The 2017 MLB regular season gets underway in just a couple of weeks with spring training in full gear and Bovada has set the MLB futures odds to win the National League Pennant for all 15 teams. The following is a closer look at where you can find the best value in the current numbers.
Top NL Favorite
The Chicago Cubs were finally able to put it all together last season in a very impressive run to a long-awaited World Series title. Given just how long it took this team to get there, you get the feeling that it would like to remain on top for a while as a solid +175 favorite to win the National League again in 2017. It would be hard to bet against the Cubs given the depth of talent on this team in every phase of the game. Chicago ended the regular season with the best record in baseball at 103-58 and it went on to beat both San Francisco and Los Angeles on its way to the NL Pennant.
This team remains basically intact from last year’s ball club so the big question is just how hungry will it be to repeat. If that hunger remains (which I think it will), the scary thing about the Cubs is that they could actually be better this season which is bad news for the other 14 teams in the NL.
Top NL Contender
Moving down Bovada list of NL futures, you have both Washington and Los Angeles next at +500 odds to win the pennant followed by San Francisco at +600 and New York at +800. St. Louis still remains in the contender category at +1100 betting odds.
When you start breaking down this list of contenders, the one team that still stands out in my mind is the Nationals. Washington has had the talent to win the NL the past four or five seasons, but all it has to show for its efforts is three early exits in the NLDS. The pieces still remain in place heading into this season with a starting rotation that boasts the likes of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg bolstered by Bryce Harper leading a lineup that was fourth in the NL in runs scored last season.
Washington has underachieved the past few seasons given the talent on this team, but with a veteran manager like Dusty Baker at the helm, this could be the season that the Nationals finally take that next step all the way to the World Series.
Top NL Longshot
When you get past the top six teams on this list, things begin to drop off rather quickly. Pittsburgh is next at +2000 followed by Colorado at +2200. Miami’s odds to win the NL are set at +3300. Atlanta is listed at +4000 and Arizona comes in as a +5000 longshot. Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and San Diego all have the longest odds on the board at +6600.
Pittsburgh is an interesting choice, but playing in the competitive NL Central drains some of the value in its odds. If you did want to take a flyer on one of these teams, I would probably go with the Marlins simply because of their 79 wins in 2016. The upside with this team is better than most in the longshot category with the likes of Christian Yelich and JT Realmuto emerging as potential All-Stars on a roster that already includes Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna and Dee Gordon.
The tragic loss of Jose Fernandez last season could have a long lasting impact on Miami, but it could also unite this team in its efforts to get back to the postseason. Quite a few things have to fall into place, but I would definitely classify the Marlins as a team to watch in 2017.
2017 NL Future Odds
- Chicago Cubs +175
- Washington Nationals +500
- Los Angeles Dodgers +500
- San Francisco Giants +600
- New York Mets +800
- St. Louis Cardinals +1100
- Pittsburgh Pirates +2000
- Colorado Rockies +2200
- Miami Marlins +3300
- Atlanta Braves +4000
- Arizona Diamondbacks +5000
- Cincinnati Reds +6600
- Milwaukee Brewers +6600
- Philadelphia Phillies +6600
- San Diego Padres +6600