With deadline day upon us, MLB futures odds will start becoming more of a focus.
While the lion's share of attention will be on World Series odds, there is a lot of value (and intrigue) in MLB playoff odds — especially with the postseason expanded to include an additional team this season.
Although some teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, and Astros are basically guaranteed a spot, other teams such as the San Diego Padres have made massive moves at the deadline to increase their chances. Let's take a look:
Odds to make the MLB postseason
How the odds work is very simple: "Yes" means that they advance to the MLB postseason (as a division winner or a wild card), while "No" means they miss the playoffs... so better luck next year.
| Team | Yes Odds | No Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | -20,000 | +200 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | -1,600 | +925 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | -800 | +525 |
| San Diego Padres | -600 | +425 |
| Seattle Mariners | -220 | +175 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | -170 | +140 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | -140 | +110 |
| Minnesota Twins | -130 | +100 |
| Chicago White Sox | -120 | -110 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | -110 | -120 |
| Cleveland Guardians | +110 | -140 |
| Boston Red Sox | +205 | -250 |
| San Francisco Giants | +360 | -500 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +925 | -1,600 |
| Miami Marlins | +2,800 | -40,000 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +2,800 | -40,000 |
| Texas Rangers | +2,800 | -40,000 |
| New York Yankees | OTB | OTB |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | OTB | OTB |
| New York Mets | OTB | OTB |
| Houston Astros | OTB | OTB |
| Colorado Rockies | OTB | OTB |
| Detroit Tigers | OTB | OTB |
| Kansas City Royals | OTB | OTB |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | OTB | OTB |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | OTB | OTB |
| Chicago Cubs | OTB | OTB |
| Cincinnati Reds | OTB | OTB |
| Oakland A's | OTB | OTB |
| Washington Nationals | OTB | OTB |
Odds courtesy of bet365 as of August 2, 2022.
To no surprise, the Yankees, Astros, and Dodgers — all at least 12 games clear of second place in their division in the MLB standings — are officially off the board. A handful of other teams are off the board, mainly because there's simply no serious chance of them making it to October baseball
As we get closer and closer to the postseason, the longest odds you can find are +2,800, with the Marlins, Angels, and Rangers all being found at that number.
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Hottest/coldest MLB teams entering this week
Who's hot
The largest jump in odds to make the postseason goes to the Atlanta Braves, who have seen their odds skyrocket from -2,200 to -20,000 after more continued success. The Toronto Blue Jays — arguably the hottest team in baseball — have also seen their odds jump from -500 to -1,600. However, one team to keep an eye on moving forward is the San Diego Padres, who are on the verge of making a major splash at the deadline. With their odds sitting at -600, you may want to jump on the Padres at that number while you can.
Who's not
On the flip side, several teams have seen their playoff hopes dashed and have been removed off the board completely. Of the three remaining teams at +2,800 (Marlins, Angels, Rangers), none have played above .500 baseball in their last 10 games. The San Francisco Giants (+360) have also seen their odds drop further after dropping seven of their last 10 games.
MLB Playoffs 2022 Format
The MLB playoffs expanded for the 2022 season, adding an extra wild card to both the AL and NL, making it a total of 12 teams in the postseason.
The new format will see the top two division winners in each league (Seeds 1 and 2) get a first-round bye, while the third-best division winner (Seed 3) will host the third wild card (Seed 6) — and the two remaining wild cards (Seeds 4 and 5) will face off — in a three-game series.
Following the Wild Card Round, the No. 1 seed will face the winner of the two wild cards (Seeds 4/5), while the No. 2 seed will face the No. 3 vs No. 6 winner in the Divisional Round.
In the event that the second-best record in the league does not come from a division winner (e.g. the San Francisco Giants in 2021), they will remain the top wild card — and not get a first-round bye.
MLB Postseason Odds FAQs
The New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers currently have the shortest odds to make the MLB playoffs.
MLB expanded its postseason for 2022 by adding an extra wild card to each league, meaning 12 total teams now make the MLB playoffs.
The tentative start date for the MLB Postseason is Friday, October 7.
The 2022 World Series is expected to begin on Sunday, October 30.
