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2013 NL East Division Odds / Season Predictions + Win Total Lines

Handicapping MLB 2013 Division Odds – NL East

The 2013 MLB season is only a few weeks away. Spring Training action is going on right now, which means Opening Day is right around the corner. We’re taking a division-by-division look at betting odds and team by team season win totals.

Let’s take a look at the NL East.

Washington got to the top way ahead of schedule in the NL East. The Phillies were held back by major injury problems, while the Marlins and Mets had seasons to forget.

The Braves picked up 94 wins in another very successful season in Atlanta. This is a top heavy league. The top three teams are all very good, but the bottom two are horrible.

MLB 2013 Previews and Predictions- NL East

NL East Odds: Washington Nationals -120
Season Win Total: 92

As good as their pitching staff was last year, it looks even better as we start the 2013 season. Strasburg should pitch the entire year, and he will be winning some big awards in the near future. Gio Gonzalez is an excellent number two. Jordan Zimmerman could be a number one guy on a lot of teams. Dan Haren will be one of the best fourth starters in the majors. Even the bullpen got even better with the signing of Rafael Soriano. The Nationals have tons of great set up guys, so if they get a lead the bullpen will more than likely hang onto it.

Huge seasons from Adam Laroche and Ian Desmond allowed the offense to outperform expectations in 2012. I’m not sure those guys will hit the ball the way they did last year. Bryce Harper will just continue to get better. Juan Pierre is getting older, but he’s still a solid on-base percentage guy. Ryan Zimmerman is the most consistent hitter in this lineup, and he needs to stay healthy.

NL East Odds: Atlanta Braves +240
Season Win Total: 87.5

The Braves success in 2012 was overshadowed by the success of the Nationals, but this Braves team was very good. In the offseason, the Braves front office made several moves to try to put this team over the top in 2013. I like the move of bringing in Justin and B.J. Upton in the outfield. The brothers both have loads of talent, and them being in the same clubhouse should help maximize their production. Jason Heyward should be a big beneficiary of having more help around him. Freddie Freeman is poised for a breakout season at first base. The loss of Chipper Jones definitely hurts the Braves offense, but they should still be very good.

The rotation doesn’t have any single dominant pitcher, but they have more depth than just about anyone else in the league. Look for youngsters Julio Tehran and Brandon Beachy to have big years this year. Craig Kimbrel is putting up video game numbers at the closer spot, and the Braves bullpen should be awesome this year.

NL East Odds: Philadelphia Phillies +310
Season Win Total: 84

When a team has Halladay, Hamels, and Lee I don’t like to count them out at all. Philadelphia has an uphill battle, but if they stay healthy this team certainly has a chance in the AL East. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have been injured constantly of late, and they’ll have to produce a lot more this year. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

Losing Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence last year hurt this outfield quite a bit. Basically, the 2013 Phillies are a team with tons of potential if everything goes just right, but there are lots of warning signs that everything probably won’t fall right into place. This team could finish anywhere from first to third in the NL East.

NL East Odds: New York Mets +1,650

Season Win Total: 75

New York went 74-88 in 2012, which had to be disappointing since the team started so well. The Mets had an aging roster full of guys who were making too much money. In the offseason the Mets made a concerted effort to get younger and save some money. This means the Mets won’t be contending in the next couple years, but I do believe their financially-wise moves will pay off in the long run. David Wright and Johan Santana are essentially the only two veterans on this roster. Watch for Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler, two highly touted pitching prospects, to get a chance to show their stuff this year.

NL East Odds: Miami Marlins +6,500
Season Win Total: 63.5

When the Miami Marlins went on a spending spree prior to 2012, I’m pretty sure they expected a lot more than a 69-93 record. Miami was arguably the most disappointing team in baseball last year. Now, most of the guys that the Marlins signed right before last year are gone. Giancarlo Stanton is the 23 year old the team is putting its stock into, but he needs a lot more help than the team has for him right now. The pitching staff is full of a bunch of marginal starters who are battling for the top spot in this rotation. Miami is going to have a very long season.

NL East Prediction: Atlanta Braves (+240)

I really like what the Braves did in the offseason. Washington is a terrific team, but I expect the Braves to be neck and neck with them all year. Getting great value at +240, I’ll take the Braves to win the NL East.

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