The 2023 MLB season is about to get under way later this week. So, with baseball fans finally able to breathe a huge sigh of relief again, we look ahead to the National League where the futures market is suggesting it could be a very competitive fight to be the franchise who represents the league in the World Series final.
Yes, this looks to be the better and most open of the two leagues in this year’s MLB season. If the odds are anything to go by, the best MLB betting sites are expecting at the very least a four to five franchise battle to win the Pennant.
The favorites to win the National League are the Atlanta Braves at +340. The Braves are followed by both the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres, who are both at +425. Then we have the New York Mets at +450, and the Philadelphia Phillies who are +750.
Outside of the main five contenders are the St Louis Cardinals (+1000). But there is then a huge gap in the odds before we get to the Brewers and the Giants who are both +2000, and the Cubs at +3300. More odds can be found in our MLB odds table below.
| 2023 MLB National League Pennant Futures |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | +340 | +340 | +340 |
| LA Dodgers | +425 | +425 | +425 |
| San Diego Padres | +425 | +425 | +425 |
| New York Mets | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| St Louis Cardinals | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| San Francisco Giants | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Chicago Cubs | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
If you want to learn more about the bookmakers represented on our odds table, you can read about them at our best online sportsbook reviews page.
In the 2023 World Series winner betting all the main favorites from the National League are in the frame. But when it comes to the favorites, the best MLB World Series betting sites have installed the American League’s Houston Astros (+600) to win the big one in 2023.
The Astros are followed by the Yankees (+650), the Braves (+700), the Padres (+800), the Dodgers (+900), the Mets (+900), and the Blue Jays (+1200). The sportsbooks seem to think the stronger sides are in the American League. But only time will tell if their collective judgment is correct or not.
One franchise that a lot of punters and betting experts seem to be talking up ahead of the 2023 season is the New York Mets. A lot of this could be down to their wow-factor signing of pitcher Justin Verlander from the Houston Astros. The two-times World Series winner will make a big difference to the Mets’ roster, that’s for sure.
Verlander’s move to the Big Apple in December was the talk of the town at the time. And it’s a signing those at Citi Field will hope can take the Mets to the next level, and give them their first National League Pennant win since 2015, and first World Series victory since 1986.
Alongside Max Scherzer, Verlander gives the Metropolitans some serious firepower in the pitching department. But even taking all that into consideration, the Mets are still only fourth in the betting to win the Pennant.
The Atlanta Braves have appeared in the two of the last three National League finals. Winning one in 2021, and losing one in 2020. The 4-2 win over the Dodgers in the 2022 NLCS final preceded their fourth World Series win. And it was a match up that most observers thought would be repeated in 2022.
Sadly (for Braves’ and Dodgers’ fans, that is), it wasn’t to be. Neither side made it there in the end. Overall, last year would have been disappointing for the 2020 World Series winners. They went out of the postseason playoffs in the NLDS, losing 3-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
And this came after an epic second half of the regular season that saw Brian Snitker’s side pull off a remarkable comeback by chasing down the Mets to win the NL East by head-to-head record. Both sides achieved stunning101 wins seasons.
After such a stunning second half to the season (the Mets were out of sight at one point), you could have been forgiven for thinking the Braves would go into the postseason full of confidence. So to see them lose so meekly to the Phillies was a huge shock.
What the Braves’ NL East comeback did prove is this team is the real deal. And it’s because of this, along with their World Series win in 2021, that we are making the Atlanta Braves our pick to win the National League.
For a second pick, we are again looking at the Philadelphia Phillies. Teams don’t get to the World Series final by accident, and the Phillies had to overcome the Cardinals, the Braves, and the Padres to make it to last year’s final. At +750, the Phillies are well worth a small wager. On their day, they have proven they can beat anyone.
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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