Odds To Win NL Pennant: Dodgers Remain Heavy Favorites

The end of the shortened regular season looms and the Los Angeles Dodgers lead National League pennant odds as the clear favorites to win their third NL title in four years.

Online sportsbook Bovada has the Dodgers as the +130 favorites to win the NL championship. They’re followed by the San Diego Padres at +450, the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs at +550, the Philadelphia Phillies at +1400, the St. Louis Cardinals at +1600, the Miami Marlins at +1800 and the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers at +2500 to round out the top teams on the oddsboard.

Here’s a look at the full list of odds to win the 2020 World Series.

Who Will Be The National League Champions?

Odds as of September 17 at Bovada

Here’s a look at the AL Pennant odds.

Why Are The Dodgers Favored?

At 35-15, the Dodgers have the best record in the majors and have already secured a berth in the postseason. They added all-star Mookie Betts in the offseason and all he’s doing is leading the team in all five of the major hitting categories. Not to mention he plays Gold Glove defense in right field and gives them a leadoff hitter who can steal bases too, just another stat he leads the team in.

Offensively, this squad is a juggernaut. Led by 25-year-old Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, Max Muncy and Corey Seager have helped the Dodgers to lead all of baseball in home runs with 93, eight more than the No. 2 team. The one noticeable change this season is in the rotation. There have been a lot of new faces with Julio Urias, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin combining for 24 starts. That said, with the offense as formidable as it is, and with an athletic defense that can make plays in the field, even if the rotation struggles, the team should be the NL favorite to appear in the World Series.

What Team Is Providing the Most Value?

There are a lot of talented clubs in the National League, but I’m going to go with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are currently in a playoff position, and if the season finished today, they would be facing the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are no slouch but have suffered injuries to their starting rotation, while the Reds boast a top three of Trevor Bauer, Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo. Bauer is having himself a year and is a legitimate candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.

The Reds have been one of the more confusing teams in baseball. The offense is loaded with hitters like Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez and offseason additions Nicholas Castellanos and Mike Moustakas. They are seventh in all of baseball in home runs but are dead last in batting average and 26th in runs scored.

In sports, if you make the playoffs, you have a legitimate chance of contending; all you have to do is get hot at the right moment. The Reds have not made the postseason since 2013 but have won five straight games and seven of their last nine. At +2500, the Reds seem like a long shot to contend for the NL pennant, but I would give them a good chance to upset a few teams and make a deep run.

For more betting information, check out our MLB Page.