game against
the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP
Photo/Hiro Komae)

The A's were bet up from a win total at BetMGM of
70 1/2 to 72 1/2, though the number settled back down to 71 1/2.
“We may end up going back there,” Egeland said of 72 1/2. “It seemed
like as soon as we went up with the A's, there's some interest. Even
in the division, we had some interest there on the A's, which is
kind of surprising for the amount of money they spend. But I do
think people like the young talent and pitchers like Mason Miller.”
Betting on Francona
Terry Francona was hired for another reclamation project, the Reds
hoping he will find similar success in Cincinnati that he had with
Boston and Cleveland.
“We are seeing some money on them to win it all,” Avello said. “You
get a really good price. They’re projected to win around 78, 79
games or so. And this guy’s a winner. He finds ways to make teams
that are average much better, so that’s why I think bettors are
betting the Reds to win it all.”
The Reds, who have a core of young players led by Elly De La Cruz,
are +8000 at BetMGM and +9000 at DraftKings.
Trout on comeback tour
Injuries have limited Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout, once
the game's most complete player, to 82 or fewer games three of the
past four seasons.
He is moving from center to right field with the idea that covering
less ground in the outfield might help him stay healthy.
Trout is the +300 favorite at BetMGM to be selected AL Comeback
Player of the Year.
“People are loving that one,” Egeland said. “It's not an award that
usually gets a ton of handle, but when you have someone like Trout
available, that's where most of the money is going to go.”
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