2014 MLB NL East Odds and Predictions – Vegas Odds to Win the National League East Division

2014 MLB NL East Odds and Predictions – Vegas Odds to Win the National League East Division: The National League East has been the division of dynasties. From 1995 to 2005, the Atlanta Braves won 11 straight NL East crowns. After the New York Mets took the title in 2006, the Philadelphia Phillies reeled off five straight titles. However, the trend has been changing since the Phillies’ last title in 2011 with the Washington Nationals winning in 2012 and the Braves returning to the top spot in 2013. The Braves are my favorite to repeat in 2014, but with every team other than the Miami Marlins making upgrades in the offseason, the trend of different winners could continue this year. With that in mind, here is a closer look at how the teams in the NL East stack up heading into the 2014 MLB season.

1.      Atlanta Braves: Atlanta won the NL East last year, and the 2014 team has a chance to be even better. Slugger Freddie Freeman has star-potential, and the offense was formidable last year despite B.J. Upton, Justin Upton and Jason Heyward either dealing with injuries or underperforming. Meanwhile, closer Craig Kimbrel leads one of the best bullpens in baseball, and Kris Medlen and Julio Teheran lead a deep rotation stocked with young arms. A bulk of the Braves’ roster is either in its prime or just entering it so the best could be yet to come for the defending division champs.

2.      Washington Nationals: They were supposed to have a shot at a title in 2013, but the Nationals struggled to back up their 98-win season, finishing with 86 wins and missing the playoffs. For a relatively young team, the pressure more than anything seemed to get to Washington. With another year of experience and a lineup that features Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman and a rotation that features Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmerman, the Nationals should return to the postseason and have a shot at a division crown.

3.      Philadelphia Phillies: Injuries completely derailed Philadelphia’s season in 2013, and while this is still an old team, the Phillies will at least start the year a lot healthier in 2014. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz will be ready to go, joining Jimmy Rollins, improving youngster Domonic Brown and newcomer Marlon Byrd to form a respectable lineup. Meanwhile, A.J. Burnett was signed to add another quality arm to a rotation that features aces Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. Health will remain a concern, but the Phillies could make a surprise run at a wild-card spot.

4.      New York Mets: On the plus side, the Mets got David Wright some help in the offseason by adding Curtis Granderson. However, ace Matt Harvey is out while he rehabs his elbow, and the rotation now depends on youngster Zack Wheeler taking the next step and 40-year-old Bartolo Colon holding up. Throw in a shaky bullpen, and the Mets’ pitching just doesn’t seem deep enough to allow this team to compete for anything more than a .500 record.

5.      Miami Marlins: The lineup has slugger Giancarlo Stanton, and the rotation has defending Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez. After that, the Marlins is seriously lacking in the talent department. To say Miami is in rebuilding mode would be kind. This team lost 100 games last year, and the Marlins could push triple digits in the loss column once again.

Prseason Odds to win the 2014 NL East Division
Washington Nationals win NL East -140
Atlanta Braves win NL East +125
Philadelphia Phillies win NL East +750
New York Mets win NL East +2000
Miami Marlins win NL East +4000

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