MLB National League Power Rankings – September 20
The 2010 Major League Baseball’s regular season has entered the home stretch and with less than 20 games left to play, a couple teams are already gearing up for a long run in the postseason while most of the other teams are already relegated to making plans for next year.
Each of the National League’s 16 teams started the season dreaming of making it all the way to this year’s World Series, but in reality there are only a handful of teams left that actually still have a chance. Here is a look at my top four teams in the NL heading into the end of September with their updated odds to win the Pennant as well as the World Series.
Philadelphia Phillies Odds to Win the NL Pennant 13/4 World Series 11/2
Philadelphia remains on a tear with a three game sweep of Florida this past week and a three game sweep of Washington over the weekend. The Phillies have now won 15 of 18 games in the month of September. They currently have the best record in the NL at 89-61 and lead Atlanta by three games in the NL East. Pitching remains solid for the Phillies as they are ranked sixth in the NL with a team ERA of 3.76. The bats have also come back to life as they are tied for sixth with a team batting average of .260 and third in runs scored with 714.
Atlanta Braves Odds to Win the NL Pennant 11/2 World Series 13/2
Atlanta has done everything within its power to keep the streaking Phillies with striking distance in the East title chase. The Braves swept the Mets over the weekend to raise its record to 86-64 which gives them a 2 ½ game lead in the wildcard race. Their team ERA of 3.59 is third best in the NL and their .261 team batting average is fourth. They are ranked fourth as well in runs scored with 701.
San Francisco Giants Odds to Win the NL Pennant 9/2 World Series 10/1
The wild, wild NL West continues to tighten up as San Francisco currently holds just a ½ game lead over San Diego and 1 ½ game lead over Colorado in the division. The Giants are 6-4 in their last 10 games to take their record on the season to 84-66. They continue to ride the arms of a pitching staff that is ranked first in the NL with a team ERA of 3.45. They are eighth in the NL in hitting with a .257 team batting average and 10th in runs scored with 648.
Cincinnati Reds Odds to Win the NL Pennant 5/1 World Series 11/1
Despite a 5-5 record in its last 10 games and losing four out of its last six, Cincinnati still has a comfortable six game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central with an overall record of 84-66. The Reds pitching continues to be a soft spot as they are ranked ninth in the NL with a 4.06 team ERA. They have compensated for this with their bats as they lead the NL with a .271 team batting average and 737 runs scored.
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