Pittsburgh Pirates’ NL Pennant Odds Improve Dramatically After Claiming 1st Place in the Central

• The odds of the Pittsburgh Pirates winning the NL Pennant have dropped from +5200 to +1600 since April 1st
• The 12-7 Pirates lead the NL Central Division
• Pittsburgh’s .632 winning percentage is the best in the NL

The Pittsburgh Pirates lead the National League Central Division, and that’s no April Fool’s joke. In fact, on April 1st, sportsbooks actually viewed Pittsburgh’s chances of winning the NL Pennant to be a joke.

The best win % in the NL heading into the weekend?

That belongs to the Pittsburgh @Pirates! pic.twitter.com/Gx1Sqxpk3N

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 19, 2019

Pittsburgh’s average NL Pennant odds on April Fools’ Day were +5200 across a number of top sportsbooks. Today, Pittsburgh is listed at +1600 to win the Pennant across those same sportsbooks.

2019 National League Pennant Odds

*Odds taken on 04/22/19

The Pirates own an NL-best 12-7 record.

A New Approach for the Pirates

Back the the 1970’s, the Pirates dominated than NL with a powerful offense. Pittsburgh was known as the Lumber Company, with a potent batting order from top to bottom, highlighted by the likes of Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Al Oliver.

This week on the hill:
✅ Big Joe
✅ Trevor
✅ Jordan
✅ Jamo

📎 The Pirates pitching staff leads all Major League teams with a 2.54 ERA and the staff has also held opposing hitters to a MLB-low .204 batting average. pic.twitter.com/LSkfomo8jt

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 22, 2019

These Pirates are winning the arms race, overpowering opponents with their ace pitching. Pittsburgh has allowed three runs or less in 10 successive games. The starting pitching has posted quality starts in nine of the last 10 games. Pittsburgh owns an NL-best 3.45 earned-run average.

The Pirates have won four of the last five series and are 4-2-1 in series play thus far this season.

Injuries Haven’t Hampered Them

There’s been a revolving door on sick bay in Pittsburgh this season. The Bucs recently got catcher Elias Diaz and reliever Kyle Crick back from the injured list.

The long road back for @El_Coffee. pic.twitter.com/HgFChpFLDr

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 22, 2019

But just as Gregory Polanco is poised to return to action this week, fellow outfielder Starling Marte and shortstop Eric Gonzalez collided on a play in Friday’s win over San Francisco and both are now on the IL.

Pirates shortstop Erik Gonzalez and center fielder Starling Marte collide going for a ball hit by Giants left fielder Yangervis Solarte in the eighth inning. Both players exited the game on the play. pic.twitter.com/Dh6CZl538V

— Matt Freed (@MattFreedPhoto) April 20, 2019

Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall (broken hand) is on a rehab assignment at AAA Huntington.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!

Cole Tucker's first career MLB hit is a 2-run SHOT to dead center to give the @Pirates the lead! pic.twitter.com/DM0IfL0uhB

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 20, 2019

But they’ve got great mileage out journeyman outfielder Melky Cabrera. Signed as a minor-league free agent, he made the club out of spring training and is slashing it at .316/.339/.421 so far this season. Shortstop Cole Tucker hit a game-winning homer on the weekend in his MLB debut. Brian Reynolds, another rookie, when 4-for-6 over the weekend.

It Can’t Last

As Cinderella a start as it’s been for the Bucs, you sense that midnight is just around the corner. Pittsburgh is hitting .229 as a team with a .303 on-base percentage. The pitching can’t prop up that anemic attack forever.

Pittsburgh Pirates: 2.54 ERA this season (best in MLB); 8th straight quality start by a pitcher. The @Pirates in 1st place in NL Central. pic.twitter.com/ziIgGZR2L5

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) April 20, 2019

The NL Central might just be baseball’s toughest division. The Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and St. Louis Cardinals are all deeper than the Pirates and that fact will materialize over the course of a 162-game season.

We won the series, so here's the remix 🎶#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/iVNjV1EAJ6

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 22, 2019

The Dodgers and Phillies are the best bets in the NL. If you want to play a Central sleeper, we suggest going with the Cardinals at +750.