Categories
MLB

2012 National League Betting Futures – MLB Baseball Odds

National League ‘Futures’ Odds

The start of Major League Baseball’s spring training is right around the corner making it the perfect time to take a look at which teams have the best chance to win this season’s National League Pennant and earn a trip to the 2012 World Series.

All odds quoted are provided by Cappers Picks top sportsbooks.

The Favorite

The Philadelphia Phillies pitched their way to a MLB-best 102-60 record last season behind Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hammels, but came up short against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Divisional Series with an early exit from the playoffs.

Given that the team has remained pretty much intact from last season, except for the loss of pitcher Roy Oswalt, it is little wonder that it is once again the odds-on-favorite to win the NL at +150.

The Phillies will start the season with a huge hole in the lineup as Ryan Howard recovers from an Achilles tendon injury, but hopes to be back by mid-May.

This team should once again win the NL East, but will need some consistent production from its bats to get all the way back to the World Series.

The Contenders

Last season, the Atlanta Braves could not keep pace down the stretch with the Phillies, but their 89 wins kept them in the wildcard race until the bitter end despite suffering some key injuries along the way. With no major losses in the lineup and the addition of a few young faces, especially rookie shortstop Tyler Pastornicky, the Braves appear ready to once again challenge for a spot in the postseason.

The Braves are currently one of the second-favorites at +700 to win the NL based primarily on their pitching. If they are going to have any chance at winning it all, they will need much better offensive production from players such as Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

The other second-favorite to win the NL at +700 is the San Francisco Giants, who won it all in 2010. The Giants took a major hit last season when All-Star catcher Buster Posey was lost for the year with a broken ankle.

They went on to win 86 games but ended-up eight games back in the NL West and four games back in the wildcard race.

The roster has been switched around a bit with the addition of Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Ryan Theriot, while parting ways with Carlos Beltran, Andres Torres, and Pat Burrell. Both Posey and Freddie Sanchez, who also missed a substantial amount of time due to injury, should be back for opening day.

The main plus for this team is that it still has one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors and should be back in the postseason this year as long as it can stay healthy.

The next three favorites at +900 are the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, the NL West Division champion Arizona Diamondbacks, and the 2010 NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds.

The Longshot

Last season’s NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers are included in a group of six teams at +1400. A couple of other moderate longshots in this group are the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Miami Marlins, but a team with the most value at these odds could be the Washington Nationals.

The Nationals finished a respectable third in the NL East last season at 80-81 with a solid mix of a couple of talented players and some young raw talent.

The return of pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who missed the bulk of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, immediately makes the Nationals’ pitching staff better as does the addition of starter Gio Gonzalez from Oakland and closer Brad Lidge, if he can return to his past form.

*** Updated Odds at Presstime ***

ODDS TO WIN 2012 NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT

Philadelphia Phillies 17/10
Atlanta Braves 7/1
San Francisco Giants 7/1
St Louis Cardinals 9/1
Cincinnati Reds 9/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 9/1
Milwaukee Brewers 14/1
Miami Marlins 14/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 14/1
Chicago Cubs 14/1
Washington Nationals 14/1
Colorado Rockies 18/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 40/1
New York Mets 40/1
Houston Astros 60/1
San Diego Padres 125/1

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR TOP BASEBALL CAPPERS FROM 2011 —–>

By Dave Schwab

David Schwab is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. While not cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles David can be found working on his blog at www.eaglesinc.com. David wants to hear from you so please comment below.