Trades solidify Dodgers' strong betting odds, boost Red Sox - ESPN

By acquiring the perceived crown jewel of the MLB trade deadline in two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the Los Angeles Dodgers reasserted themselves as the clear betting favorite for the World Series, with bettors and bookmakers alike reaffirming that belief.

Immediately following the acquisition of Skubal on Saturday, Los Angeles moved from +190 to +150 to win this season's championship, though the number has since lengthened slightly to +160 as of midday Tuesday, according to DraftKings odds. That puts the Dodgers way ahead of the next closest team on the World Series odds board, the New York Yankees at +600.

Bettors are buying into the seeming inevitability of a third consecutive championship for the Dodgers: Since Saturday, L.A. has garnered the most tickets and handle to win the World Series at multiple sportsbooks.

It adds to a seasonlong fervor surrounding Los Angeles, as Caesars Sportsbook's head of baseball Eric Biggio notes. «Not only in the futures, but on a day-to-day basis, they almost always have the most tickets written on them,» he said.

«Even with the Dodgers sitting at a historically short World Series price for early August, they've been the most popular team among bettors since acquiring Tarik Skubal,» DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello told ESPN over email. «Normally, odds this short can cool betting activity, but the Dodgers' combination of star power, depth and another blockbuster addition has only generated more interest from bettors.»

Given the short odds, though, BetMGM senior trading manager Christian Cipollini said that «the Dodgers are not currently a liability for the sportsbook but that could change.»

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