Nationals Keep Climbing in NL Pennant Odds; Improve to +730 During 5-Game Win Streak

• The Nationals average NL pennant odds are down from +940 to +730
• Washington has been the best team in baseball since late May
• Is there value betting on the Nats to make the World Series?

The Washington Nationals are looking more and more like a team you don’t want to face in the playoffs. The NL Wild Card leaders have played incredible baseball since late May and online sportsbooks have definitely taken notice.

2019 National League Pennant Odds

*Odds taken 08/27/19

The Nationals’ have the third shortest average NL Pennant odds, behind only the Dodgers and Braves, and have all the ingredients of a team that could pull off multiple upsets in this year’s postseason.

The Best Team in Baseball Since May

Washington has won five straight and is fresh off its first sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 14 years. They’ve won 12 of their last 14, outscoring their opponents by a whopping 63 runs over that stretch.

• 4 in a row
• 6 of 7
• 11 of 13
• 53 of 79

(We’re averaging 9.7 runs/game over our last 10 games.)#STAYINTHEFIGHT // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/UeooQhTDjs

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 24, 2019

The Nats are 54-26 since May 24th, and if not for a disappointing first few weeks of the season, they’d be on pace to easily eclipse 100 wins. They have an incredibly balanced lineup that features nine players with double digit home runs, and no NL team is better at getting on base.

We’ve scored 74 times in our last 7 games.

We’re a baseball team.

FINAL // #Nats 11, Pirates 1 pic.twitter.com/9JReHyJT02

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 22, 2019

Washington leads the league in on base percentage and steals, and ranks second in team batting average. Anthony Redon is a legit MVP candidate and as dominant as their offense is, the starting rotation is just as impressive.

The Deepest Staff in the NL

Name me a better starting four than Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin and Sanchez. I’ll wait.

The Nats starting rotation is capable of shutting down any lineup in baseball, and there’s no other pitcher you’d rather have in a one game Wild Card playoff than Max Scherzer.

WALK THE PLANK! Max Scherzer makes his return as the #Nats beat the Pirates 7-1 and clinch the series! pic.twitter.com/y3sFCCYg18

— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) August 23, 2019

What makes Washington such a compelling pick to make a deep playoff run is that they’re perfectly equipped to transition seamlessly from the Wild Card game into the NLDS.

They likely won’t catch the Braves in the NL East, but if Scherzer dispatches the second Wild Card team, Washington can trot out Strasburg and Corbin in Games 1 and 2 against the Dodgers, before Mad Max is ready to roll again in Game 3.

That trio can cause nightmares for LA, and even if they do manage to produce offensively, the Nats are more than capable of matching the Dodgers potent offense.

Ride the Nationals’ Momentum

Washington’s stellar play is clearly not a fluke, and we should be thrilled to get them at nearly 50% longer odds than Atlanta to win the pennant. They’ve been baseball’s best team for over three months and they have the offense and pitching to upset any of the NL’s top teams.

Stephen Strasburg’s 9th K of the day is his 200th of 2019.

It’s the third time in his career he’s hit the 200-strikeout mark.#Strasmas // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/aRUMRDgb2Y

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 25, 2019

If you want to pour a bit of cold water on them, they’re bullpen has performed below expectation as has been the case the past few seasons, but no team is without its warts.

I can overlook a shaky pen with that team’s starting rotation features three aces, and right now the Nationals look like the most dangerous team in the NL.