2021 National League Pennant Odds: Dodgers Favored to Repeat

In the shortened 2020 MLB season, the Los Angeles Dodgers showed why they were the team to beat, posting the best record in MLB before winning the NL pennant and ultimately the World Series. The reigning champions head into the 2021 campaign as the betting favorites in the odds to win the National League.

Online sportsbook BetUS has the odds to win the National League with the Dodgers as the chalk at +150 followed by San Diego at +400, Atlanta at +500, New York at +500 and St. Louis at +1200 to round out the top five teams on the oddsboard.

Los Angeles’ +150 odds to win the National League mean that a $100 bet on the Dodgers would profit you $150. Additionally, our sports betting calculator tells us that the Dodgers’ odds represent an implied win probability of 40.00 percent.

2021 Odds to Win the National League

Odds as of March 23 at BetUS

Here’s a look at the odds to win the American League.

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Why is LA Favored in the Odds to Win the National League?

It was clear from the first time we heard “Play ball!” last season that Los Angeles was in a league of its own. A blistering 43-17 regular-season record and a +136 run differential just touch on how dominant this club was. But the past is the past, though what’s more concerning for the NL West and the National League as a whole is that this team has improved since last year.

Not only do the Dodgers get a bump in the rotation with David Price inserted after opting out of the 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they also went out and signed 2020 NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. How about this rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler, David Price and Julio Urias? With those arms, one run from the offense might suffice on many a night. Two of those starters, Bauer and Buehler, are listed in the top five in NL Cy Young odds.

Firepower in the Lineup

If you thought the rotation was elite, the batting lineup would make any opposing starter consider calling in sick for the day. Looking at NL MVP odds, there are three Dodgers listed in the top 10, including the top two favorites, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, respectively. Add in the likes of Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Max Muncy and Gavin Lux and there are no easy outs for the opposition.

While betting on the favorite in a futures bet doesn’t seem worthwhile, especially with such short odds as +150, it’s extremely difficult to see the Dodgers not repeating as NL pennant winners.

NL Pennant Odds: Sleeper Pick

The National League is setting up to be a wildly competitive league, especially the duel in the NL West between the Dodgers and Padres, and it’s anyone’s guess who survives the NL East. So, avoiding those two divisions for a sleeper pick to win the NL pennant leaves me with the NL Central and the St. Louis Cardinals at +1200.

I was confident in the Cards to win the NL Central in 2020 but a bout with the coronavirus threw a wrench in the plans as they finished second, three games back of the Cubs. Their biggest offseason acquisition was longtime Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado to help bolster an already stout lineup.

The rotation is the biggest question mark. Jack Flaherty is the ace of the staff but is coming off a bit of a down year with a 4.91 ERA, his worst since he made his big-league debut in 2017. Kwang Hyun Kim made his debut with St. Louis and was extremely effective with a 1.62 ERA over eight appearances.

Rotation Concerns

It is the back end with Miles Mikolas, Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez that gives me pause. When they are rolling, they can beat anyone, but when they are out of sorts, it can get ugly quickly.

I wouldn’t be betting the house on this sleeper pick, especially since I don’t think fading the Dodgers is the best decision. That said, St. Louis has all the tools to be very competitive, particularly in a weaker NL Central Division where wins should be plentiful.