2025 MLB Playoff Odds: Sleeper Teams to Watch for MLB Postseason Through 35 Games
The 2025 MLB season is through its first 35 games, nearly 25% of the way gone. Which teams have built a strong start and could make a run at the playoffs if they keep building? Jason Radowitz analyzes his teams to watch, including one longshot odds option in the NL Central. Check out these MLB Playoffs Odds for early May, and get in before the lines move.
Jason Radowitz - May 5, 2025, 6:20 PM EDT
5 min2025 MLB Playoff Odds: Sleeper Teams to Watch for MLB Postseason Through 35 Games
It's only May. There's plenty of baseball left to be played.
Ultimately, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the league's best team. This was expected, esepcially after the Dodgers won the World Series last year.
However, last year, there were some surprises in the MLB Playoffs. The Kansas City Royals made the 2024 playoffs after suffering 106 losses the year before.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers had almost no chance of making the MLB Playoffs in August. Yet, they won many games and had some things go their way, which eventually pushed them into the playoffs.
The Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets were also two teams with lower expectations. Yet, both made the playoffs last year.
So, while some teams are underperforming right now, those same teams could end up making the playoffs in September.
Let's talk about it below.
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2025 World Series Odds
MLB Playoff Odds: Teams to Watch
Texas Rangers (-118) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Rangers Playoff odds
The Texas Rangers are currently below .500. They've gone 17-18 in their first 25 games and just fired their offensive coordinator, Donnie Ecker.
You could've guessed it. The Rangers have struggled offensively, and general manager Chris Young has moved quickly to save the season. There hasn't been an announcement about what Texas' intentions are with the offensive coordinator job moving forward. But I love the fact that the Rangers are already making moves to their struggling team, hoping to make the MLB postseason.
Corey Seager is back from the injured list, which should help an offense that has hit an average of just .228. The OPS of .644 is the lowest in the MLB, but I'd expect that to change with a new coach and Seager back in the lineup.
The Rangers have a very good lineup. It's how they won the 2023 MLB World Series.
They'll need to find new bullpen arms, get the offense on track, and continue to pitch well in the starting rotation. At -118, I like the Rangers.
Kansas City Royals (+128) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Royals Playoff odds
The Kansas City Royals have won eight of their last 10 games heading into May 5. The Royals have been much better at home this year and have just a +1 differential.
Ultimately, the pitching staff has probably pitched better than expected to begin the year. Kris Bubic has been the rising star. The pitching has kept them competitive, but the hitting needs to improve overall.
With Bobby Witt Jr. leading the offense, the Royals should be able to get enough offense in most games to win outright. Plus, the Royals are facing the White Sox next. After that series, the odds might not be +128 anymore.
Cincinnati Reds (+390) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Reds Playoff odds
It won't be easy for the Reds to make the playoffs, which is why they're sitting at +390. Ultimately, they trail the Cubs by three games in the NL Central and likely won't do enough to earn an NL Wild Card spot, with three teams in the NL West holding 22+ wins.
The Reds currently have an intriguing run differential of +34. They're also 9-7 on the road. However, the biggest knock on the Reds is that they're not playing top-tier opponents much. They've only played nine games against teams above .500 this season.
Either way, Hunter Greene is finally taking over as the Reds' ace pitcher, and Elly De La Cruz has started 2025 exactly how he finished 2024. In addition, the Reds have Terry Francona as their manager. He's an experienced coach who has plenty of wins in his career.
The Reds will have many games against the Cubs throughout the season to potentially get to the division's top. They can easily overperform expectations and surprise some people.
MLB ODDS
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