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Predicting win totals for every National League team

Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Caesars Palace in Las Vegas opened up its MLB win totals for the 2019 season this week, offering bettors a chance to take early stabs with -110 prices on both sides of the numbers. So, despite the many players - including several stars - who are still on the unhurried free-agent market, here are our over/under picks for every team in the National League. (You can find our American League picks here.)

Atlanta Braves - 84 (90-72 in 2018)

Sure, wins will be allocated more evenly in the NL East in 2019 - New York and Philadelphia should have intriguing seasons due to improved health and new additions, respectively. But Atlanta was an expected 92-win team last year, added Josh Donaldson, and has very few holes. The Braves aren't taking a step back.

Recommended Pick: Over

Milwaukee Brewers - 83.5 (96-67 in 2018)

The NL Central will be a cutthroat division rife with contenders, including the team that made the deepest playoff run. The Milwaukee Brewers got the long end of the stick during the 2018 regular season, going 33-19 in one-run games and 19-7 in September. The magic will run out, and we don't see another MVP-type year for Christian Yelich in the cards.

Recommended Pick: Under

St. Louis Cardinals - 88.5 (88-74 in 2018)

The St. Louis Cardinals eked out 88 wins in a competitive division and only got 2.3 WAR out of Marcell Ozuna. Now they've brought Paul Goldschmidt and Andrew Miller into the fold to become an even more legitimate threat.

Recommended Pick: Over

Chicago Cubs - 89 (95-57 in 2018)

It feels like the Chicago Cubs' bandwagon is losing steam this offseason as other clubs bolster their rosters. However, the Cubs still boast a dangerous lineup and should have a better, healthier rotation in 2019. We're staying on board.

Recommended Pick: Over

Arizona Diamondbacks - 77 (82-80 in 2018)

The Arizona Diamondbacks have the longest odds to win the World Series, tied with the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles at 300-1. Is it a bad price on the futures ticket or an inflated number on the win total? We think it's the latter.

Recommended Pick: Under

Los Angeles Dodgers - 95 (92-71 in 2018)

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched an NL pennant despite losing roughly 1,500 man games and 10.8 WAR to injury and going .500 in one-run contests. Last year's club was expected to rack up 102 wins, according to its Pythagorean record. Over, by a lot.

Recommended Pick: Over

San Francisco Giants - 73 (73-89 in 2018)

The Madison Bumgarner trade rumors make the San Francisco Giants tough to gauge. The win total essentially asks bettors if they think the Giants will be better or worse than a season ago. Since they were an expected 70-win squad and don't exactly give the impression they're committed to keeping their stars, it feels like the Giants will struggle.

Recommended Pick: Under

Miami Marlins - 65 (63-98 in 2018)

How on earth do the Miami Marlins not have a top 100 prospect after trading Ozuna, Yelich, and Giancarlo Stanton in the same offseason? After trudging their way to 63 wins, things are likely going to get worse this year as trade talks about J.T. Realmuto continue. It's going to be a while until the Marlins are even close to relevancy.

Recommended Pick: Under

New York Mets - 83.5 (77-85 in 2018)

Not much was working for the New York Mets in 2018. They went 15-39 across May and June, lost more than 1,750 man games and 8.73 WAR due to injury, and compiled a 16-26 record in one-run contests. Jacob deGrom probably won't have another legendary season, but if the Mets stay healthy, they should have no problem finishing over .500 and then some.

Recommended Pick: Over

Washington Nationals - 88.5 (82-80)

Whether or not Bryce Harper's in the fray, the Washington Nationals are stocked with talent and added another plus arm to the rotation in Patrick Corbin. The Nationals only got 1.3 WAR out of Harper in a year where they were one of the least healthy teams in the majors - and the second-unluckiest ballclub relative to their Pythagorean win-loss record, falling short of an expected 90 wins.

Recommended Pick: Over

San Diego Padres - 77 (66-96 in 2018)

All aboard the San Diego Padres' bandwagon!

Recommended Pick: Over

Philadelphia Phillies - 83 (80-82 in 2018)

The Philadelphia Phillies will sign either Harper or Manny Machado and get this number past the total by mid-August. It'll follow suit in what should be a popular pick, but we too like the over.

Recommended Pick: Over

Pittsburgh Pirates - 77.5 (82-79 in 2018)

The Pittsburgh Pirates would have been a great over pick last season as they fell by the wayside while the Cubs and Brewers made huge offseason moves. The Pirates stayed relatively healthy, finished 10 games over .500 in NL Central play, went 29-22 in one-run games, and finished with a record just over .500. Under, barely.

Recommended Pick: Under

Cincinnati Reds - 77 (67-95 in 2018)

The Cincinnati Reds might be the most volatile team in the majors heading into 2019. Their lineup is stacked and they've got some potential in the system, but we've got to ask the question again: Will this team be able to pitch? Though Yasiel Puig is a fun addition, we don't think the Reds turned into a 78-win team overnight.

Recommended Pick: Under

Colorado Rockies - 82 (91-72 in 2018)

Advanced numbers didn't like the Colorado Rockies, whose Pythagorean win-loss record gave them 85 wins. The rotation got career years out of both Kyle Freeland and German Marquez, but the offense sometimes looked out of sorts. This club should probably go .500 by default with the luxury of playing the Giants, Diamondbacks, and Padres, but it feels as though Colorado's window is closing.

Recommended Pick: Under

Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.

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