Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins
Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins

The Los Angeles Dodgers (47-28) are back in a familiar position with the best record in the National Leagues. L.A. isn’t favored to win the 2022 World Series, however, a significant change for the NL’s top team.

The New York Yankees (56-21) start July atop the 2022 MLB standings as the World Series favorites. The Yankees have +400 odds at Caesars Sportsbook to win the championship. New York has moved ahead of Los Angeles, which is second in baseball with +450 odds.

The Dodgers were World Series favorites during the regular season for nearly two straight years, according to ESPN. Los Angeles won the 2020 World Series and was defeated in the 2021 NLCS after a 106-win regular season.

Los Angeles remains the clear favorite in the NL. The New York Mets (47-29) are second with +700 odds, trailing the Dodgers by a half-game for the No. 1 seed.

The Dodgers moved ahead of the Mets in the standings with a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres (46-32) Thursday. San Diego has the NL’s third-best record and trails Los Angeles by 2.5 games in the division. The NL West rivals will finish their four-game series this weekend.

The Mets fell out of the top spot with a 3-6 record in their last nine games. The Mets are on a three-game losing streak after being swept at home in a short series by the Houston Astros (48-27).

The Dodgers and Mets split a four-game series in Los Angeles earlier this season.

Houston has MLB’s second-best record. The Astros are sandwiched between the Dodgers and Mets with +550 World Series odds.

Injuries to the Mets’ starting rotation have begun to take a toll on the team. The Dodgers have faced their own health issues, most recently losing reliever Daniel Hudson for the season and outfielder Mookie Betts until at least July 4 with broken ribs.

Walker Buehler is Los Angeles’ biggest injury. The Dodgers’ ace could be out until September. The right-hander was fourth in last year’s NL Cy Young voting with a 2.47 ERA.

Julio Urias, Tyler Anderson and Tony Gonsolin have stepped up to give Los Angeles the NL’s best ERA. The Dodgers also lead the league in runs scored. Freddie Freeman is batting .304, and his .876 OPS is good for ninth in the NL. Trea Turner has a .305 batting average and is tied for fifth in the NL with 56 RBI.

The Dodgers are 6.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants, (40-34), the first team out of the playoffs. Los Angeles is on pace to win more than 100 games for the fourth straight season.

Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers

Photo: Getty Images | David Berding