Dodgers, Braves, Nationals, Mets All See NL Pennant Odds Get Worse After 60-Game Season Finalized
- Following the MLB announcement of a 60-game season for 2020, the top four favorites to win the NL pennant have all seen their odds grow longer
- Which of these teams is a better bet at these longer betting lines?
- Examinaton of the changes in the odds and advice on how to react to the changes follows in the ensuing story
Teams haven’t even begun to play games in pursuit of the NL Pennant. Yet several ballclubs have already seen the likelihood of them winning the pennant worsen.
Since MLB announced a 60-game season for 2020, the top four favorites to win the NL Pennant have all seen their odds grow longer. The Los Angeles Dodgers jumped from +140 to +150. Defending NL East champs the Atlanta Braves saw their odds lengthen from +650 to +725.
The betting line on the defending World Series champion Washington Nationals went from +838 to +900. Meanwhile, the New York Mets climbed from +925 to +983 in this betting market.
Which of these teams just became a better bet in the 2020 NL Pennant odds? Who among them is probably at a more realistic betting line?
2020 NL Pennant Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +150 |
| Atlanta Braves | +725 |
| Washington Nationals | +900 |
| New York Mets | +983 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +1100 |
| Chicago Cubs | +1200 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +1200 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1600 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +2233 |
| San Diego Padres | +2300 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +2833 |
| San Francisco Giants | +7500 |
| Colorado Rockies | +8867 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +14167 |
| Miami Marlins | +21667 |
Odds taken June 26th.
Opening day for the 2020 MLB season will either be July 23rd or 24th.
Should Dodgers Be Blue?
If the 2020 Dodgers perform like the 2019 Dodgers, then there’s little to be concerned about in Chavez Ravine. If they start like the 2018 Dodgers, it might be time to prime the panic button.
After 60 games last season, the Dodgers were 41-19. They clinched the NL West title on Sept. 10th, the earliest date in franchise history.
WE. ARE. BACK. pic.twitter.com/702QK1iodW
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 24, 2020
However, in 2018, an early-season injury to shortstop Corey Seager helped grease the skids for a 16-26 start. LA went 76-45 the rest of the way to win the division title and eventually, a second successive NL Pennant.
There’s no rebounding from a slow start during a 60-game season.
Braves New World
Atlanta has won successive NL East crowns. However, baseball analytics site FanGraphs isn’t anticipating a threepeat.
The Braves are projected to finish second in the NL East. They’re given a 52.7% chance of making the playoffs. That’s fourth-best among NL teams.
And it goes a little something like this… pic.twitter.com/EYuDrn1WMC
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 26, 2020
However, the shortened season should help Cole Hamels and Felix Hernandez, the older arms in their rotation. But Atlanta’s bullpen was a tire fire last season.
Nationals Face Repeating Curse
Two things to know about the Nationals. Firstly, they began last season 19-31. Do that again and Washington can forget about the postseason.
"I'm an avid Washington Nationals fan so I thought I would break up this a little bit by putting on my Washington Nationals face mask," Fauci says during a congressional hearing when asked about why he switched out his face mask to a new one. pic.twitter.com/QwTTvOoSX5
— Clare Foran (@ckmarie) June 23, 2020
Secondly, since 1997 just two teams have won consecutive NL Pennants – the 2017-18 Dodgers and the 2008-09 Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies were the last defending NL World Series winner to return to the Fall Classic.
Not Yet Mets
Not many teams will go into the season minus a key part but the Mets are one of those teams. Pitcher Noah Syndergaard underwent Tommy John surgery in March.
BREAKING: The New York Mets have announced that out of an abundance of caution with the coronavirus, they will not be playing in the playoffs this year. Nor will they for years to come, even after the virus is cured. Just to be safe.
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) June 24, 2020
Yoenis Cespedes will be back and figures to be their DH. But they’re the Mets. They’ll find a way to screw things up.
Put Your Money On . . .
The Dodgers. Especially now that they’re at a better price.
LA is the best team in the NL, whether the season lasts 60 or 162 games. And to the deep Dodgers roster they added 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts and 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner David Price.
So close to seeing more of these guys in blue. pic.twitter.com/wP60cbhw1Z
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) June 26, 2020
If you insist on seeking more value, the St. Louis Cardinals (+1100) aren’t a bad play. And the San Diego Padres (+2300) are a solid longshot pick.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (+150).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
