The Los Angeles Dodgers' acquisition of star pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers over the weekend didn't just leave rival fans frustrated and analysts debating the trade's implications for collective bargaining.
It also sparked a surge of World Series futures betting at BetMGM.
Key Takeaways
- The Dodgers’ odds to win the World Series shortened from +170 to +150 at BetMGM.
- The operator doesn’t have the favorite under liability watch right now.
- Los Angeles is a huge favorite to win its division.
“The Dodgers were already the favorites and the most-bet team to win the World Series before the addition of reigning back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal,” BetMGM senior trading manager Christian Cipollini said. “Since the trade on Saturday, 54% of money wagered has been on Los Angeles to win a third consecutive World Series.”
It's no surprise bettors are backing a team that owns one of MLB's best records at 69-43. Skubal was considered the best player available on the trade market this year, and even though he’s set to become a free agent at the end of the season, he could’ve helped sway expectations for a number of contenders.
The Dodgers' rotation also includes 2026 All-Stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Justin Wrobleski, as well as two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
Their odds of making history and winning the World Series again have shortened from +170 before the trade to +150 after acquiring Skubal, who will make his Dodgers debut Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
Other operators reported similar odds shifts.
Dodgers Futures Odds Movement @DKSports
— DK Insights (@DKInsights_) August 2, 2026
World Series: +190➡️+150
National League: +105➡️-110 https://t.co/YFug7c1oIv pic.twitter.com/6Wr49dHhAC
LA DODGERS UPDATED LINE MOVEMENTS 🚨
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) August 2, 2026
▪️World Series: +175 ➡️ +150
▪️NL Pennant: -115
▪️Win Total: 103.5 (O -115)
▪️2026 & 2027 Titles: +650 ➡️ +600 pic.twitter.com/PXwavMg90m
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No big liability ... yet
L.A. has seen the most tickets (12.4%) and handle (23.4%) to win it all at BetMGM. No other team has seen at least 10% in either category. However, the Dodgers, who opened the market as a +350 favorite, aren’t a major liability for the operator at this time.
“That could change,” Cipollini said.
BetMGM's biggest World Series liability remains the Colorado Rockies, though the sportsbook has little concern about the NL-worst club.
MLB odds could still shift following Monday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Massive favorites
In the NL pennant market, the Dodgers went from +100 to -120 at BetMGM over the weekend. They’re getting 13.2% of the bets and 26.3% of the money in that futures market.
.@Dodgers odds to win the National League at @BetMGM
— John Ewing (@johnewing) August 3, 2026
+100: Before trading for Tarik Skubal
-120: After 📈
Dodgers were already the favorites and the most bet team to win the NL before the trade and they just got better! pic.twitter.com/4k5CyvSwdw
Los Angeles’ odds to win the NL West, however, didn’t budge. The Dodgers are a whopping -10,000 to claim the division, which they currently lead by 10 games over the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks. The second-biggest favorite to win a division is the Atlanta Braves at -1,100 in the NL East.
Bettors haven’t been able to get a price under -1,000 on the Dodgers to win the division since late March, so only 12% of the tickets and 11% of the handle are on L.A.
