Five World Series contenders with the most pressure in 2024

Before the start of each MLB season, spring training reminds us that everyone has a clean slate. However, for certain franchises in 2024, the expectations are much higher than others.  

Per BetMGM, the Phillies, Blue Jays, Yankees, Braves and Dodgers are among the 10 favorites to win the World Series. In inverse order, here's a ranking of which team faces the most pressure this season. 

5.  Philadelphia Phillies

Last World Series championship: 2008

For the second consecutive season, the Phillies defeated their division rival, the Atlanta Braves, in the NLDS as the underdog. In 2022, the victory led to a World Series clash with the Houston Astros, a series the Phillies led 2-1 before dropping three straight contests, including Games 4 and 5 at home.  

After cruising by the Braves again last season, Philadelphia lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS as favorites despite having the raucous Citizens Bank crowd behind them for Games 6 and 7.

The Phillies return virtually the same lineup and rotation as last year.  If they come up short again with the supposed best home-field advantage around, roster changes are likely.  

4. Toronto Blue Jays

Last World Series championship: 1993

The Blue Jays are no longer considered the up-and-coming franchise they were when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette debuted in 2019. Since that season, Toronto has been swept three times in the AL wild-card round. Canada's team scored 13 runs total in those six losses.  

Guerrero Jr. and Bichette are still under age 27, but in the postseason, they are a combined 9 for 44 with one RBI and an extra-base hit apiece. The lineup is solid and the rotation is the same as last year. Anything short of the ALDS in 2024 will be a disappointment. 

3. New York Yankees

Last World Series championship: 2009

The Yankees missed the playoffs in 2023 with the league's second-highest team payroll. Entering the 2024 season, they have the highest payroll in the majors, just north of $290 million, per Spotrac. 

Adding on-base machine Juan Soto via trade with the San Diego Padres increases the pressure as New York will be competing in what many expect to be the most difficult division in baseball. Soto's future with the Yankees after this season is unknown as he is currently signed for one year. If this is his last season in pinstripes, the pressure to win in 2024 is even higher for New York.

2. Atlanta Braves

Last World Series championship: 2021

When the Braves won it all as underdogs in 2021, that championship title raised expectations for the following two seasons and had some believing a dynasty was possible.  Since that magical run, Atlanta has claimed the NL East twice but lost as favorites in the NLDS to the Phillies.

Much of Atlanta's young talent is locked up for the foreseeable future, but for the Braves to be considered a dynasty-in-the-making, they must at least get past the NLDS this year. The pre-October success means little when a franchise has been eliminated in 11 of its 14 NLDS appearances since 2000.  

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Last non-Covid World Series championship: 1988

The Dodgers won the 2020 World Series during the 60-game pandemic season in front of few fans on a neutral field in Texas. However, for a franchise that has been eliminated from the playoffs eight times since 2009 with a better regular-season record than its opponent, a 2024 World Series title is a must.

The additions of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernandez and Tyler Glasnow certainly raise expectations.  We haven't heard any guarantees yet from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, perhaps because his failed prediction on "The Dan Patrick Show" in 2022 taught him a lesson.