Steve Starr
- BetOnline favors the Los Angeles Dodgers (+190) to win the 2021 National League Pennant
- The NL West division rival Giants (+450) are tied for the MLB homerun lead at 135
- The Mets (+550) and Brewers (+575) have the Cy Young quality arms it takes to compete in October
The National League is full of surprises at the midway point of the season with the defending-champion Dodgers not even leading their own division, the San Francisco Giants holding down the best record in all of baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers running away with the NL Central.
Will Los Angeles overcome their long list of injuries and represent the senior circuit in the World Series for the fourth time in five years or will another club claim the NL Pennant? Let’s check the latest odds, and as always, be sure to refer to our MLB 2021 betting guide for further wagering tips and advice.
2021 National League Pennant Odds
 |
|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +190 |
| San Diego Padres | +450 |
| New York Mets | +550 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +575 |
| San Francisco Giants | +600 |
| Atlanta Braves | +2000 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +3300 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +3500 |
| Washington Nationals | +3500 |
| St Louis Cardinals | +4000 |
| Chicago Cubs | +5000 |
| Miami Marlins | +12500 |
| Colorado Rockies | +50000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +150000 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +250000 |
Loaded NL West will determine Pennant
Pacing the majors with a +155 run differential, the Dodgers (+190) are still viewed as the unquestioned best team in baseball. No doubt the biggest obstacle to their second-straight title is the rival Giants (+600).
If Bruce Bochy’s club continues to rack up victories and wins the NL West, that would likely force Los Angeles into a single-game Wild Card playoff with the Padres (+450).
Mookie Betts Blast.
Will he have a big second half? 👀 pic.twitter.com/03xHmOooak
— MLB (@MLB) July 18, 2021
Entering Sunday’s action, San Francisco was tied with Blue Jays for the MLB HR lead at 135 and had the second-best run differential in the NL. They also have deep rotation, a solid bullpen, a number of stars who could return from IL and a crafty GM in Farhan Zaidi who could add pieces by the July 30th trade deadline. This team is for real.
Brewers and Mets have the pitching
The Mets (+550) and Brewers (+575) certainly have the pitching to score an October upset. New York can roll out a rotation with NL MVP contender Jacob deGrom, Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman, and there’s a chance both Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard could be back for the postseason. Meanwhile, Milwaukee has Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta to go along with a lights-out bullpen.
While knocking off the Dodgers will be difficult, don’t forget the Washington Nationals came out of nowhere to do just that in 2019 with a four-deep rotation of three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, eventual World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg, Anibal Sanchez and Patrick Corbin.
Squad 💪 pic.twitter.com/71NesRA1q9
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 13, 2021
Outside the five teams discussed above, it would be a real longshot for anyone else to win the National League Pennant this season. The Braves (+2000) are next on the board, but recently lost superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. for the year with a torn ACL. Then come the Reds (+3300), who sit 6.0 games back of MIlwaukee in the NL Central and 5.0 games back of the Padres for the final Wild Card spot.
The Phillies (+3500) are no world beaters, having played .500 baseball to this point, but at least they have a clearer path to the postseason than Cincinnati, sitting only two games back of the Mets in the NL East.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
