Nationals’ World Series Odds Improve to +425 After Advancing to NLCS; Cardinals Listed at +450
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Updated: April 14, 2020 at 11:10 am EDTPublished:
- Oddsmakers list the Washington Nationals at +425 odds to win the 2019 World Series
- As recently as October 5th, Washington’s average odds were +863
- Are the Nats’ a good value bet ahead of the 2019 NLCS against the Cardinals?
The last time the Washington Nationals were in the NLCS, it was 1981 and the franchise was still known as the Montreal Expos.
The last time a team from Washington won the World Series, it was in 1924. Walter Johnson pitched the Senators to victory over the New York Giants.
Might it be time for a Fall Classic celebration in the US capital? The odds of that happening are getting better and better.
Oddsmakers list the Nationals at +425 in their 2019 World Series odds after Washington’s epic three-run comeback over the Dodgers last night in the NLDS.
2019 World Series Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Houston Astros | +175 |
| New York Yankees | +200 |
| Washington Nationals | +425 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +450 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +2000 |
*Odds taken on 10/10/19.
Those are the shortest odds offered on Washington all season long.
Nationals Dodge Elimination
Could this finally be the year that the Nationals live up to their promise? Washington won four NL East Division titles between 2012-17 but lost in the NLDS in every one of those seasons.
This season, as a Wild Card team, the Nats have moved the deepest into the playoffs by the franchise since 1981 when they were still the Montreal Expos. The ’81 Expos lost in the decisive fifth game of the NLCS on a late-inning solo home run by Rick Monday of the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit off of Expos ace Steve Rogers.
This time around, it was the Nationals who victimized the Dodgers’ ace for late-inning homers in Game 5 of the NLDS. Eighth-inning solo homers on consecutive pitches by Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto off three-time Cy Young Award-winner Clayton Kershaw pulled Washington into a 3-3 tie.
In the 10th inning, Washington’s Howie Kendrick crushed a grand slam off LA reliever Joe Kelly for a 7-3 victory.
DC Movers and Shakers
A team known historically for failing in the clutch, the 2019 Nationals are turning into the cardiac kids of the 2019 MLB postseason.
In fact, Washington was counted out long before any team was being counted into the postseason reckoning.
The @nationals got that bubbly.
they got that bubbly.
THEY GOT THAT BUBBLY.
THEY GOT THAT BUBBLY. pic.twitter.com/jyR02JY5nW
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 10, 2019
The Nats opened the season 19-31. They posted the best record in the NL (74-38) over the remaining 102 games to finish 93-69, and earn the first of two NL Wild Card playoff spots.
In the Wild Card Game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Washington was also down 3-1 in the eighth inning.
But the Nats also produced an epic comeback that night, rallying for a 4-3 triumph.
Odds Were Against This
Washington opened the 2019 MLB season at average odds of +1700 to win the World Series. Former NL MVP Bryce Harper had bolted the team in free agency for the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, casting doubts on their 2019 prospects.
February 2019: Bryce Harper leaves Washington, signs 13-year deal with Phillies
October 2019: Phillies miss playoffs finishing 4th place in NL East, Nationals advance to first ever NLCS
Who saw this coming? 🍿 pic.twitter.com/s5I0LttOA3
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 10, 2019
By May 26th, as it appeared doubters would be proven correct. Washington’s World Series odds grew to a season-worst +5000. Steadily, as the Nats turned their season around, the odds kept improving along with the team’s play.
For the first time in franchise history, the #Nats are headed to the NLCS!#CLINCHED // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/KoQRZjdC0W
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 10, 2019
On June 27th, they were are +3300, and then to +2800 on July 6th. By August 23rd, Washington had moved into the top-seven contenders at +1700. The Nationals improved all the way to +1100 following their Wild Card win over the Brewers.
Is the NLCS in the Cards?
The St. Louis Cardinals won’t be pushovers in the NLCS. St. Louis has a habit of winning in the playoffs when it’s least expected.
yes!!!!!!!! lets go @Nationals !!!! c u back in DC ))))) pic.twitter.com/3S3voxGBuP
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) October 10, 2019
The favorites went down in both NLDS Game 5 scenarios. If the 107-win Houston Astros fail to survive their ALDS Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays, suddenly Washington is the team with the best starting pitching rotation still standing in the postseason.
How do you not like a ballclub that can throw Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, and Anibal Sanchez in consecutive starts during a playoff series?
Find a new slant.
The @Nationals have won a #postseason series. pic.twitter.com/B1oE9ZPfcr
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2019
The Nats should beat the Cardinals and put a team from Washington in the World Series for the first time since 1933. If the Astros get bumped off, the Nationals are certainly worth a look to win it all.
But hopefully, you got action on them when they were +5000 to win the World Series.
Sports Writer
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.
