Phillies’ NL Pennant Odds Continue to Worsen After Losing 5 of Last 10

• The Philadelphia Phillies have lost five of 10 games and no longer sit in top spot in the NL East
• The Atlanta Braves have won seven straight games and have one of baseball’s best young pitchers in Mike Soroka
• The Chicago Cubs have a +67 run differential, which is second best in the National League
  

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After losing five of their last 10 games the Phillies are in big trouble, and oddsmakers have taken notice. Philadelphia’s NL Pennant Odds have lengthened from +490 on June 3rd to +560 as of June 13th.

2019 National League Pennant Odds

*Odds taken 06/13/19

With their recent form being as bad as it is I’m not comfortable betting on the Phillies. The odds just don’t match the production and a lot of that is because the hype train that started with the signing of Bryce Harper. With Philadelphia pushed aside and the Dodgers offering little to no value, there are two teams a little farther down the board that have my attention.

https://twitter.com/AllStarGame/status/1139271415721594881

Braves the Best Team in the NL East

With a seven game win streak and an 8-2 record over their last 10, the Atlanta Braves are now in top spot in the NL East, 1.5 games clear of the Phillies. They are one of only four teams in baseball with 20 wins both at home and on the road. They also happen to have superstar youngsters energizing the roster both on the mound and in the field.

2019 NL ERA Leaders

Hyun-Jin Ryu (1.36)
Mike Soroka (1.92)
Luis Castillo (2.20)
Zach Davies (2.41)

All Leaders: https://t.co/eMwT8a0amK

— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) June 13, 2019

21 year old Mike Soroka has emerged as an elite ace atop the Braves’ rotation. He’s 7-1 and owns the second best ERA in the majors at 1.92. Adding Soroka to a roster that already included Ronald Acuna Jr. is making for exciting times in Atlanta. Acuna Jr. has 15 home runs and nine steals already and should continue to improve as his second season continues.

Could Cubs Turn Back the Clock?

The 2016 World Series champs are rounding into form and could be a real threat in the National League. They are currently half a game back in the NL Central and while they may not necessarily be deep down the board, they’re still paying +700 which is an enticing price.

.@javy23baez launched a 460 ft no-doubter.

The @Cubs have now hit 5 HR of 460+ ft this season. They hit 1 HR that far in 2018. pic.twitter.com/lehzaw4MTE

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 12, 2019

They have a +67 run differential which is second best in the NL and 47 runs better than the Phillies as a point of comparison. With Javier Baez playing at an MVP level and the pitching staff catching up to speed, the Cubs are definitely worthy of not only a look with this bet but maybe a World Series wager as well.