Article courtesy OddsShark (@OddsShark)
A six-game winning streak for the Atlanta Braves (86-54) has pulled them within 4.5 games of the best record in the National League, which continues to be held by the Los Angeles Dodgers (91-50).
The Braves have improved their odds to win the NL pennant, sitting as the +400 second choice (bet $100 to win $400) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com behind only the favored Dodgers at -115 (bet $115 to win $100).
Los Angeles has also won three straight games heading into Wednesday’s action, otherwise Atlanta would be even closer in the standings. The Dodgers continue to battle the American League’s New York Yankees and Houston Astros for the top mark in baseball and home-field advantage through the World Series.
The Braves are still viewed as the biggest threat to keeping them from winning a third consecutive pennant, although the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals (78-60) and the other Wild Card contenders could also be trouble come the postseason. The Cardinals currently lead the Chicago Cubs (75-63) by three games in the Central, and they are listed at +700 and +1200 to win the pennant, respectively, at sports betting sites.
However, one of the most dangerous teams nobody will want to face in the playoffs is the Washington Nationals (78-59) even though they no longer have Bryce Harper in their lineup. Without Harper, the Nationals have been a pleasant surprise thanks to an outstanding starting rotation led by three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.
Washington (+750) might be the lone team in the NL that can compete with Los Angeles in terms of starting pitching with Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin forming a formidable top three. Plus, Anthony Rendon is enjoying an MVP-caliber campaign.
The Nationals and Cubs are in the two Wild Card spots at the moment while the Philadelphia Phillies (72-65), Arizona Diamondbacks (72-67), Milwaukee Brewers (71-67) and New York Mets (70-68) are all within five games. Of that group, the Diamondbacks are the longest shot to win the pennant at +5000 on those MLB odds, with the Phillies and Brewers both +2500 and the Mets +2800 despite losing eight of their last 11 games.
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