2023 World Series Futures: Braves Favoured to Win, Jays’ Odds Climbing
With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, the next big date on the MLB calendar is the August 1 trade deadline. This is the time when World Series contenders look to improve their rosters, while teams out of the hunt begin selling pieces.
The Braves, Dodgers and Rays remain the favourites to win the 2023 World Series, with teams like Houston, Texas and Toronto lurking in the shadows.
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2023 World Series Favourites
*All team records as of July 18
Atlanta Braves
Team record: 61-31
The Atlanta Braves dropped two of three games following the All-Star break, but they remain in a better position at this point in the season than they were when they won the World Series in 2021. They have the best record in baseball and hold a commanding 9.5-game lead over Miami in the NL East division.
Most importantly for Atlanta, they are getting healthy. Ace pitcher Max Fried has looked good in multiple rehab assignments and could return to the lineup as soon as this week. Fried has been out of the lineup since mid-May because of a forearm injury, with the southpaw putting up a 2-1 record with a 2.08 ERA in five starts before going on the IL.
The Braves’ offence is also hot, with Ronald Acuna Jr. a significant favourite to win his first career MVP award. Acuna has 23 home runs on the year and sits second in the National League in hits (123) and batting average (.333). He is also tied with Oakland’s Esteury Ruiz for the major league lead in stolen bases (43).
Los Angeles Dodgers
Team record: 54-39
The Dodgers hold a slim 1.5-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West, so spending in the lead-up to the trade deadline will be key to clinching the division. Luckily this is a team that isn’t afraid to pay big money to improve the roster. The team is expected to target at least one starting pitcher, multiple relievers and a right-handed bat before August 1.
Offensively, Los Angeles has remained fairly healthy outside of Gavin Lux’s season-ending knee injury suffered during spring training. Mookie Betts continues to lead the team, ranking second in the National League in home runs (27) and third in RBIs (65).
Pitching has been a concern for the Dodgers this season and the absence of veteran Clayton Kershaw doesn’t help. Kershaw hasn’t pitched since June 27 due to a shoulder injury. The three-time NL Cy Young winner, who is 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA this year, is targeting an early August return.
Tampa Bay Rays
Team record: 60-37
The Tampa Bay Rays’ 13-game win streak to start the season was the best start in baseball since the 1884 St. Louis Maroons, but injuries have made this team seem mortal. Tampa holds just a one-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East and with Toronto surging in the standings, the race for the division will be tight.
The Rays lead the American League with a 3.70 ERA, thanks in large part to the arms of Shane McClanahan, Zach Eflin and Tyler Glasnow. Outside of those three names, things get more questionable, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tampa Bay try to add another arm to the starting rotation before the trade deadline.
Toronto Blue Jays
Team record: 53-41
The Blue Jays have won eight of their last nine games and sit a season-high 12 games above .500. They’re six games back of Tampa in the AL East and own sole possession of the second wild-card spot.
Toronto will be buyers at the trade deadline, but they might actually be able to add two pitchers to the starting rotation without giving anything up. Hyun-Jin Ryu has looked great in multiple rehab starts after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year and Alek Manoah is leaner and has reportedly dealt with the mechanical issues plaguing him earlier in the season. The return of one or both of those players would be a huge boost to the rotation.