– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:48 pm
MLB Baseball Futures Odds – 2017 NL Central Predictions
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NL Central Predictions & Handicapping Insight
Once again, the National League Central should be one of the most exciting divisions in baseball. Although the Cubs are the clear cut favorites, is their road really going to be that easy to repeat, or will someone come in and pull the huge upset.
Let’s take a look at every team and their chances to win the National League Central Division crown
Chicago Cubs NL Central Predictions
Cubs Division Odds: -500
Cubs Win Total Odds: 95.5
The Cubs are the biggest favorites in any division in baseball and it should be no surprise.
The Cubs come into this season with some new hardwood, a World Series championship trophy, and they basically have the same team coming back.
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They have two of the most exciting young players in baseball in Kris Bryant, and Anthony Rizzo, and they have a ton of other talent around them in the line up.
Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta bolster a pitching staff that is the best in the National League, and maybe all of baseball. Up and down you look at the line up and the pitching staff and you can’t really find a weakness.
The only thing that concerns me about this team is the World Series hangover. Although that really shouldn’t be a problem because of all the talent on this team, they still need to find a way to come motivated to play every game.
St. Louis Cardinals NL Central Predictions
Cardinals Division Odds: +550
Cardinals Win Total Odds: 83.5
The biggest problems for the Cardinals last year was injuries. It seemed once one guy got healthy again another guy got injured.
The Cardinals come into this season with everyone healed up and that will decide if they are able to compete for the division crown this year. If they stay healthy they have a fighting chance, if they can’t they won’t have any shot to catch the Cubs.
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To have success this year the Cardinals need to get better results out of their pitching staff. They have relatively the same rotation as last year.
The ace of this staff is Adam Wainwright. Last year he had an ERA over 4 percent. If he has an ERA that high again, and he can’t get strikes you can also forget this team competing for a crown.
So is this team going to win the NL Central? I really don’t think so. The Cubs are too good and the Cardinals just don’t stack up well enough talent wise.
I do however think this team will finish with one of the wild card spots, and I could see this team making a run when the playoffs started.
Pittsburgh Pirates NL Central Predictions
Pirates Division Odds: +850
Pirates Win Total Odds: 82.5
After making themselves a main stay in the playoffs as of late, the Pittsburgh Pirates missed the playoffs last year, and there really wasn’t a reason why.
They had largely the same that had made the playoffs the year before, and yet last years team really under performed and just couldn’t do enough to get the team rolling.
With largely the same players back, they are only getting older and I don’t think it’s going to be a fun season for the Pirates. I think they miss the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Cincinnati Reds NL Central Predictions
Reds Division Odds: +3300
Reds Win Total Odds: 70.5
This year for the Cincinnati Reds is all about the rebuild. This team still needs to get younger before they can get better so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team make a few trades at the deadline.
I think the Reds will really struggle all season and they will finish in 4th place in the division. I also think they will win less then 70 games.
Milwaukee Brewers NL Central Predictions
Brewers Division Odds: +3300
Brewers Win Total Odds: 69.5
The Brewers aren’t expected to be all that competitive in 2017.
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They like the Reds are in a full rebuild mode. I would think they will also be sellers at the trade deadline as they also will try to get younger.
I do like the Brewers offense though and think they could do really good at the plate, but their pitching staff will be their downfall.
What do you think of our 2017 NL Central predictions? More MLB divisions are also previewed. Comments are welcome below.
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