2010 National League Pennant Odds: Phillies Betting Favorites

The Philadelphia Phillies are favored in 2010 National League pennant odds to defend their title this season and make a return trip to the World Series. Unlike the American League, there are some teams that could trip up the Phillies and win the National League. Philadelphia is the 3 to 1 favorite in MLB betting at online sportsbooks to win the National League pennant. The Phillies could have had a one-two punch of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee but they blew it and let Lee get away to the Mariners.

They may end up regretting that decision. Halladay becomes the ace of the staff but the key now becomes whether or not Cole Hamels can rebound from what can only be called a puzzling 2009 season. If not, the Phillies are beatable. The St. Louis Cardinals are the second choice in National League odds at online sportsbooks at 5 to 1. The Cardinals have the best pitching duo in the National League with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright and the best hitter in all of baseball in Albert Pujols. If a team is to get past the Phillies and win the National League then it should be St. Louis. Two teams from the National League West have single-digit odds.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 8-1 while the Colorado Rockies are 9-1 in MLB betting. The Dodgers did nothing in the off-season to improve and their rotation looks suspect while Colorado actually looks improved simply because they get Jeff Francis back from injury. Atlanta will be playing hard for Bobby Cox in his last year and they have some value at 9-1 in National League odds. San Francisco has Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and a very good pitching staff, they are also at 10-1 for the National League pennant. The Cubs always get attention but they have to get past St. Louis in the Central and that doesn’t seem likely. Chicago is 9-1 in MLB betting National League odds. The Cubs are always overvalued but the Mets may be the most overpriced team in the league.

The Mets are 12-1 with a roster full of injured players and a suspect starting rotation. The Diamondbacks should be improved as they brought in Edwin Jackson but unless Brandon Webb is healthy they have no real shot and are listed at 15 to 1 in National League pennant odds. Florida has some talent led by Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramirez so you can never count out the Marlins. They are 15-1. The rest of the teams in the National League are definite longshots in MLB betting with the Cincinnati Reds 20 to 1, the Houston Astros 40 to 1, the San Diego Padres 45 to 1 and the Pittsburgh Pirates 70 to 1.