Dodgers lead CBS Sports’ 2026 World Series odds preview
With the Wild Card Round due to begin Tuesday, CBS Sports names the two-time defending champions favourites and weighs the strengths and risks across the field.
The 2026 MLB regular season has ended and the playoff field is set, with the Wild Card Round scheduled to begin Tuesday. In a preview published on 28 September, CBS Sports assessed DraftKings’ latest World Series odds and the teams it considers contenders or potential betting value. The supplied material does not give specific odds.
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter as favourites to win a third consecutive championship, according to CBS Sports. The preview cites their pitching and position-player strength, while noting questions around Shohei Ohtani’s injuries, Edwin Díaz’s reliability and the availability of starters Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
CBS Sports points to the Boston Red Sox as a potential value pick, citing their route through the bracket, starting options and bullpen. It also highlights the Chicago Cubs’ strong offence, while questioning whether their pitching depth can carry them through October.
The Milwaukee Brewers arrive with baseball’s best regular-season record and a formidable rotation, but CBS Sports questions how they will fare against strong postseason pitching. The Tampa Bay Rays’ prospects, it says, may depend on Freddy Peralta sustaining his recent form.
For the New York Yankees, the preview flags Aaron Judge’s reported calf strain and uncertainty over his effectiveness if he plays. It also raises concerns about the bullpen, offence and defence, despite rating the rotation highly.
These are CBS Sports’ assessments of a postseason field whose results remain to be decided. The Wild Card Round opens Tuesday.
