MLB / Mike Robb / 20 March 2008 / Leave a comment

It's part two of the National League Preview and Mike Robb takes us through the NL Central this time...

The Cubs should win this Division and face the Mets for the NL Pennant. Good depth in the starting rotation is led by Carlo Zambrano while Kosuke Fukudome is a great addition to the offence to bolster the runs. The Cubs are [2.0] for the Division and [16.0] to win the World Series again at long last and I see no reason why they cannot challenge.

There are too many question marks hanging over the Milwaukee Brewers to make [3.25] a price worth considering. Will they have enough pitching? Can Ben Sheet do the business and lead the team on defence? [3.25] is worth a lay - they do not have enough to challenge the Cubs and I can even see them finishing third.

Sadly the St. Louis Cardinals are no longer the team they used to be. It's all about Albert Pujols, but do they have enough quality through the rest of the line-up to be a serious force this year? Pujols is undoubtedly a man everyone would want in their team, but I am wary that there will be too much pressure on him to carry the rest of the side this year. As a Cardinals fan I am somewhat biased and so have hope in my hear that we can at least challenge for the runner-up spot and a shot at the wild card again. But speaking with the head this time I just can't see it happening and they are rightly priced at [8.8] for the Division. Saying that, there is no doubt I'll be having my usual passionate and totally unjustifiable tenner on the Cards to win the World Series at [70.0]!

The Cincinnati Reds could be a surprise contender. The Reds have good young talent ready to shine, while Aaron Harang is a very solid starter and Francisco Cordero a decent closer. At [8.4] they are a great price to win the Division if you think the Cubs and Brewers could slip up, and with a good start and some good fortune early on that price should shorten.

The Astros have a decent offence but the pitching just does not look strong enough to make a serious impact on the Division. You should be looking to lay them at [8.4] if you've got the bankroll, while [42.0] for the World Series seems another horrifically short price.

Pittsburgh Pirates fans cannot be looking forward to this year. To cut to the chase, they haven't got a chance and are weak all over the park. [34.0] to win the Division is a lay if you're one who dabbles in laying big prices. It just will not happen - fact.

Tags: baseball betting, baseball odds, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB betting, MLB odds, National League, NL Central, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals