World Series preview set for this weekend in Atlanta

It might only be April, but a three-game weekend series between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros is a potential World Series preview. Just ask the oddsmakers.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, the Braves are the betting favorites to win it all with a price of +550. That equates to an implied probability of 15.38% as of late April, though Atlanta is the only team priced better than 7/1 at the moment.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are second in World Series odds at +700, but the Astros come in at third with a value of +750. All three of these teams are the most recent baseball champions, with Houston winning it all in 2022, Atlanta securing the crown in 2021, and Los Angeles taking home the trophy in 2020.

To this point in the season, the Braves look like the only serious contender in that group. They lead the National League with a 14-5 overall record, which included a 10-2 clip away from home. The Dodgers and Astros have both lost double-digit games in this opening 20-game stretch.

Of course, baseball is a marathon with its 162-game season, and there is plenty to like about the top contenders. That’s what makes this weekend series in Atlanta particularly interesting, as both the Braves and Astros have plenty of firepower.

Atlanta is the favorite to win the National League with a price of +270 at FanDuel. Houston is atop the American League odds board at +360, despite the 9-10 start to the season. The Braves are -280 to win the NL East, while the Astros are -150 to win the AL West.

The Braves are led by Ronald Acuna Jr., who is currently the betting favorite to win the NL MVP award. Acuna, who listed at +390 to win MVP for the first time in his career, is hitting .367 with three home runs and 11 RBIs so far this season.

Matt Olson is actually third in MVP odds while playing on the same team, as he is listed at +1200 on FanDuel. Austin Riley is seventh on the odds board at +1500 to win the award.

The Astros have an MVP candidate of their own in Yordan Alvarez, who is priced as a 25/1 long shot to win the award in the American League.

Elsewhere in the players' market, Olson currently has the third-best odds to be MLB’s home run leader in 2023. He is being valued at +1000, which puts him in a tie with Alvarez in odds. Olson has six homers on the year, while Alvarez has delivered four home runs.

Many futures markets could be adjusted based on what happens in this weekend's series between the Braves and Astros. Game 1 is slated for 7:20 p.m. ET on Friday, with Game 2 scheduled for 7:20 p.m. ET on Saturday. 

The series finale will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.