MLB National League Playoff Preview & Odds
It took all 162 games of the regular season to determine this year’s field for the National League playoffs, but the opening round series are now set and play is ready to get underway starting this Wednesday afternoon.
The following is a brief preview of all four teams along with their current odds to win the NL Pennant.
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Philadelphia Phillies 9/5
Philadelphia ended the regular season with the best record in baseball at 97- 65 and by virtue of the NL’s win in this year’s All-Star game will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Phillies record at home this year was 54-30 and they went 43-35 on the road. They were ranked fifth in the NL in pitching with a team ERA of 3.67. The Phils staff is led by Roy Halladay (2.44 ERA) and Roy Oswalt (2.76 ERA). Halladay, a virtual lock for this season’s Cy Young award in the NL, ended the year with 21 wins against just 10 losses. Philadelphia is ranked fifth in hitting with a .260 team batting average and second in runs scored with 772. Ryan Howard led the team with 108 RBI and 31 HR’s.
Cincinnati Reds 5/1
Cincinnati finished the season with an overall record of 91-71 but struggled a bit down the stretch, going 5-5 in its last 10 games. The Reds were 49-32 at home and 42-39 on the road. They finished the regular season tied for seventh in pitching with a 4.01 team ERA. Bronson Arroyo anchored the starting rotation with 17 wins and an ERA of 3.88. The main strength of this Cincinnati is its hitting as it led the NL in with a .272 team batting average and 790 runs scored. Joey Votto had an MVP-worthy year with 177 hits, 113 RBI, and 37 HR’s
San Francisco Giants 5/2
San Francisco’s dramatic 3-0 win over San Diego in its final regular season game nailed down the NL West title with an overall record of 92-70. The Giants won seven of their final ten games to hold off the Padres and the Rockies, who faded down the stretch. They ended the year going 49-32 at home and 43-38 on the road. San Francisco has the best overall pitching staff in the NL as they led the league with a team ERA of 3.36. Led by Matt Cain’s 3.14 ERA and Tim Lincecum’s 3.43 ERA the Giants have a powerful one-two punch heading into the postseason. Hitting has been this team’s primary weakness as they were ranked seventh in the NL with a team batting average of .257 and ninth in runs scored with 697.
Atlanta Braves 13/4
Atlanta’s 8-7 win over the Phillies in its final regular season game along with the Padres loss game locked up the NL Wildcard spot for Manager Bobby Cox in his final season with the team. The Braves finished the year 91-71 overall and were a league’s best 56-25 at home and 35-46 on the road. Their pitching staff was ranked third in the NL with a 3.56 team ERA led by Tim Hudson’s 2.83 ERA and 17 wins. Atlanta’s .258 team batting average ranked the team sixth in the NL in hitting and its 738 runs scored ranked it fifth. Derrek Lee led the team with 80 RBI and Brian McCann led the team in HR’s with 21.
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