World Series 2025 Futures – Betting the Braves Makes Sense

The reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites to capture a second consecutive World Series title. The Atlanta Braves, a perennial winner and World Series champions in 2021, are not among the top three on the betting board. Still, at this point in the season there is value betting the Braves to win the 2025 World Series. 

Atlanta started the 2025 season with seven consecutive losses. It was the Braves worst start since 2016. In the history of MLB, 29 teams have started a season 0-7. None of those 29 made the playoffs. Only two of them finished with a record above .500.

So, what makes the Braves a value bet right now to win it all in 2025? Let’s take a look.

Ronald Acuna Is Back

There might not be a single player in baseball that means more to a team than Acuna means to the Braves. Atlanta is being cautious with Acuna. As of May 28, Acuna had only played in four games. His performance in those four games is exactly what he has done in his career. 

He’s got 16 at-bats, 5 hits, two of them home runs and a .313 batting average. His OPS is over 1.000 and his addition to the lineup makes the rest of the Braves that much better. When he gets it going this season, the Braves will be tough to stop.

The Rest of the Lineup

Atlanta has All-Star caliber players at first, second, and third base. Matt Olson leads the team with 12 homers. 2B Ozzie Albies is a solid, reliable hitter with five homers, 19 RBI, and a .240 average. Austin Riley is an emerging star, batting .272 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs. CF Michael Harris II is putting together the best season of his career – nine doubles, three homers and a team-high 31 RBIs.

Then, the Braves will get Jurickson Profar back at the end of June. He is serving an 80-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Profar made the All-Star game for the first time last season. It was the best of his career. He hit .280 with 24 homers and 84 RBI. Having Acuna and Profar for the second half of the season is a big plus for Atlanta.

Pitching

There is no question that the pitching rotation is a key for any team looking to challenge for a World Series. Spencer Strider just returned to the rotation again at the end of May. He’s struggling, but it will take some time to get back to where he was in 2023 – 20-5 record, 3.86 ERA and 281 strikeouts. 

Chris Sale is a dominant MLB pitcher who won the National League Cy Young Award last season. He’s 2-3 with a 3.36 ERA so far this season. He hasn’t received the run support that he’s used to, but that will change with Acuna and, eventually, Profar back in the lineup. 

Spencer Schwellenbach (3.42) and Grant Holmes (3.68) both have sub-4.00 ERAs and at some point late in the season Atlanta could welcome Reynaldo Lopez back. He underwent shoulder surgery after one start this season. His timetable was 12 weeks to return and then another four to six weeks to get into game shape. It’s possible he could be pitching in September. That would be nice as Lopez went 8-5 with a 1.99 ERA in 25 starts last season. 

Braves Futures Bets

As mentioned, the Braves are not among the top three MLB teams on the World Series futures board. The Dodgers were installed as the betting favorites and remain there, currently at +275 odds. The Yankees, who Los Angeles beat in last year’s World Series, are next at +700 and the Philadelphia Phillies are third at +900 at top rated sportsbooks.

The Braves have moved into fifth place on the board right behind the New York Mets who are listed at +1000. Atlanta is given +1600 odds heading into the end of May. The Braves were 25-28 as of May 28. They are eight games behind the Mets in the NL East race and 9.5 back of the division-leading Phillies.

Atlanta is also fifth in the NL pennant futures race. The Dodgers, Phillies, Mets, and Cubs all sit ahead of the Braves, who are listed at +900 to win the NLCS. As the season wears on, should the Braves eventually get over .500, these odds will only shorten. Sportsbooks have the Braves pegged to make the playoffs as you can pick up Atlanta at -120 to qualify for the postseason. 

The books are essentially telling bettors they think the Braves will make the playoffs. With a healthy top three in the pitching rotation, the Braves can compete with anyone. They have made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons and played in the NLCS in 2020 and 2021 when they won the World Series. 

Atlanta has postseason experience, the pitching staff, and a lineup that will only get better with the return of the 2023 NL MVP and a 2024 All-Star in Profar. That’s why a small wager on the Braves now to win the World Series makes sense.

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