The National League West Division was supposed to be the best in baseball this season, and it has played out that way on the diamond. All three of the teams from California look like a lock to make the playoffs, and all three will battle it out for the division crown.
The San Francisco Giants have been able to maintain their slight lead in the West, but the Dodgers continue to keep the pressure on. San Diego has started to fall off the pace a bit but are still within striking distance with about two months to play.
The Dodgers have been the betting favorites to win the NL West since before the season, and they remain there today. Los Angeles is -145 to win the NL West, despite being in second place.
San Francisco is next on the list at +115, but those odds continue to shorten as the Giants hold on to the top spot in the division. The San Diego Padres have seen their odds fall to +1600 to win the NL West, and it doesn’t appear that they will have much of a shot.
The NL Race is Taking Shape
The Dodgers are big favorites to win the NL pennant as the odds are now set at +175. The Giants are
next on the list at +440, but that is a pretty significant gap at this point in the season.
The Milwaukee Brewers of the NL Central have odds set at +480 to win the pennant, but it is starting to feel like a two-team race.
Dodgers-Astros Set to Square Off?
The World Series odds have been changing all season long, but the Dodgers have constantly remained on top in terms of betting lines. The Los Angeles Dodgers now have odds set at +300 to win the World Series, which would be their second championship in a row.
The Houston Astros have made a huge jump from the preseason odds, and they are now listed at +440 to win the title. That is the second-best odds on the board, ahead of the surging Chicago White Sox.
The Astros and Dodgers have a history in the World Series, and this could make for a thrilling series to end the 2021 MLB season.
A Glance at the AL West Race
There are also a pair of California teams in the American League West Division, and one team still has a fighting chance to win the division. The Houston Astros have been dominating the AL West for the better part of six years, and it looks like they will win it again in 2021.
Houston currently has a 2.5-game lead in the division, but the odds are set at -1700 for them to come out on top. Oakland has continued to keep pressure on the Astros, but their odds are at just +850 to win the division.
The Los Angeles Angels have not been able to survive an injury to Mike Trout, and they are now nine games out of first place in the division.
