Just a few weeks ago, maybe even days, the New York Mets looked like a shoo-in to win the NL East Division.
But now thanks to a great run of form from the Atlanta Braves, coupled with a stuttering few days from the Mets, the division looks wide open again.
So what has happened? Well, a few weeks back the New York Mets were flying. The NL East was a one-horse race, with the Braves struggling to keep pace, and the Philadelphia Phillies not able to sort their home form out.
Fast forward a few weeks, and things have changed. The Mets have had an average run of late, while the Braves have been flying. This has seen the gap between the two sides shorten, along with the betting odds to win the division.
Also loitering around are the Phillies. But, unless they can string a run together similar to that of the Braves, it’s hard to see Rob Thomson’s team coming into the equation. But they are still just about hanging in there.
The New York Mets are still the favorites to win the NL East, as they have been since assuming that tag very early in the season. The Mets are now -285 to top the division. This is some drift in betting though, as they have been as short as -600 at times this season.
The Atlanta Braves are now +210, and surely look like the value pick to win the division from here on in. They have the form, and they are the better odds. They do have a tricky mini-series coming up this weekend, which we will look at later, but that aside, they look in a good place.
| NL East Division Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| New York Mets | -285 | -300 |
| Atlanta Braves | +210 | +200 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +7500 | +7000 |
Bringing up the rear in the betting for the division is the Philadelphia Phillies. As previously mentioned, they’re probably just a bit too far off the pace at the moment. But they can’t be totally written off. Although it appears the best MLB betting sites might not agree, as BetOnline makes the Phillies +7500 to win the division.
The Mets would probably have settled for this position at this stage of the season if they were offered it before a home run had been hit. That said, they are now at the business end of proceedings, and doubts may be starting to sneak in.
How the Mets handle those doubts should define their season. At +500, the Mets are still way ahead of the Braves (+1000) in the betting to win the 2022 World Series. So they can take some heart from the fact that the best MLB World Series betting sites and punters still have faith in them.
But like their city rivals, the Mets are enduring a bit of a sticky spell.
Next up for the Mets is a four-match home series against the Colorado Rockies (who sit bottom of the NL West). This is a great opportunity to get some wins on the board and restore some confidence. And they may well need it, as it’s a three-match mini-series against the Dodgers immediately afterward!
The Braves are flying at the moment. In recent days they’ve gotten the better of not only the New York Mets (3-1 in a mini-series), but the Houston Astros, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s worth noting the series victories over the Mets and Astros were all at SunTrust Park, but they still needed to win those matches – whether they be home or away!
This weekend Brian Snitker’s team will be challenged. They have a three-match mini-series against the in-form St. Louis Cardinals in Missouri. Come through that, and they will find themselves in a great position to win the division – as following on from the Cardinals is a trilogy of home fixtures against the Rockies.
I’m looking at the Braves as the value bet to win the NL East. They are in better form, have better odds, and only last year they won the World Series!
The Phillies are the obvious outsiders in the race for the NL East. Many may wonder why they are even getting a mention, given their home form (in particular), and the fact that the Mets and the Braves look far superior.
The best sports betting sites are still quoting them to win the division though, so we will give Rob Thomson’s team an honorable mention. I don’t see it happening, and the odds of +7500 go some way toward suggesting that is not a hard prediction to make.
The Phillies would need to be near perfect from here on in. And even if they are, they are also depending on the Mets to struggle further, and the Braves’ form to fall off a cliff. It’s unlikely one of those three things will happen, never mind all three.
Next up for the Phillies is three home games with the Pirates. That should see them close the gap on the top two if they slip up this weekend. The Phillies are currently -400 to make the MLB postseason playoffs, and that looks like a good value wager.
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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