The Los Angeles Dodgers were the overwhelming favorites to win the World Series. That is no longer the case.
The 2026 Major League Baseball season has gone well for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but not as well as some may have thought it would.
The Dodgers are in pursuit of capturing a third straight World Series title, which would make them just the third franchise in MLB history to accomplish the feat.
After winning their second World Series in a row last season and adding more star power in the form of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz, they became the overwhelming favorites to get back to the Fall Classic.
The roster was so stacked that it caused outrage in the baseball world and advocacy for a salary cap, but the health of an aging core is beginning to demonstrate its athletic mortality. Injuries to key players have led to losses, and the Dodgers' chances have fallen.
Losing the odds
Recently, The Athletic put out the latest version of its multifaceted survey, which focuses on season predictions, and it includes the votes of its MLB staff.
One such category asked the staff who would win the National League pennant. In total, 22 votes were cast and, unsurprisingly, Los Angeles received 58% of the votes on Opening Day to capture it once again.
The Dodgers’ chances continued to grow and, by the All-Star Break, they peaked at 68%. However, the Milwaukee Brewers continued to turn heads, and they beat Los Angeles three out of four times at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.
From there, the Brewers were being taken much more seriously, and by the time the latest staff polls came in, Milwaukee had overtaken the Dodgers’ top majority in the survey. As of September, Los Angeles’ chances to win the pennant are down to 23%, and the Brewers are the favorites at 55%.
Moreover, the Dodgers have also lost the majority vote to win the World Series. On Opening Day, they had a 33% chance to win it all, and by the All-Star break, their chances had risen to 59%.
But now, the Dodgers' chances have fallen to 27%, while the Brewers’ chances have surged to 41%, making them the favorites. Both teams have dealt with injuries, but Los Angeles' loss of Shohei Ohtani on the mound, the disappointing results by Tucker and Diaz, and other inconsistencies have certainly hurt the chances of the organization building on its dynastic run.
The Dodgers are far from done, and they can still complete their goals, but it is interesting to see how the belief they once garnered has shifted.
