MLB: NL Central Preview
The
NL Central is the only division with
six teams, and each one is a proud
franchise with good fans. Chicago and
Milwaukee are clearly at the top of
the heap but you can’t forget
about Cincinnati, St. Louis or Houston.
Check out all the future odds at Sportsbook.com
and figure out who you like the best.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago is 5:6 to win the NL Central,
7:2 to win the National League, and 8:1
to win the World Series. Their Over/Under
win total is 87.5 games.
The Cubs
haven’t won the World
Series since 1908, but fans in the Windy
City are optimistic after watching the
White Sox and Red Sox both break their
jinxes in recent seasons.
Part of the optimism is due to a down
year in the division. The other part
is that the Cubs are fielding a very
competitive team. The offense is bolstered
by the addition of Japanese star, Kosuke
Fukudome and the pitching staff is underrated
and good enough to win a pennant.
If the
players can withstand the immense pressure
to win a title, then it could finally
be the Cubbies’ turn to
shine.
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Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee is 9:4 to win the NL Central,
6:1 to win the National League, and 20:1
to win the World Series. Their Over/Under
win total is 85.5 games.
Milwaukee is still comprised of a lot
of unknown players but there is a lot
of talent on this squad, especially in
the batting lineup.
Ryan Braun
moves from third base to left field
and manager Ned Yost hopes the move
doesn’t affect his bat.
Bill Hall is now at the hot corner and
Mike Cameron will be at center once his
league suspension ends. The Brewers would
love for ace Ben Sheets to stay healthy
all year as that would away some of the
pressure from Jeff Suppan and Yovani
Gallardo.
If new closer, Eric Gagne can pitch
like he did in Texas last year and not
Boston, then the Brewers are a great
team to consider for the division and
the pennant.
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati is 7:1 to win the NL Central,
20:1 to win the National League, and
60:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under
win total is 77.5 games.
The next tier down in the NL Central
has Cincinnati lumped in with St. Louis
and Houston. Each of these teams has
similar odds and expectations.
Cincinnati
hit the third most homers in MLB last
year although that only translated
into 14th in runs scored. They must
do a better job manufacturing runs
in other ways. The starting pitching
is a big question mark after Aaron
Harang as Bronson Arroyo has been inconsistent,
and there’s
a lot of youth behind them.
If the
kids pan out along with newly acquired
closer, Francisco Cordero, then things
could be interesting in the ‘Queen
City’.
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis is 8:1 to win the NL Central,
30:1 to win the National League, and
75:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under
win total is 76 games.
St. Louis won the World Series just
two years ago, but they have fallen back
to the pack as their roster has slowly
eroded.
Gone are
Cardinals’ legends Scott
Rolen, Jim Edmonds and David Eckstein
and they can’t count on last year’s
mediocre offense to improve. The starting
rotation is also in shambles with Chris
Carpenter not expected until the All-Star
break and other major health concerns
with Mark Mulder and Matt Clement.
From the looks of things now, the 8:1
odds to win the division seem optimistic.
Houston Astros
Houston is 11:1 to win the NL Central,
30:1 to win the National League, and
75:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under
win total is 76.5 games.
Houston
won 89 games in 2006, 82 in 2006 and
just 73 last year. That’s
not exactly the trend you’re looking
for as a fan.
The Astros
did add Miguel Tejada to the middle
of a lineup with Carlos Lee and Lance
Berkman, and there’s
some excitement at the top with Michael
Bourn and Kaz Matsui. The Astros will
need that extra run production with a
starting staff that is unreliable with
the exception of Roy Oswalt.
If the
pitching can somehow hold together,
Houston can break their Over/Under win
total of 76.5 wins, but that’s
a big if.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh is 25:1 to win the NL Central,
50:1 to win the National League, and
70.5 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under
win total is 70.5 games.
The Pirates
franchise has had some great moments
in their history, but the stark reality
is they haven’t had a winning
season since 1992.
The offense
finished 23rd in MLB in runs scored
last year, but that could improve if
Jason Bay can return to his 2005-2006
form when he had 33 homers and 105
RBI’s. The starting pitching
didn’t fare any better last season
although there‘s plenty of young
talent starting with Tom Gorzelanny and
Ian Snell.
While it’s
tempting to say this franchise is improving,
they must show it on the field first
to warrant that optimism.
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