2020 World Series Betting Odds Preview

A World Series unlike any other gets started Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face the Tampa Bay Rays.

There will be no home-field advantage for either side in any games of this year’s World Series. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series is being played at a neutral site, Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Texas Rangers.

Los Angeles a -200 World Series Favorite over Tampa Bay

Heading into Tuesday’s series opener, the oddsmakers at Bovada Sportsbook have pegged the Dodgers as a -200 favorite. The Rays are listed as a +170 underdog on the series odds.

The odds for Game 1 of the series are similar with the Dodgers listed as a -166 favorite at Bovada and the Rays a +170 underdog. The pitching matchups for the series opener have yet to be announced, which could have some impact on the game odds.

The Dodgers finished the regular season with the best record in baseball at 43-17. The Rays weren’t far behind them with 40 wins during the shortened season. During their playoff run, the Dodgers have gone 9-3 in series against the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers were favored in all 12 of their playoff games so far this season. They needed seven games to dispatch the Braves in the NLCS after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit.

Dodgers, Rays both needed seven games to win LCS

Tampa Bay has posted a 9-5 record in the playoffs so far against the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Houston Astros. The Rays also needed seven games to get past the Houston Astros in the ALCS. They were listed as the underdog in four of their games against the Yankees, posting a 2-2 record. As an underdog this season, the Rays were 11-7 in 18 games.

Totals bettors may not be able to take much from the OVER/UNDER results so far in the postseason. In their 14 games, the Rays are 9-5 UNDER. The Dodgers are 6-6 OVER/UNDER in their 12 playoff games.

Obviously, due to the unusual schedule for this season, the Dodgers and Rays did not meet up during the shortened regular season. The last time they did face off was in two short two-game series during the 2019 season. Both sides won two games apiece. In the last 17 games between the Dodgers and Rays, Los Angeles is 10-7.

Dodgers back in Fall Classic for third time in four years

The Dodgers are playing in the World Series for the third time in the last four seasons. They’ll be hoping for a better result this time around as they lost the World Series in 2017 and 2018.

The Rays are in the World Series for only the second time in franchise history. They faced the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 World Series, which they lost in five games.