NL East Winner Odds, Predictions & Picks 2023

The NL East will be a hotly contested division. The Braves (barely) won it last year, and it will be a close race once again this year. The NL East is packed with talent and may have three teams making the Playoffs, so this will be one of the more closely contested races.

The odds and predictions for this list will be updated weekly. Check back each week to see any new developments and where each team stands. Be sure to also check out our reviews of the best MLB betting sites you can register with today.

NL East Winner Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

NL East Winner - Atlanta Braves -425

The Braves are the favorites to win the NL East, and I would bet on them to do so. They are off to an incredible start and are the most well-rounded team in this division.

Atlanta Braves (-425 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

The Braves have the best odds to win the Division. While I do not believe they will be atop the division at the end of the season, I understand why many do. Atlanta made a few big moves this offseason and acquired catcher Sean Murphy and relief pitchers, Joe Jimenez and Lucas Luetge. They lost star infielder Dansby Swanson to the Cubs but maintained most of the rest of their roster.

I expect the Braves to make the Playoffs and potentially make a run but not win the division. Atlanta does not have a ton of infield depth and cannot compete with the Mets’ rotation (very few teams can). With that being said, they still have a consistent rotation and four-six reliable hitters. They will win 95-105 games and win the division.

The Braves are in first place in the NL East with a 29-19 record. Their division lead has shrunk a little and is now 4.5 games, but they will win this division. 

Atlanta is averaging 5.15 runs per game and has three players (Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, and Sean Murphy) with 30 or more RBIs. Their best hitter, Ronald Acuna Jr., is hitting .337 with 11 home runs. Overall, this is a top-five lineup.

The Braves also have a top-tier rotation. I will not go into each starter’s stats, but I will say this. Outside of Jared Schuster, each starter has an ERA in the twos or threes.

This team not only has the makings to win the division, but they also have the makings to win the World Series.

New York Mets (+450 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

The Mets spent over $350 million in free agent signing this offseason. Some of these signings include Justin Verlander, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, and Kodai Senga. Unfortunately, Diaz will miss this season after suffering a freak injury in the World Baseball Classic, but the rest of these players are healthy and ready to contribute.

The Mets now possess one of the best rotations in the MLB and a top-ten lineup. Their top three pitchers are Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Kodai Senga. That may be the best 1-2-3 punch in the Major Leagues. With the Mets’ current roster, there is no reason they should not win a Wild Card.

The Mets are in second place with a 25-24 record. They have won five of their last six and are starting to hit a groove.

The Mets are averaging 4.27 runs per game. That is a decent amount of runs but not enough. New York has Brandon Nimmo, Mark Canha, Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, and Pete Alonso in their lineup, so they should have no problems averaging five or more runs.

The Mets rotation is beginning to return to form. Max Scherzer has had two strong starts in a row, Kodai Senga is figuring out Major League talent, and Justin Verlander lowered his ERA to 3.60. If these three can play to their potential, New York will be hard to beat.

Philadelphia Phillies (+1300 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

The Phillies have a killer lineup that consists of Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, and J.T. Realmuto. These five are all strong hitters and make any opposing pitcher’s life a nightmare. Philadelphia also has a rotation that consists of Aaron Nola, Zach Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, Ranger Suarez, and Bailey Falter. Falter is not excellent, but the other four are quite consistent and reliable on the mound.

The Phillies do not entirely match up to the Mets or Braves, but they will finish in a Wild Card spot.

The Phillies are going through it. I still believe they will take a Wild Card spot, but they need to get it together.

The Phillies are averaging 4.25 runs per year. This is not acceptable. Philadelphia has a subpar rotation, so the lineup has to carry them, at least for now. Trea Turner must start playing better, and Bryson Stott needs to be elite. That will be key to their success.

The Phillies’ rotation has been problematic this season. Aaron Nola, Zach Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, and Bailey Falter all have ERAs in the fours and fives and have been letdowns so far. At least two of these pitchers must return to form.

Miami Marlins (+3000 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

I have mixed feelings about the Marlins. Miami has some talented players, but they do not have all the pieces to make the Playoffs. They will probably end the season in fourth in the NL East.

The Marlins have some solid starters in Sandy Alcantara and Jesus Luzardo, but the rest of their rotation needs a lot of work. On the offensive end, there is not much to talk about. Other than Jazz Chisholm Jr., no player is a star on this team. I do not mean to sound incredibly critical of the Marlins, but they do not have enough solid players to make the Playoffs.

I do not expect the Marlins to make the Playoffs, but they also will not have a horrible season. Miami’s roster is mediocre, but they have some solid players and will win some games against good teams.

The Marlins are sitting at 24-25 and in third place. They have an exciting team but do not impress me. 

Miami is averaging less than 3.5 runs per game. Jorge Soler, Luis Arraez, and Bryan De La Cruz have been excellent, but it ends there.

The Marlins’ rotation has shown promise but do not have what it takes this year. Jesus Luzardo has been impressive with his 3.83 ERA, but overall, this rotation cannot sustain success over a whole season.

Washington Nationals (+40000 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

The Nationals are going through a rebuild and should end up at the bottom of the division. They have a few good players in pitchers Josiah Gray and Patrick Corbin and infielders Joey Meneses and Luis Garcia but will only have limited success this season.

If you are a Nationals fan, I would not get my hopes up too high this season, but I would look forward to the future. Washington has some solid young pieces and some big names coming up in their system. 2023 will be a tough year, but 2024 will not be as bad.

The Nationals have dropped to fifth place with a 20-28 record. I do not need to say much about them. Washington has some great franchise players but is not built for success at the moment.

How to Place a Futures Bet on the NL East Division

You can bet on the NL East Division winner on all major sportsbooks. The process is fairly simple. First, you have to log in to the sportsbook. Afterward, you will go to the MLB and click on the Team Futures section or a section with a similar name. You will find the Division Winner odds there and can make your pick. 

Best MLB Betting Sites