Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series predictions, picks and best bets: Grab this 25-1 prop we love

The stage is set for one of the most anticipated matchups in World Series history when the New York Yankees face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 120th edition of the Fall Classic.

The Dodgers are small favorites to win the championship, though oddsmakers expect a long and competitive series no matter which team lifts the trophy.

Led by superstars Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, both teams have hammered their way to MLB’s biggest stage with a combined 33 home runs in 20 postseason games.

Will the long ball continue to dominate these playoffs? Or will the pitchers be up to the task under the bright lights as they chase a championship? We’ll find out beginning with Game 1 on Friday, Oct. 25.

Here are our Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series predictions and best bets, based on the latest World Series odds.

Yankees vs. Dodgers predictions and best bets

• Yankees to win the World Series (+110 at Caesars)
• World Series total games Over 5.5 (-185 at DraftKings)
• Player with the most hits in the series: Gleyber Torres (+2500 odds at DraftKings)

It is difficult to imagine either team running away with the world championship. Both teams hit home runs at a high rate, so even if they fall behind they can be back in the game with a swing or two.

The odds for the series to last more than 5.5 games may not be desirable, but do you realistically see either team winning this series 4-1 or 4-0?

It’s tough to find a big edge for either team. We can expect both teams to score runs, so it comes down to which pitching staff will do just enough for six or seven games.

That’s why we’re picking the Yankees.

LA pitchers have had good moments in the playoffs. They also have had some terrible moments. The Dodgers have four shutouts in 11 playoff games, but they have allowed at least five runs in six games.

Is it realistic to expect the Dodgers to shut out, or at least shut down the Yankees?

Yankees pitchers have given up three runs or fewer in five of nine games. Wouldn’t you rather side with the pitching staff that has not been feast or famine when many runs are expected to be scored?

All the best online sportsbooks have myriad betting markets for the World Series. We’re focusing on which player will have the most hits in the series. As of Monday afternoon, there is one player with astronomical odds based on his historical and recent track record — Yankees leadoff batter Gleyber Torres.

Torres is outside the top 10 in the odds boards of that betting market even though he had the most hits in the ALCS with eight.

It’s fair to put several Dodgers hitters ahead of him because they have been on fire and are favored to win the series. But why is Gavin Lux ahead of Torres? He went 0-for-6 in the NLCS and didn’t appear in every game.

Furthermore, why is New York’s Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3 for 19 with eight strikeouts) ahead of Torres in this betting market? Torres will have the most at-bats among Yankees batters, and he has been hitting the ball well, which goes along with his history of performing well in the postseason.

Torres is not guaranteed to cash this ticket, but at 25-to-1, the odds are way too good to pass up.

If you’re not ready to roll with that betting market but still want to sweat Torres in the series. FanDuel Sportsbook has odds for each player to record a certain number of hits in the series beginning with 6.

You can bet on Torres to get 6+ hits in the series at +146 odds and 8+ hits at +560 odds.

Yankees vs. Dodgers moneyline odds analysis

Los Angeles could win as the favorite

Best odds: -128 at FanDuel

The Dodgers have been hitting the cover off the ball, and maybe the pitchers on the other side don’t matter. Maybe this is their year to crush the postseason and leave no doubt.

LA has pitchers who have been elite but were inconsistent in the NLCS (Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto), and if they find that level again, it will be a combination no opponent can overcome. None of that would be a surprise.

And then there’s this: Games 6 and 7 are in LA, and the home crowd at Chavez Ravine could make a difference deep in the series. The Yankees are great, but can they be great enough in an environment that will be against them during series-clinching games?

New York could win as the underdog

Best odds: +110 at BetMGM

The Yankees may not be hitting as well as the Dodgers, but they’re doing enough considering their pitching may be strong enough to keep the Dodgers maintaining their current pace.

Yankees starter Gerrit Cole has tremendous postseason experience and can set the tone in Game 1. He won’t be affected by the raucous Dodger Stadium crowd in Game 1, and that will be a boost for the Yankees hitters who have yet to take a swing in the World Series.

Much has been made about Aaron Judge’s lack of success in the playoffs, but he hit two important home runs in the 4-1 ALCS win over the Guardians. If that’s all it takes for him to get on a roll, look out.

World Series schedule

This year’s Fall Classic will use the 2-3-2 format for game locations. The first two will be played in LA and the next three in New York. Games 6 and 7 will be in LA. All games will be televised on FOX.

Here is the full series schedule:

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25 at Los Angeles, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26 at Los Angeles, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28 at New York, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29 at New York, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 30 at New York, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 6: Friday, Nov. 1 at Los Angeles, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 2 at Los Angeles, 8:08 p.m. ET