With a handful of legitimate contenders to make a World Series run in 2016, the National League has made strides in closing the talent gap between themselves and the American League. Last season the NL featured a variety of talented squads littered throughout. Starting with the best pitching rotation in the MLB, the New York Mets are the favorites to make another trip back to the World Series. Though New York was outmatched by the scrappy Kansas City Royals, the Mets return with their top four pitchers from last year.
Best National League Betting Lines
For a breakdown of every NL game being played on a daily basis, check out the betting lines breakout box below which will lay out the favorites for each game throughout the year.
National League Standings
Finding the winning edge for your wagers throughout the season is not an easy thing to do, but with the standings tool below you can get an idea of how each team stacks up.
Prior to each bet, make sure to check in with how each team has been playing from week to week to get a better feel on what kind of squad they are and where they rank.
While typical wins and losses are not the end-all metric for determining a successful team on a daily basis, this tool will be very useful if you keep a regular check on it.
Online Tips For National League Bettors
The Mets, if they can stay healthy, have a great shot at making another run deep into the postseason. Opposite the Mets in the NL East are the Washington Nationals, led by baseball's most exciting player -- outfielder Bryce Harper. The 2015 NL MVP, Harper had his finest season to date but the Nationals finished with a sub-par 83-79 record.
The Nats made one significant addition in the offseason by signing New York standout Daniel Murphy. The battle in the NL East will be between the Mets and Nats, who have set themselves apart from the remaining three teams.
The most closely-contested division in baseball this year will be the NL Central. Featuring three teams that finished with 95-plus wins apiece (only one other team in baseball had that many wins), the Central was the finest division in baseball in 2015. The Cardinals had the best record in baseball last year, 100-62, but we fancy the Chicago Cubs to emerge as NL champs. The Cubs have put together their best team since their last NLCS run in 2013 and have possibly assembled a squad that could bring the franchise a World Series title for the first time in over 100 years.
The Phillies have bucked the odds and notched the MLB's second-best record through mid-May. It is definitely worth noting that the team with the worst record in 2015 is having the best turnaround season. Another team to watch out for is the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The D-Backs feature the biggest free agent of the 2015 offseason in pitcher Zack Greinke and one of the NL's best sluggers in infielder Paul Goldschmidt.
As far as predicting division winners and playoff teams go, the NL will feature some competitive matchups down the line in each division. If you are looking for a World Series winner to emerge out of the NL, you can we bank on the Chicago Cubs. Fortune favors the brave and we're sticking with our pick.
Prior to making your final betting choice, make sure to check out the partners table to find the best fit.
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