National League Favorites 2019

• 2019 National League Summary
• National League Mvp 2019 Favorites
• 2019 National League Central Standings
• 2019 National League Batting Leaders
• 2019 National League Standings
• 2019 National League Playoff Results

2021 projected standings for major league baseball teams. Support FanGraphs. FanGraphs Membership. 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017. The 1988 National League Championship Series was played between the National League West champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the National League East champion New York Mets.The Dodgers won the Series four games to three, en route to defeating the Oakland Athletics in five games in the 1988 World Series.

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

October 11, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Washington Nationals -130
St. Louis Cardinals +100

Bet on the 2019 MLB Baseball National League Odds at Bovada Sportsbook.

ARCHIVES

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

October 2, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers -115
Atlanta Braves +350
Washington Nationals +500
St. Louis Cardinals +600

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

2019 National League Summary

September 30, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers -115
Atlanta Braves +275
St. Louis Cardinals +550
Washington Nationals +800
Milwaukee Brewers +1000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

September 23, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers -105
Atlanta Braves +325
St. Louis Cardinals +550
Washington Nationals +900
Milwaukee Brewers +1000
New York Mets +2200
Chicago Cubs +2500
Philadelphia Phillies +6600
Arizona Diamondbacks +10000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

September 3, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers -115
Atlanta Braves +400
St. Louis Cardinals +750
Washington Nationals +800
Chicago Cubs +1200
Milwaukee Brewers +2500
New York Mets +2500
Philadelphia Phillies +2500
Arizona Diamondbacks +5000
San Francisco Giants +7000
Cincinnati Reds +12500
San Diego Padres +100000
Colorado Rockies +150000
Pittsburgh Pirates +250000
Miami Marlins +450000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

August 5, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers EVEN
Atlanta Braves +375
Chicago Cubs +800
St. Louis Cardinals +900
Washington Nationals +1200
Milwaukee Brewers +1400
Philadelphia Phillies +1600
San Francisco Giants +3000
New York Mets +4000
Arizona Diamondbacks +5000
Colorado Rockies +8000
Cincinnati Reds +7500
San Diego Padres +10000
Pittsburgh Pirates +20000
Miami Marlins +250000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

July 10, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers +110
Atlanta Braves +300
Chicago Cubs +900
Milwaukee Brewers +1200
Philadelphia Phillies +1200
Washington Nationals +1200
St. Louis Cardinals +2000
Colorado Rockies +3000
Cincinnati Reds +3500
San Diego Padres +4500
Pittsburgh Pirates +4500
Arizona Diamondbacks +5000
New York Mets +12500
San Francisco Giants +75000
Miami Marlins +200000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

June 18, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers +145
Atlanta Braves +400
Chicago Cubs +700
Philadelphia Phillies +750
Milwaukee Brewers +800
St. Louis Cardinals +1400
Washington Nationals +2200
Colorado Rockies +2200
Arizona Diamondbacks +2400
San Diego Padres +3500
New York Mets +3500
Cincinnati Reds +10000
Pittsburgh Pirates +15000
San Francisco Giants +90000
Miami Marlins +200000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

May 15, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers +240
Chicago Cubs +450
Philadelphia Phillies +525
Milwaukee Brewers +750
St. Louis Cardinals +900
Atlanta Braves +1300
San Diego Padres +1800
New York Mets +1800
Arizona Diamondbacks +2000
Washington Nationals +2200
Pittsburgh Pirates +2300
Colorado Rockies +3000
Cincinnati Reds +8000
San Francisco Giants +12500
Miami Marlins +100000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

March 26, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers +375
Philadelphia Phillies +550
St. Louis Cardinals +600
Chicago Cubs +600
Milwaukee Brewers +900
Atlanta Braves +900
Washington Nationals +900
New York Mets +1200
Colorado Rockies +1500
San Diego Padres +2500
Cincinnati Reds +3500
Arizona Diamondbacks +4000
San Francisco Giants +4000
Pittsburgh Pirates +5000
Miami Marlins +20000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to Bovada Sportsbook

February 26, 2019

2019 National League pennant - Odds to Win
Los Angeles Dodgers +350
Chicago Cubs +600
Philadelphia Phillies +600
Milwaukee Brewers +700
Atlanta Braves +750
St. Louis Cardinals +750
Washington Nationals +900
Colorado Rockies +1100
New York Mets +1200
San Diego Padres +2500
Arizona Diamondbacks +3000
Cincinnati Reds +4000
Pittsburgh Pirates +4000
San Francisco Giants +6600
Miami Marlins +20000

Odds to win the 2019 MLB Baseball National League according to MyBookie Sportsbook

February 18, 2019

2019 NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT - TO WIN
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS +2500
ATLANTA BRAVES +750
CHICAGO CUBS +550
CINCINNATI REDS +4000
COLORADO ROCKIES +950
LOS ANGELES DODGERS +350
MIAMI MARLINS +20000
MILWAUKEE BREWERS +700
NEW YORK METS +1200
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES +700
PITTSBURGH PIRATES +4000
SAN DIEGO PADRES +5000
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS +6600
ST LOUIS CARDINALS +750
WASHINGTON NATIONALS +900

Bet on the 2019 MLB Baseball National League Odds at MyBookie Sportsbook.

With a new baseball season about to begin, it's time to pin down our expectations for what we expect to happen.

Will the Boston Red Sox repeat as champions? Or are the Houston Astros or New York Yankees poised to take over the American League? Is a third straight trip to the World Series in the future for the Los Angeles Dodgers?

From among our columnists, writers, researchers and editors, we polled 31 of ESPN's leading baseball experts to see what they expect, asking them about who's going to win their respective divisions as well as who's going to wind up winning their leagues and ultimately the World Series.

You might see things differently or agree with our prognostications. But either way, add your own predictions below.

To see who our experts think will walk away with the MVP and other hardware at the end of the 2019 season, check out our awards predictions.

Jump to predictions for: National League AL and NL champion World Series champion

American League

AL East

Our pick: New York Yankees (16 votes)

Who else got votes? Red Sox (14); Rays (1)

You picked the Red Sox to win the East -- why?

Even after a 108-win season, the Red Sox still have untapped upside, starting with Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi. And how do they look with 30-plus starts from Chris Sale or full seasons from Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez rounding out the rotation? And while it might seem like a stretch to say they'll get repeat MVP-worthy seasons from both Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, I wouldn't bet against them. -- Christina Kahrl

AL Central

Our pick: Cleveland Indians (28 votes)

Who else got votes? Twins (3)

You picked the Twins to win the Central -- why?

The Indians are vulnerable, and whenever everybody simply assumes a team has a division locked, I look. What if Corey Kluber falls apart? The Twins will score more runs and the pitching is, well, OK. -- Eric Karabell

AL West

Our pick: Houston Astros (28)

Who else got votes: A's (2); Angels (1)

If anyone challenges the Astros, who do you think it will be?

The A's. Their rotation is more like a no-tation, but the bullpen is deep. And the defense, led by MVP candidate Matt Chapman and center fielder/human highlight reel Ramon Laureano, can catch it. I don't think anyone in the West gets within shouting distance of Houston this year, but Oakland gets the closest. -- Eddie Matz

AL wild cards

Votes: Red Sox (17); Yankees (12); Rays (9); Angels (7); A's (7); Twins (5); Astros (3) Indians (2)

National League

NL East:

Our pick: Nationals (13)

Who else got votes? Phillies (11); Braves (5); Mets (2)

You're one who picked the Phillies to win -- why was that?

The Phillies were in the hunt for a playoff spot last season -- at least a year earlier than expected -- before stumbling through an 8-20 September. Then they added J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen and David Robertson. Oh, and that Bryce Harper guy. The NL East is supremely talented, but this feels like the Phillies' time. -- Alden Gonzalez

National League Mvp 2019 Favorites

NL Central

Our pick: Cubs (12)

Who else got votes? Brewers (10); Cardinals (9)

Why are you picking the Cubs?

Yes, there is some age and decline to worry about with the starting rotation -- which is why one projection system infamously picked the Cubs to finish last in the NL Central -- but even in a year when a lot went wrong in 2018, the Cubs tied the Brewers for the most wins in the National League (only to lose the tiebreaker). With a healthy Kris Bryant and better production from Willson Contreras, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs will have an elite offense. A healthy Yu Darvish will help stabilize the rotation, and the bullpen is deeper than everyone gives them credit for. -- David Schoenfield

NL West

Our pick: Dodgers (24)

Who else got votes? Rockies (6); Padres (1)

Why did you pick the Rockies to snap the Dodgers' streak of six consecutive NL West titles?

2019 National League Central Standings

I just don't trust the Dodgers' pitching. Not only is Clayton Kershaw starting the season on the injured list, but Walker Buehler is dealing with the effects of his 2018 workload. I don't think it'll be a runaway for the Rockies, and it will require a bounce-back from a bullpen that has left much to be desired, but with German Marquez and Kyle Freeland atop the rotation, they should be able to survive a tight race in the West, led by an MVP-caliber season from Nolan Arenado. -- Marly Rivera

NL wild cards

Votes: Phillies (9); Nationals (9); Cardinals (8); Dodgers (7); Braves (7); Cubs (6); Brewers (6); Rockies (5); Mets (3); Padres (1); Reds (1)

AL and NL champions

American League

Our pick: Astros (15)

Who else got votes: Yankees (7); Red Sox (5); A's (3); Indians (1)

Why did you pick the Astros as AL champs?

The Astros had a 109-win run differential last year, they are projected by PECOTA to be the best team in the majors this year, and with all due respect to the A's and Angels, there isn't likely to be another 90-win team in the division to push them. Every AL team is going to have a brutal path through October, but the Astros have extraordinary starting pitching, a whole season to build up a playoff bullpen, and a manager whose postseason moves have generally been impressive. -- Sam Miller

National League

Our pick: Dodgers (10)

Who else got votes? Nationals (6); Cardinals (4); Phillies (3); Brewers (3); Cubs (2): Braves (2); Rockies (1)

What was your thinking behind your picking the Braves to break through and win the pennant?

The Braves will open the season with questions about their rotation and bullpen, but they have the depth to address those during the year -- and that depth will enable them to withstand injuries over the long season. They're in an excellent position for midseason deals as well. -- Buster Olney

You picked the Dodgers to repeat as NL champs -- why?

There are five teams who could realistically win the NL Central and four who will contend in the NL East, which leaves the Dodgers as the only almost sure thing to make the National League Division Series. That's enough to earn them my pick, but the Dodgers are also incredibly deep and now have another year of experience dealing with the welcome challenge of having more good players than playing time. -- Miller

World Series champion

Our pick: Astros (14)

2019 National League Batting Leaders

Who else got votes? Dodgers (4); Yankees (4); Red Sox (3); Nationals (3); A's (2); Cardinals (1)

Why the Astros?

I love the one-two punch of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, and by October Josh James and Forrest Whitley will be impact arms. The offense will bounce back some after scoring 99 fewer runs than in 2017 (Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve both battled injuries). Michael Brantley adds a much-needed left-handed bat. The bullpen, which led the majors in ERA, is deep and strong. The Astros have star power, depth and attitude. -- Schoenfield

Why the Yankees?

Yes, there are injuries. And rotation questions. And the pesky Red Sox and Astros are ever-present in the American League. And yet the Yankees, with their bullpen surplus and lineup of mashers, embody the modern game as well as any team in 2019. It's been a decade. It's their time again. -- Jeff Passan

2019 National League Standings

Why the Dodgers?

The Dodgers have dominated for six seasons now, yet still have not been forced into the kind of makeover you'd expect from a run of excellence that long, whether it would stem from an aging talent core or a spate of free-agent desertions. They still have more quality depth than any other organization, but what's more, they have the upside of several ascending young players -- we're talking Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Walker Buehler and Alex Verdugo -- all capable of leaping into the races for major postseason awards. -- Bradford Doolittle

Why the Cardinals?

2019 National League Playoff Results

I believe the Cardinals do have a chance to win the World Series this year, and I am basing this mostly on their rotation, one of baseball's deepest and most talented. If they stay healthy, they should be able to come out on top in the NL, supported by a lineup that should be able to score a lot of runs. A healthy Yadier Molina will also be essential to their success, as will banking on Marcell Ozuna and Dexter Fowler not only being healthy but performing to their All-Star capabilities. And I consider the Cardinals' acquisition (and extension) of Paul Goldschmidt -- my pick for NL MVP this year -- a game-changer. -- Rivera