It would perhaps not be the smartest decision in the world to declare that a division title has been won when we haven’t even finished the first half of the MLB season yet, but I am close to making that call in the NL East.
As the midway point of the season approaches, we decided that we should perhaps look ahead at how things might play out in each division the rest of the way. While there are definitely some tight races going on in other divisions, it is very much a one team show in the NL East.
The Washington Nationals are the cream of the crop there, and it’s easy to see why they are the overwhelming favorites to hoist the division crown at the end of the season. Let’s take a closer look at all 5 teams to figure out if anyone has what it takes to make a run at the top as well as the latest MLB betting picks.
2017 MLB Season NL East Betting Predictions and Free Picks
Washington Nationals (47-31)
The 9.5-game lead that the Washington Nationals have at the top of the division has been that way for quite some time now, as no-one has really put together the sort of run that would close that gap. The danger here is that the lack of a genuine foe has made the Nationals a little lazy, as they have been playing .500 ball for a few weeks now. Had they kept their foot on the gas, they could have opened up a lead that would absolutely have been impossible to catch, although it’s fair to suggest that they may already have done that. They are the only team in this division with a positive run differential, and have a 22-15 record against their division opponents.Atlanta Braves (37-40)
Their new stadium may be complete, but this is a team that is still in the building phase. The Braves have put together a squad that is a mixture of seasoned veterans and wet behind the ears young guys. As you might expect from such a line-up, he results are inconsistent at best. The Braves are in the middle of the pack offensively, but have been getting some solid effort from Freddie Freeman and Mike Kemp. Where they have struggled is with their pitching, which is hard to swallow for Atlanta fans who are used to seeing their team excel there. A Wild Card would be a longshot, and the best possible result would be to finish where they are right now.
