Despite what some MLB owners may have you believe, the primary goal of fielding a team and playing games is to win the World Series. It's what fans dream of on Opening Day, when every team is undefeated and hope is in the air. Of course, not every team is good enough to win the World Series – in fact, there's likely only 10 or so true contenders every year. 

The 2025 season should prove no different, and in my estimation the number of true contenders this year could be even smaller. Making the playoffs is easier than ever given that the league has decided to let 12 teams in, but as we saw last season, not every team that makes the playoffs is built for October.

So how do we separate the chaff from the grain? Which teams are the ones bettors should be targeting in their MLB futures plays? And which underdogs have the best chance to knock off heavyweight teams like the Dodgers and Yankees?

Before you make any bets on who wins the 2025 World Series, you need to see who SportsLine senior editor Nick Stellini is backing. Stellini worked as a baseball writer for outlets including Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs, Sporting News, The Athletic and NBC Sports before joining SportsLine. He's had his finger on the pulse of the game for years. 

Now Stellini has shared his 2025 World Series futures picks. Be sure to check out his plays before locking in any of your own.

Which teams are the best bets to win the 2025 World Series? And which heavy favorite should be avoided? ... Join SportsLine right now to see 2025 World Series futures betting strategy from SportsLine's expert!