Odds to win Baseball at 2021 Olympics
Odds via DraftKings
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Japan | +175 |
| South Korea | +300 |
| USA | +350 |
| Mexico | +500 |
| Dominican Republic | +550 |
| Israel | +3000 |
The baseball portion of the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo doesn't start until July 27, but betting odds are available making Japan the favorite.
The host country opens as a +175 favorite at DraftKings in the six-team, two-pool field. Japan will be featured in Group A with Mexico (+500) and the Dominican Republic (+550).
In Group B, the United States is considered the second favorite at +350 to South Korea at +300. Israel is the final team in the field and a massive long shot at +3000.
The most notable name on Japan's roster, at least from a Major League Baseball perspective, is former New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka. Fellow Japanese stars will join Tanaka on the roster, including Seiya Suzuki, Ryosuke Kikuchi and Tetsuto Yamada.
Japan's three total medals in Olympic play is tied with the U.S. for second-most all time. Cuba won a medal in all five of its Olympic Games.
Korea's roster features former MLB players Hyun-soo Kim (Orioles) and Jae-gyun Hwang (Giants) and won gold in 2008.
Team USA features a mix of veterans without a team and top prospects in the minors. Former major leaguers on the roster include Todd Frazier, Tyler Austin, Edwin Jackson, Scott Kazmir and David Robertson. Prospects Shane Baz (Rays), Simeon Woods-Richardson (Blue Jays) and Triston Casas (Red Sox) are on the roster, as is former top prospect Bubba Starling (Royals).
Baseball is an Olympic sport again for the first time since 2008, when South Korea took gold, Cuba finished second and the United States finished third. In total, it's been an Olympic event five times with Cuba winning three times and the United States taking gold once in 2000.
While the sport returns for this year's Games in Tokyo, it will not be in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, so this will be the last time we see baseball in the Olympics for the foreseeable future.
