2015 NL Pennant Race
Spring training is well under way in Florida and Arizona – baseball is officially back baby and so is the prognostication of what might happen in both the American and National Leagues.
MLB Lines & Matchup Insight
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The National League seems wide-open this year – a number of top teams made strides this past offseason to ensure that they remain contenders while a few teams that were on the outside looking in last year threw their names into the mix as well – namely the Cubs and the Padres.
So which teams are the best bets to represent the National League in the 2015 World Series? Let’s break it down.
2015 NL Pennant Race
Washington Nationals 13/4 – The Nationals would have been the pick to win the NL without the addition of Max Scherzer but with the addition their rotation looks as good as any in recent memory.
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The lineup looks solid too. Washington could win 100 games this year and once in the playoffs the pitching could certainly be the difference. Translation – the Nats look like a “No-duh” pick to me.
Los Angeles Dodgers 19/4 –The Dodgers issues in the playoffs in recent years has me a tad scared for this team this year. The loss of Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez could loom large this year. Add in the fact that the teams within their own Division significantly improved and the Dodgers look like a slightly dodgy bet (excuse the pun) to come out of the NL.
Chicago Cubs 6/1 – Ya, I get it – the Cubs should be a different team with Joe Maddon guiding the ship and with John Lester anchoring the rotation. But the Cubs are still the Cubs. They have the Cards, the Reds and the Pirates to get by within their own Division and still look to me like they are a year or two away from being a real threat.
San Diego Padres 13/2 – The Padres were the busiest club in the Bigs in the offseason. In are Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, James Shields, Wil Meyers, Will Middlebrooks, Josh Johnson, Brandon Morrow and Derek Norris – quite a makeover! The Padres will be a sexy pick to emerge this year – the rotation scares me though as does the defense behind the average looking pitching.
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St. Louis Cardinals 13/2 – no shame in picking the Cardinals this year – they always seem to be in the mix. They are deep in both their rotation and their starting lineup and they are perhaps the best organization overall in the Bigs. The addition of Jason Heyward should do wonders for the offense and Adam Wainright and Michael Wacha form a terrific one-two punch in the rotation. Injuries could be an issue for this team however but betting against them to make the playoffs seems crazy.
San Francisco Giants 9/1 – Hunter Pence broke his arm already, Pablo Sandoval is gone and Michael Morse has also made his way out of town – some key pieces are gone from what looked to be the most cohesive unit in the NL last year. In a Division that saw the Padres and the Dodgers get better it is hard to see just how the Giants improved this past offseason. The rotation outside of Madison Bumgarner is a huge question mark – older players and injuries threaten to derail the defending champs this year.
New York Mets 14/1 – Perennial underachievers seem to have sucked Vegas in a bit here!
Pittsburgh Pirates 14/1 – The Pirates may be the best value on the board right now! They are talented, deep, smart and tremendous defensively – all the recipes for a successful year.
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The Pirates have quietly averaged 91 wins the last couple of seasons and could do better this year. Once in the playoffs anything could happen!
Miami Marlins 16/1
Atlanta Braves 28/1
Cincinnati Reds 28/1
Milwaukee Brewers 33/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 50/1
Colorado Rockies 75/1
Philadelphia Phillies 75/1
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