Bet on MLB 2015 National League Over/Under Win Totals

Today I’m going to take a look at 4 Major League Baseball teams in the National League and their Over/Under win totals for the season according to Bovada. I’ll also supply my prediction of whether I think it’s best to go with the over or under of each team. Tomorrow I will cover 4 teams in the American League.

All odds are via Bovada

National League Over/Under Odds

Washington Nationals – over/under is 93 1/2 wins. Led by the offseason free-agent signing of ace Max Scherzer the Nationals starting pitcher rotation is almost off the charts. Stephen Strasburg is their #2 or perhaps 1b. Jordan Zimmerman is their 3rd, Gio Gonzalez is their 4th, and Doug Fister is their 5th. Those 5 pitchers amassed a total of 72 wins last season. The batting lineup is led by right-field Bryce Harper. Last season he was limited to 100 games due to injury but he batted .273 with 13 home runs and 32 rbis. 3rd baseman Anthony Rendon may turn out to be the star of the Nationals’ lineup as last season he put up a .287 average with 21 home runs and 83 rbis. If the starting rotation performs as well as I think they should I would choose the over (-130) for this club. I’m thinking between 95 and 97 wins.

St. Louis Cardinals – over/under is 88 1/2 wins. The Cardinals have about an equal mix of good hitting and good pitching. In the hitting department they are led by left-fielder Matt Holliday who last season batted .272 with 20 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Shortstop Johnny Peralta led the team in homers last season with 21. He batted .263 with 75 runs batted in. In the pitching rotation Adam Wainwright was their gem a season ago as he finished with 20 wins and 9 losses with 179 strikeouts and a 2.38 era in 227 innings pitched. Lance Lynn had a solid season as well with a 15-10 record. He led the team in strikeouts with 181. He finished with a 2.74 era in 203.2 innings pitched. The Cardinals (especially in the last decade) always seem to perform no matter who they throw out there but I’m expecting a slight decline from them this season. I would choose the under (-125) for this club. I’m thinking between 83 and 86 wins.

San Francisco Giants – over/under is 83 1/2 wins. The Giants are the defending World Series champions which means the rest of MLB will be gunning for them. At this they are used to that so I don’t think it will phase them much. After starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner’s amazing postseason run last season (4-1 in 6 postseason starts with a 1.03 era and 45 strikeouts) much of the attention coming in to the season will be on him. During the regular season a year ago he finished with an 18-10 record and 219 strikeouts with a 2.98 era in 219 innings pitched. It will be interesting to see if he turn his postseason run in to Cy Young type regular season. In the hitting department the loss of Pablo Sandoval to free agency (signed with the Red Sox) could be an emotional downer for this club. He always seemed to be at the nose of all the grit this team has shown in the postseason the last 3-4 years. However, they still have catcher Buster Posey who last season led the team with a .311 batting average with 22 home runs and 89 runs batted in. Perhaps I’m over-estimating Sandoval’s value to this team but I think his loss will not only be felt on the field but in the clubhouse as well so that’s why I would choose the under (-130) for this club. I’m thinking between 81 and 83 wins.

San Diego Padres – over/under is 84 1/2 wins. The story for the Padres this season will be their busy off-season and all their major additions. In the hitting department they added outfielders Justin Upton and Matt Kemp. Last season Upton batted .270 with 29 home runs and 102 runs batted in. He’ll add quite the pop to the Padres lineup and be helpful in a home park that hasn’t been the friendliest to hitters over the years. Last season Kemp batted .287 with 25 home runs and 89 runs batted in. Not only will he and Upton add some quality power to the batting lineup they’ll also shore up the defense in the outfield. Over on the pitching side of things the addition of starting pitcher James Shields give the Padres a true ace at the top of their rotation. Last season Shields guided the Royals to an appearance in the World Series. In the regular season he was 14-8 with 180 strikeouts and a 3.21 era in 227 innings pitched. He was a late addition in the off-season but he is an excellent pickup. The Padres could be an enigma this season as they now have some quality batters and an ace to go with some of their younger players. I’m not quite sold on them being a true contender to the pennant this season but then I also think they could surprise. I would choose the under (-115) for this club. I’m thinking between 81 and 83 wins.