2020 National League Pennant Odds, 1/9/20 Dodgers Favored at 5/2

2020 NL Pennant Odds to Win

The betting odds were released for the 2020 National League pennant a few months ago but after a busy offseason in Major League Baseball, how do oddsmakers view the current odds in the N.L.?

The Favorite

According to oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com, the Dodgers are favored to win the National League pennant at 5/2 odds. L.A. was knocked out of the postseason last year by the eventual World Series champion Nationals in the Divisional round and despite being linked to a lot of high-profile free agents and trade candidates, the Dodgers were quiet this offseason. In fact, the Dodgers lost a key piece of their team last year when starter Hyun-Jin Ryu signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Blue Jays. That said, with Joc Pederson, Max Muncy, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger hitting atop their lineup, as well as a full season of young catcher Will Smith, the Dodgers will be a formidable foe was again this season.

Next Best

The Braves have the next-best odds to win the National League pennant at 5/1. While Atlanta could lose third baseman Josh Donaldson in free agency (he’s still available as of this writing), the Braves return Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman to a team that won the NL East a year ago. Cole Hamels also joined the starting rotation after pitching well for the Cubs over the past two seasons, while the team hopes for another step in the development of fellow starters Mike Soroka, Mike Foltynewvicz and Sean Newcomb.

Other Contenders

The Phillies are 7/1 to win the 2020 National League pennant, followed by the Cardinals and defending champs the Nationals at 8/1, respectively. The Mets also have 10/1 odds to win the pennant this upcoming season. The Phillies return a heart of the order of J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper an d Rhys Hoskins, plus added Didi Gregorius in free agency. They didn’t stop at Gregorius either, as they handed a big contract to free agent Zack Wheeler, whom they faced plenty when he was with the Mets. Wheeler joins a rotation headlined by Aaron Nola.

As for the Cardinals, they have been one of the quietest teams in baseball but they continue to be linked to Nolan Arenado in trade talks. They desperately need to improve an offense that put together one of the worst series in NLCS history last year and also is set to lose cleanup hitter Marcell Ozuna. The Nationals, meanwhile, return Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick, Adam Eaton and Trea Turner to their offense, as well as Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin after that trio led them to a World Series title last season.

Mid-Range Long Shots

The Cubs, Reds and Brewers are all 15/1 to win the N.L. pennant, followed by the Padres at 20/1 and the Rockies at 45/1. If Colorado winds up trading Arenado, the Rockies’ odds will plummet. The most interesting team of this group is perhaps Cincinnati, which signed Shogo Akiyama from the Japan league and also inked free agent Mike Moustakas to a deal to play second base. Another year of Aristides Aquino makes this already intriguing offense that much more potent, while the starting rotation features Luis Castillo, Trevor Bauer and Sonny Gray, as well as newcomer Wade Miley.

Tanking/Rebuilding/No Way in Hell

The Pirates are 75/1, followed by the Giants at 150/1 and the Marlins at 500/1. San Francisco needs to rebuild after winning three World Series titles last decade and should be highly improved by 2022 thanks to new GM Farhan Zaidi. The Pirates, meanwhile, are starting over with a new GM and a new manager while nobody knows what the hell the Marlins are doing in Miami.