A historic powerhouse, the Atlanta Braves are opening the postseason as one of the biggest World Series favorites over the past decade-plus.
The Braves were the undisputed best team during their 2023 campaign, winning an MLB-high 104 games with a league-best +234 run differential.
Powered by likely National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., who became the first 40-home run, 70-stolen base player ever, and 54-homer man Matt Olson, Atlanta sported one of the best lineups in MLB history during the regular season, matching a record 307 home runs and posting the third-best wRC+ (124) of the Live Ball Era.
Oddsmakers have taken notice, placing the Braves in historic territory when it comes to their championship chances.
The Braves were +250 (BetMGM) favorites to win the World Series before Tuesday’s Wild Card Series action, becoming just the third team since MLB expanded to two wild card teams in 2012 to have odds better than 5/2 to win the championship prior to the postseason kicking off.
Atlanta joined the 2019 Astros (+205), who lost to the Nationals in the World Series, and 2016 Cubs (+240), who won the title, to be such heavy favorites, per Sports Odds History.
The Braves odds are likely lengthened by the third wild card team MLB added in each league in 2022 – the more teams in the mix, the higher everyone’s odds are.
But even with two extra playoff teams involved, the 2023 Braves are right on the heels of the 2019 Astros and 2016 Cubs.
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If they’re knocked off, oddsmakers see the Astros and Dodgers (both +450) as the most likely to win the Fall Classic.
Trailing those two are the Orioles (+650) and Phillies (+1000), who the Braves would face in the Division Series if they’re able to take care of the Marlins during their wild card match-up. No other team has odds better than 10/1 as of Wednesday afternoon.