| 2009 NL Central Betting Odds & Predictions |
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| Written by Matt Foust | |||||||
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Friday, 10 April 2009
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Baseball's only six team division should feature plenty of healthy opposition this season as several clubs appear to have improved their rosters with off season upgrades. Despite the competitive advances of the division, odds makers still view the Cubs as the prohibitive favorite to win the National League Central. 2009 NL Central Betting Odds & Predictions at Sportsbook.com have Chicago listed as a -220 moneyline favorite to repeat as NL Central champion. The Cubs went 97-64 last season to walk away with the division crown, but they experienced their second consecutive post-season collapse. In order to avoid that possibility this year, Chicago's front office added a utility man to the infield in former Cardinal Aaron MIles, and they further supplemented their roster with a big outfield stick in Milton Bradley. They also solidified their bullpen by bringing former Marlins closer Kevin Gregg. Chicago's pitching staff should be one of the best in the league, but it is certainly the top rotation in the NL Central. If this team can produce runs, which should not be an issue, than they will likely get to 90 or more wins again. Following the Cubs in the division projections is last year's fourth place winner, the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards were decimated by injuries in 2008 but still managed to surprise with an 86-76 record. That fact has prognosticators feeling pretty good about St. Louis' chances to outpace most of their division brethren this season. Staff ace Chris Carpenter is healhty again, giving Tony LaRussa's rotation two potential stoppers (the other being Adam Wainwright). The Cardinals also added some punch to their infield with short stop Khalil Greene. The biggest question for this squad will still be: Can they close out a game? Odds makers see the Brewers taking a big step back this year, but still have them listed at +600 odds to win the Central. Milwaukee will need a big step up from starting pitchers Manny Parra and Carlos Villanueva if they are to contend. Last season's big arms, C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets, are both gone. Everyone is looking for big improvement out of the Reds in 2009, thus their current +700 moneyline odds to win the NL Central. Cincinnati should not have any trouble putting runs on the board, but they will need their staff ace, Aaron Harang, to return to his old self after he suffered through an uncharacteristically difficult 2008. The Astros, despite finishing third in the division standings last year, are being viewed as a notch below everybody except the Pirates. The two ballclubs are listed at +2000 and +5000 moneyline odds respectively. Sportsbook.com's 2009 NL Central Betting Odds & Predictions: Chicago Cubs -220 St. Louis Cardinals +400 Milwaukee Brewers +600 Cincinnati Reds +700 Houston Astros +2000 Pittsburgh Pirates +5000                        |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 10 April 2009 ) | |||||||
