The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox are loaded with talent and two of the top betting World Series contenders entering the season. But the team that was the best in 2020 and the team that had the best offseason in preparation for the 2021 season are both in the National League.
The league is loaded, and it is where we are going to find the best division races for the upcoming MLB season.
NL East Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New York Mets | +125 |
| Atlanta Braves | +125 |
| Washington Nationals | +550 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +800 |
| Miami Marlins | +1700 |
You could make a good argument for any of these five teams, but in the end, it is likely to come down to the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
The Mets made the biggest acquisition in the division by trading for Francisco Lindor, which also netted them Carlos Carrasco. He joins a great rotation that will have Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman back in 2021 and is led by Jacob deGrom, the current online betting favorite to win the Cy Young.
The Braves have won the division three straight years, so until they give up that title for a season, they have to be looked at as the favorites. Atlanta has an incredible lineup, paced by Ronald Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna, and they’ve now added depth to the rotation.
NL Central
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals | +150 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +235 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +335 |
| Chicago Cubs | +350 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +7500 |
With Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright still in St. Louis, this will look a lot like the Cardinals team that we’ve always known and which always seems to be in the mix for the playoffs. But with the trade for the best third baseman in baseball in Nolan Arenado, this is hardly a Cardinals team willing to rely on its past.
Adding Arenado to an infield that already has Paul Goldschmidt at first base gives the Cardinals the best corner infield duo in baseball.
The Reds have a great bullpen and one of the best closers in baseball, but they lost their ace in Trevor Bauer. The Brewers will continue to roll out a great bullpen, but they need Christian Yelich to return to his MVP form of 2018 and 2019.
Yu Darvish is gone in Chicago, and the championship window that was thrown open in 2015 may be closing soon.
NL West
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -300 |
| San Diego Padres | +200 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +4500 |
| San Francisco Giants | +5000 |
| Colorado Rockies | +6600 |
The Dodgers are the team to beat in all of baseball, not just in the NL West. The addition of Bauer to what is already considered the best team makes them nearly unbeatable.
According to online bookmakers, the two favorites to win the NL MVP are Dodgers Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts, and the second most likely Cy Young winner is Bauer.
The Padres, however, aren’t going away quietly. Darvish and Blake Snell have been added to the rotation, and they now have a pair of $300 million players in their infield with Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Tatis is as exciting as any player in the league, and the matchups between Tatis and Bauer will be must-see TV.
