Updated 2013 NL Pennant Odds
(The Spread) – With the Reds set to take on the Pirates tonight for the NL Wild Card title, let’s take a look at the updated 2013 National League Pennant odds.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Dodgers are 7/5 favorites to win the 2013 National League Pennant while the Cardinals have the next-best odds at 11/4. The Braves, meanwhile, are 13/4 to win this year’s pennant, while the Reds and Pirates are both 7/1, respectively.
Los Angeles has the best 1-2 punch in the National League with Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke at the top of their rotation. Kershaw finished with the best ERA in the National League at 1.83, while Greinke had the fourth-best ERA in the NL at 2.27. The Dodgers also boast a dangerous offense that features Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Either, among others. That said, the Dodgers were delivered a blow when they had to shut down centerfielder Matt Kemp due to an ankle injury.
St. Louis quietly put together the best record in the National League thanks in large part to a rotation that features ace Adam Wainwright, and an offense that boasts versatility thanks to Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina and Carlos Beltran. Losing Allen Craig to a foot injury in early September was devastating, but rookie Matt Adams has stepped up over the past month and has given the Cardinals plenty of power at first base. In fact, the Cardinals have had to rely on 20 rookies over the course of the season and they still finished first in the National League Central.
As for Atlanta, the Braves Chris Johnson led the team with a .321 batting average while Justin Upton hit 27 home runs and Freddie Freeman drove in 109 runs this year. Freeman also led the team with a .396 on-base percentage and collected 176 hits. Their pitching staff also boasts a 15-game winner in Kris Medlen (3.11 ERA), while Mike Minor racked up 181 strikeouts and Craig Kimbrel has shut down teams in the ninth while collecting 50 saves.
The Pirates and Reds both have their warts but either of them could give the Cardinals fits in the first round. St. Louis didn’t have much success at PNC Park this year and Cincinnati might have the best talent of any of the three NL Central playoff teams, but the Reds have underachieved all season.
2013 National League Pennant Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers 7/5
St. Louis Cardinals 11/4
Atlanta Braves 13/4
Cincinnati Reds 7/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 7/1
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