Phillies’ NL East Odds Improve Dramatically After Recent Hot Stretch
By Ryan Bolta in MLB Baseball
Updated: January 17, 2023 at 3:36 am ESTPublished:
- The Philadelphia Phillies lead the NL East by 2.5 games
- Bryce Harper ranks 25th in the National League with a .360 OBP
- Aaron Nola is 21-6 dating back to last year and has been one of baseball’s elite pitchers over that stretch
The Phillies have the best odds of winning the NL East thanks to a recent hot stretch that has seen them win four of their last five games. Philadelphia is now 12-7 this month and has a healthy 2.5 game lead over the Atlanta Braves.
2019 National League East Odds
| Team | 2019 NL East Odds |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia Phillies | -150 |
| Atlanta Braves | +220 |
| New York Mets | +600 |
| Washington Nationals | +1300 |
| Miami Marlins | +100000 |
Odds taken 05/22/19.
Division futures bets are my favorite in baseball. The field is short and the odds provide tons of value if you do some research.
There are five teams listed, but for what it’s worth this is a two horse race between the Phillies and the Braves. My money is on the team that’s proven to be better over the season’s first 50 games.
After making the final out in right field in the sixth inning, Bryce Harper trolls Cubs fans and LAUNCHED the ball out of Wrigley Field and on to the rooftop. 😂 pic.twitter.com/31Yec16lGe
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 22, 2019
The Bryce Harper Factor
The Phillies were going to be contenders in the NL East with or without the monster free agent signing of Bryce Harper. Getting him however, has added an air of legitimacy to the ball club and could give them the confidence needed down the stretch.
Harper has settled in slowly and is only sporting a .224 batting average, but he has nine home runs and 31 RBI and should be counted on when the games mean the most. When looking for an edge between the Phillies and Braves, Harper’s big bat could mean the difference.
Bryce Harper has 27 RBIs, 33 walks
Only 2 other players have more than 25 RBIs, 30 walks this season:
Joey Gallo
Mike Trout pic.twitter.com/pMi0EHKULi— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 18, 2019
His low average gives the impression he hasn’t been great so far this season, but a little digging shows he has still provided lots to the lineup. Harper’s .360 OBP is tied for 25th in the National League and should improve as the season wears on.
Aaron Nola is the Ace Philadelphia Needed
The last two years Aaron Nola has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. If you look only at this season the small sample size shows a 4.47 ERA, but that is misleading, to say the least. Dating back to last season, Nola is 21-6 while tallying 284 strikeouts and only 79 walks. He is elite, and when he’s on the mound the Phillies rack up the wins, which is what counts most in this futures bet.
Aaron Nola's 12Ks in 21 seconds. pic.twitter.com/u8uGzdDrTd
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 18, 2019
Having a top of the rotation superstar to pair with a loaded lineup that includes Harper gives the Phillies a clear edge.
Philadelphia has the best odds of any team in the division to capture the World Series and is deservingly listed as the favorites to win the division as well. The fact you can bet them at only -150 should be considered a blessing. That number will change soon if they continue their winning ways and it could change drastically. My advice would be to act sooner, rather than later.
Pick: Philadelphia Phillies (-150)
Sports Writer
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
