2013 MLB Picks and Predictions: National League Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers – While the American League is often viewed as superior because of its gaudy offensive numbers, the National League has been winning on the field. The NL has won four of the last five World Series, including three straight. It remains to be seen if the streak will continue in 2013, but there is no questioning that there are several strong contenders in the consistently underrated National League. On that note, here is a closer look at the frontrunners and other potential pennant threats in the NL for the 2013 MLB season.
2013 MLB Predictions: National League Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers
The Favorites
After leading the majors with 98 wins in 2012 and being one win away from reaching the NLCS, the Washington Nationals are again primed for a big season. A pitching staff that led the National League in ERA should be even better with a full season from Stephen Strasburg and the addition of veteran starter Dan Haren and veteran reliever Rafael Soriano. The offense should also be better as young players like Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa continue to develop. Add it all up, and it would be a major shock if the Nationals weren’t playing for the NL pennant once again.
The San Francisco Giants are the defending World Series champions and have two championships in the last three seasons. With a majority of the core players still around from both title-winning teams, it is tough to bet against this group in 2013. Defending National League MVP Buster Posey is still the biggest bat for an offense that doesn’t have a lot of stars, but the Giants’ pitching should once again be among the best in baseball. Throw in the fact that this team obviously has chemistry and knows what it takes to win big games, and San Francisco will likely have something to say about which team ultimately win the NL pennant.
The Contenders
They will have to overcome the mental hangover of last season’s epic playoff collapse, but the Cincinnati Reds have the talent to reach and advance in the postseason in 2013. Former MVP Joey Votto leads an offense that should be a little more stable thanks to the offseason addition of leadoff man Shin-Soo Choo. Meanwhile, a pitching staff that ranked fifth in the majors in ERA in 2012 could improve if Aroldis Chapman makes a successful jump to the rotation. The Reds have won the NL Central twice in the last three years, and with this year’s group being more complete than ever, it is time Cincinnati wins in October.
There are simply no excuses for the Los Angeles Dodgers not to be a serious threat in the National League in 2013. The team added former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke to a staff that already features 2011 NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and ranked third in ERA last season. More importantly, a horribly inconsistent offense will welcome a healthy Carl Crawford and healthy Matt Kemp into a lineup with Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier. Chemistry between all the new parts is always an X-factor, but the Dodgers have more than enough pitching and more than enough offensive firepower to make a World Series run.
Sleeper Specials
Despite having the fifth-best team ERA in the majors last year, an inconsistent offense led by a core of young players held the Atlanta Braves back a bit. Well, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward should only keep getting better, and the front office also decided to speed up the process a bit by acquiring B.J. Upton and Justin Upton in the offseason. Suddenly, the Braves’ lineup is a little more explosive, and Atlanta still has its excellent pitching to fall back on. If the Braves can just get into the later innings with the lead, closer Craig Kimbrel and the rest of the bullpen will take care of the rest.
Losing Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa didn’t hurt the St. Louis Cardinals as much as expected, and the 2013 roster looks a lot like the one that reached the NLCS last year. Veterans Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran are still around and Allen Craig and David Freese should only get better. The pitching staff did take a huge hit when it was announced that Chris Carpenter would miss the entire season, but the bullpen is still rock solid and Adam Wainwright should return to his ace form in his second year removed from elbow surgery. Not to mention the fact that the Cardinals have more than proven the last couple of seasons that they can never be counted out.
2013 Odds to Win National League Pennant
5061 Arizona Diamondbacks +2500
5062 Atlanta Braves +650
5063 Chicago Cubs +5000
5064 Cincinnati Reds +500
5065 Colorado Rockies +6000
5066 Los Angeles Dodgers +350
5067 Miami Marlins +10000
5068 Milwaukee Brewers +2000
5069 New York Mets +4000
5070 Philadelphia Phillies +850
5071 Pittsburgh Pirates +3000
5072 San Diego Padres +4500
5073 San Francisco Giants +650
5074 St Louis Cardinals +850
5075 Washington Nationals +350
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