The San Diego Padres and the LA Dodgers will get the new MLB season started on Wednesday. The two franchises are in South Korea for the Seoul Series, consisting of two back-to-back matches on Wednesday and Thursday, marking the beginning of the 2024 season. Big-spending LA (-190) are the favorites to win, and we tell you how they are going to get on in our latest MLB betting picks.
The 2024 MLB season gets underway in South Korea when the San Diego Padres take on the LA Dodgers in the first of two overseas matches in the 2024 Seoul Series. It means an early start for US fans, as the 7.05 pm local start gives us a start time of 5.05 am on the East Coast.
This will be the first time that the MLB has ever staged a match in South Korea, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, with the Dodgers’ new Japanese star signings Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto set to play in their native Asia.
The match on March 20 between the Padres and the Dodgers is the official opening day of the 2024 MLB season. But we have to wait until March 28 to see all 30 teams in action.
The Texas Rangers are the defending champions after winning their first-ever World Series in 2023. If the Rangers can win the title again in 2024, they will become the first team to go back-to-back since the New York Yankees won three in a row between 1998 and 2000.
But it’s not the Rangers who start the new season as the favorites. It’s the LA Dodgers. And this is in the main thanks to spending over a billion dollars in the off-season on improving their roster with additions like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The best MLB World Series betting sites make the LA Dodgers the +300 betting favorites to win the 2024 World Series. The Dodgers are followed by the Atlanta Braves at +500 and the Houston Astros at +700.
After the three betting favorites come the New York Yankees at +1000 and the Baltimore Orioles at +1200. The Texas Rangers are +1400 to defend the title and win the World Series again in 2024.
It was initially the Atlanta Braves who opened up as the favorites. But after the major investment made by the Dodgers, the bookmakers were left with no option but to cut LA’s odds.
In the betting to win the opening match of the 2024 season, the best MLB betting sites are again favoring the Dodgers. On the money line, LA is -190, with the Padres at +160.
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Moving onto the handicap spread, and with the 1.5-point advantage, the Padres are -105. The Dodgers are -115 to win and cover the spread. The total runs scored market are -120 for over 8.5 and +100 for under 8.5.
More Padres vs. Dodgers odds are available on our MLB betting table. You will find more information about the sportsbooks we use for our MLB odds on our Best Betting Sites 2024 page.
| Padres vs. Dodgers MLB Betting |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padres | +160 | +160 | +160 |
| Dodgers | -190 | -190 | -190 |
| Padres (+1.5) | -105 | -105 | -105 |
| Dodgers (-1.5) | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Over 8.5 | -120 | -120 | -120 |
| Under 8.5 | +100 | +100 | +100 |
The Dodgers’ spending spree in free agency will heap more expectations on them this year.
Not only have they acquired two of the biggest names in the sport in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but they have also splurged on Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot, as well as picking up free agents Teoscar Hernandez and James Paxton.
In the betting to win the NL West, the Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites at -500. And to win the National League Pennant, they are favorites at +170, with the Atlanta Braves at +250.
It’s the Braves that are perceived to be the biggest obstacle in the way of the Dodgers having a successful 2024. Atlanta is a well-oiled machine. They seem to go under the radar, with the Dodgers grabbing all the headlines. If LA can’t get past them this year, some serious questions will need answering.
The spring friendlies are hard to use as a form guide. In recent days, the Dodgers have beaten the Rangers 7-1 and the Diamondbacks 12-1. They have also lost 5-1 to the Guardians and 8-1 to the Mariners.
As for the Padres (it’s worth remembering there are two teams in this match), they have beaten the Athletics 12-11 and the Mariners 13-3. Yes, the same Mariners who defeated the Dodgers 8-1.
The safe bet for a season opener could be over 8.5 runs. The two franchises will be keen to put on a show, meaning this could be a high-scoring match. For our betting pick, we are going for over 8.5 on the run line.
For our match-winner betting pick, we have to go for a win for the LA Dodgers. Okay, having no proper form to go on makes this slightly risky. But we do not doubt LA will be ready to go when the ceremonial first pitch gets the season underway.
We are not backing the Dodgers on the money line at -190. Instead, we are backing them to win and cover for our betting pick.
Check below for our list of the top sportsbooks where you can wager online:
About the Author
Over the last 10 years, Dean has sharpened his expertise in crafting and revising content for his soccer and cricket betting platforms. Driven by his passion for sports betting and writing, he embarked on a journey of writing about sports wagering. Although Dean's preferred areas of focus are the English Premier League and cricket, his extensive sports knowledge enables him to tackle nearly any sport. Gone are the days of traveling the world to witness events like FIFA World Cups and Ashes cricket, as Dean now prefers the comfort of his own home while enjoying sports.
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