2012 NL East Odds to Win
(The Spread) – For the past five years the Philadelphia Phillies have won the National League East Division and the odds are in their favor to do it again in 2012.
Oddsmakers currently list the Phillies as –225 money line favorites to win the MLB’s NL East Division this season. The Atlanta Braves have the next best odds at +400, while the Miami Marlins are +600 and the Washington Nationals are +750. The New York Mets are the division’s long shots at +5000.
METS: It’s no wonder the Mets are the long shots to win the division this year after losing shortstop Jose Reyes to the Marlins. New York will welcome back starting pitcher Johan Santana after he missed all of 2011 after undergoing shoulder surgery, and the new outfielder dimensions should help hitters David Wright and Jason Bay. But even if those three players have a resurgence, the Mets will have trouble competing against their NL East counterparts.
NATIONALS: Hope has been slowly building for the fans in D.C. and if both Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are on the opening day roster, the Nats have plenty to look forward to in the upcoming years. The additions of Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson will go a long way in improving the starting rotation and now that Ryan Zimmerman’s contract situation has been settled, the Nations shouldn’t have any off-field distractions. That said, do they have enough to compete in a pretty competitive division? Time will only tell.
MARLINS: That buzz you may be hearing is likely coming from Miami, Florida. The marlins have a new name, a new stadium, a new logo, a new manager and a couple of new players to boot. They signed Jose Reyes to pair with Hanley Ramirez, who reluctantly will be moving to third base to make room for the club’s new shortstop. The Marlins also added one of the top closers in baseball in Heath Bell and are hoping for big things out of outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. If Ozzie Guillen can bring this team together and keep players like Reyes and Ramirez focused, the Marlins are going to compete in 2012.
BRAVES: Atlanta’s collapse in the final weeks of the 2011 season was heartbreaking for the Braves, but this is a team that can definitely compete with the Phillies and the Marlins in the division. The starting pitching is rock solid, led by Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens. The bullpen also features 2011 NL Rookie of the Year Craig Kimbrel, who also joins 21-year-old Arodys Vizcaino, Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty. If Jason Heyward can bounce back from his rough sophomore season, the Braves will challenge for the top spot in the East this season.
PHILLIES: The Phillies have won 384 games in the last four seasons, which ties them with the Yankees for the most in Major League Baseball over that span. But age is starting to catch up with them and Ryan Howard’s Achilles tendon injury is a major concern. Howard, Carlos Ruiz, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Placido Polanco are all 30 or over, while Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee aren’t spring chickens either. That said, if Howard can bounce back quickly and the rest of the lineup stays healthy, the Phillies are as good as any team in the league. Halladay, Lee and Cole Hamels form the best 1-2-3 punch in baseball and having Hunter Pence for a full season will also help the offense. This is still the team to beat in the NL East.
2012 NL East Division Odds to Win
Atlanta Braves +400
Miami Marlins +600
New York Mets +5000
Philadelphia Phillies –225
Washington Nationals +750
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