MLB Picks & Predictions
MLB World Series Championship 2025 - Baseball Picks & Betting Predictions
It’s been another thrilling year of baseball, with the MLB regular season over for another season. There were plenty of thrills and spills as the very best in the sport faced off. Now, attention turns to the postseason playoffs, culminating in the World Series, to determine Major League Baseball’s top team.
At Stake, we’ll take a look at what we can expect from the 2025 World Series, including predictions for the MLB playoffs and how to bet on baseball right here at Stake Sportsbook.
What is the MLB World Series?
The World Series is the final best-of-seven series of games that decides the best team from both leagues and all divisions. It is similar to American football’s NFL Super Bowl and ice hockey’s Stanley Cup in the NHL.
The World Series will run from October 24 through to November 1, should it go to seven games.
Format and Structure
The World Series is the official name of the final of the MLB postseason. It is a best-to-four-wins series of games between the two teams that qualify from the League Championships that decide the winner of each league.
The League Championships are inter-division and are contested by the four best MLB teams - two from each league. Six teams from each league will enter the playoffs at the end of the regular season - three division winners and three wildcards.
In each league, the three wild-card sides face off against each other and the lowest-performing division winner in the Wild Card Series. The winners of these fixtures will then face off against the two best division winners in the Division Series, before the two winners of these will compete for a pennant in the Championship Series, clinching their places in the World Series.
History of MLB
The MLB is the oldest major professional sports league in North America and the pinnacle of baseball in the US. The sport of baseball expanded across the US during the 1860s due to soldiers playing the game in camps during the Civil War. The National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) was founded, and by 1967, it included more than 400 clubs, many of which were based in the Northeastern United States.
The first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was founded in 1869, but it wasn’t until 1876 that the first professional league was established. The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, which would later become the National League, allowed professional teams to enforce player contracts. In addition, it meant that teams were required to play their full schedule rather than simply forfeiting games once they were no longer in the running of the league championship.
The early years of professional baseball were a difficult time, with rebellions from players and threats from rival leagues. This included the formation of the American League, which led to multiple legal disputes over player contracts.
However, in 1901, leaders of the National League and American League formed an agreement which would see the two competitions cooperate. The first-ever World Series, featuring the American League champions versus the National League champions, was held in 1903.
Past World Series Winners
There have been 25 different teams to win the World Series, with the New York Yankees the most successful side with 27 wins. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the reigning champs, and will be a strong choice to go back-to-back. Here are the winners and losers of the last 10 editions, with the winner listed first.
2024: LA Dodgers 4 - 1 New York Yankees
2023: Texas Rangers 4 - 1 Arizona Diamondbacks
2022: Houston Astros 4 - 2 Philadelphia Phillies
2021: Atlanta Braves 4 - 2 Houston Astros
2020: LA Dodgers 4 - 2 Tampa Bay Rays
2019: Washington Nationals 4 - 3 Houston Astros
2018: Boston Red Sox 4 - 1 LA Dodgers
2017: Houston Astros 4 - 3 LA Dodgers
2016: Chicago Cubs 4 - 3 Cleveland Indians
2015: Kansas City Royals 4 - 1 New York Mets
MLB 2025 Season Recap
It’s been a fine season of baseball, with some exceptional performances across both leagues and all six divisions. However, it was another year that cemented the Seattle Mariners’ 2001 season as the best ever, with the Milwaukee Brewers’ 97 wins the closest to the Mariners’ 116-win record.
In the American League, Canada’s Toronto Blue Jays, the Cleveland Guardians, and the Mariners topped the AL East, AL Central, and AL West, respectively. The Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Detroit Tigers qualified for the postseason as the best of the rest.
In the National League, the Phillies, the Brewers, and the Dodgers clinched the NL East, NL Central, and NL West, respectively. The wild cards for the playoffs were the Chicago Cubs, the San Diego Padres, and the Cincinnati Reds.
In terms of individual achievements, Tyler O’Neill extended his MLB record, clinching a sixth consecutive home run against the Blue Jays, while Eugenio Suarez became the 19th player to ever hit four home runs in one game. Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh, and Kyle Schwarber all hit at least 50 home runs across the regular season, marking the third time four players had achieved the feat in a single year.
MLB World Series Predictions
While the postseason is still ongoing and surprises can occur along the way, of the teams left in the playoffs, there are a couple that stand out as top picks in this year’s MLB betting.
Players & Teams to Watch
While the postseason can always throw up some surprises, the Dodgers are going to be top picks to retain their title after a strong showing and what some would say is an easier route to the World Series. That’s despite being the third-best divisional winner and the National League triumphing in the All-Star Game.
The American League side of the draw is perhaps a bit more uncertain. Toronto will be the big favourites, considering they were the best performer in terms of divisional winners. However, Seattle have a roster full of talent, with the likes of Josh Naylor sure to make their impact felt.
Types of Bets & How to Bet on Baseball
Betting on the 2025 MLB World Series at Stake is easy. All you have to do is make an account and ensure you have funds. From there, select baseball from the list of sports and get started. If you’re new to placing baseball bets, you can learn how to bet on baseball in our guides, including in our sports betting basics.
Once you’re ready to get started, there are a few baseball bet types to keep in mind, including the following:
Winner (Incl. Extra Innings)
Total (Incl. Extra Innings)
Handicap (Incl. Extra Innings)
Winner & Total (Incl. Extra Innings)
1st Inning – 1x2
1st Inning – Total
Game props
Player props
MLB World Series Betting Tips, Odds, & Strategies
It can be difficult to predict exactly how the World Series will unfold, but we've listed some top tips and tricks that you can use for a better betting experience.
Learn about odds: Understanding the odds of your selection is important when placing a bet on baseball. Check out our guides on reading odds and understanding the differences in American, fractional, and decimal odds to get started.
Use a bankroll strategy: If you’re looking to have a better grasp of your bankroll management, take a look at our guides for information on using strategies like the Kelly Criterion.
Do your research: Look at the stats and consider facts like who has home-field advantage before placing a bet. For example, a formidable team like Los Angeles will always be favoured when playing at Dodger Stadium.
Live Baseball Betting & Free Online Live Streaming
Keep up with all the live baseball action right here at Stake, including the MLB regular season, playoffs, and the All-Star Game.
Check out our live events and upcoming fixtures and see which games are available to watch on our platform by looking for the live stream logo next to your chosen fixture. If you’re new to streaming sports at Stake, check out our guide to streaming before getting started.
You can then place bets in-match, with our guide to live betting v pre-match betting covering everything you need to know about betting in-play.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Betting on Baseball
Once you’re ready to start betting on baseball at Stake, all you need to do is log in to your account securely with a passkey before adding funds to play with. You can make deposits and withdrawals using both local currencies and our accepted cryptocurrencies.
Check out our local currency payment guide to learn how to use Argentine Pesos, Chilean Pesos, Mexican Pesos, USD in Ecuador, Turkish Lira, Indian Rupees, Vietnamese Dong, and Canadian Dollars.
If you’re using crypto, you can choose from BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, Doge, LTC, TRX, SOL, among others. Read our guide to choosing the right coin before selecting your option and buying your crypto at a crypto exchange platform like Mesh, Moonpay , or Swapped.com .
Stake Sportsbook Promotions, VIP Benefits, & Responsible Betting
In addition to the best odds on the World Series, you can find some great sportsbook promotions right here at Stake. We offer regular rakebacks and reloads, as well as a VIP program where you can achieve different reward levels based on your staking history. For more information, including details on our VIP hosts, check out the VIP FAQs.
It is most important that you remember to always gamble responsibly and play within your means. See our Stake Smart guidelines for information on staying in control. Our monthly budget calculator and betting limit guide are also great tools to support you in creating healthier gambling habits.
