The Los Angeles Dodgers came into the MLB trade deadline as one of the top landing spots for the best player available in Tarik Skubal. Days before the deadline even came around, the Dodgers had acquired Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.
They also went out and added Ben Rortvedt, Kris Bubic, Seth Halvorsen, and Hunter Feduccia before the deadline was over. Adding those players onto their stacked roster, it should come as little surprise that the Dodgers are the team to beat. Right?
Well, ESPN's Bradford Doolittle shared updated win total odds for each team, alongside their playoff and World Series odds. Somehow, after the deadline when they added Skubal, the Dodgers' odds to win the World Series dropped 22.3%.
Dodgers' odds to win World Series drop over 20% per ESPN.
"Win average: 97.1 (Last: 106.2, first). In the playoffs: 99.9% (Last: 100%). Champions: 13.8% (Last: 36.1%)," Doolittle shared.
These are some ridiculous odds for the Dodgers, especially considering this team only got better with the addition of Skubal.
However, while this is a ridiculously large drop in World Series odds, it is hard to overlook how the Dodgers have dropped six games in a row, including eight of their last 10, and are no longer in first or even second place in the NL.
If the season ended before games on Friday, the Dodgers would not earn a first-round bye. Plus, Shohei Ohtani, while he's still hitting very well, hasn't pitched, and might not pitch for a long time this season.
MORE: How Cubs inadvertently helped Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal
Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell aren't back yet, and Will Smith is still on the injured list. Dalton Rushing is now also not likely to catch again this season, and even Freddie Freeman is banged up.
There are some problems with this Dodgers team, but for their World Series odds to drop over 20% shows how they were way too favored earlier in the year, or that the recent production from the team is being weighed too heavily.
It's not going to be a smooth-sailing path for the Dodgers like it could've been had they been completely healthy.
But, for their odds of winning the World Series to drop 22.3%, and below the Milwaukee Brewers' odds of 18.6%, it's a bit of a baffling update for the Dodgers.
More MLB news:
- Cubs land Kevin Gausman in blockbuster trade with Blue Jays
- Red Sox expected to trade Jarren Duran during offseason, not MLB trade deadline
- What did Mets get for Freddy Peralta? Rays send three prospects for 4.99 ERA SP
- Tigers receive lousy grade for Tarik Skubal trade to Dodgers from ESPN
- Royals DFA former Phillies All-Star reliever Matt Strahm after trade deadline

1 hour ago
3
English (US)