The MLB trade deadline is in the books. Headline moves included the Houston Astros welcoming back Justin Verlander as the defending champions make another title push. Lines at baseball betting sites have continued to shift following a flurry of deals. Let’s take a look at the impact on MLB odds following the trade deadline.
MLB trade deadline impact on World Series odds
The below table shows the impact on the top favorites to win the 2023 World Series following the MLB trade deadline. MLB betting lines are from Caesars Sportsbook and are subject to change.
| Team | Post-deadline Odds | Pre-deadline Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | +330 | +330 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +500 | +500 |
| Houston Astros | +550 | +850 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +850 | +700 |
| Texas Rangers | +850 | +1100 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +1200 | +1500 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +1800 | +1800 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +2500 | +2500 |
| Minnesota Twins | +2800 | +3000 |
| San Francisco Giants | +2800 | +3300 |
Bet on the MLB World Series
Get the latest odds and betting information for Major League Baseball’s biggest event in October.
Verlander returns to Astros
Over the offseason, Justin Verlander inked a two-year, $86.6 million deal with the New York Mets. The marriage has proved to be short-lived. On Tuesday, the Mets shipped Verlander back to his old stomping grounds. In exchange, the Astros sent a pair of top prospects to New York: OF Ryan Clifford and OF Drew Gilbert.
Verlander was a member of the Astros from 2017-22. He helped the team to a pair of World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 and was a Cy Young Award winner in 2019 and 2022 during his previous stint in Houston. The Astros are one of the top favorites to win it all once again and are locked in a heated battle with the Texas Rangers in the AL West.
Other notable deadline deals
Houston’s reunion with Verlander was the biggest attention-grabber at the deadline, but several other contenders also stepped up to the plate. Here’s a run-through of some of the more notable deals from the MLB trade deadline and the days leading up to it.
- Baltimore Orioles: Acquired P Jack Flaherty from the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Los Angeles Angels: In separate deals, added 1B CJ Cron and P Lucas Giolito.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Traded for OF Mark Canha and 1B Carlos Santana in separate deals.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Acquired P Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers.
- Texas Rangers: Added Ps Aroldis Chapman, Jordan Montgomery, and Max Scherzer.
MLB playoff chase heats up
Now that the trade deadline is behind us, the focus shifts to the stretch run of the season. A number of competitive races continue to play out, so we could be in line for a wild two months of action. Here are the top MLB playoff odds for which team will come out on top.
AL East
- Baltimore Orioles
- Tampa Bay Rays
AL Central
- Minnesota Twins
- Cleveland Guardians
AL West
- Houston Astros
- Texas Rangers
NL Central
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Cincinnati Reds
- Chicago Cubs
In addition, plenty of teams remain alive in the wild card hunt in both leagues. For the AL pennant chase, betting odds favor the Astros, Rays, Rangers, and Orioles as the teams to watch in the AL, while the Braves and Dodgers are the clear favorites on the NL side.
