World Series Odds: Scouting the Teams In the National League

Major League Baseball’s regular season is about to end, and the postseason is about to begin. BetPhoenix has the latest odds for the MLB playoffs, and the odds of each team to win the World Series. Once the playoffs begin, any team can make a run for the World Championship.

Here is a look at the teams in the National League, and their chances to win a World Series.

Atlanta Braves/San Diego Padres

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SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Chase Headley #7 of the San Diego Padres slides past the tag of catcher Ramon Hernandez #55 of Cincinnati Reds for the winning score during the Padres 4-3 win in their MLB game on September 25, 2010 at PETCO Park in San Dieg

Atlanta Braves/San Diego Padres

Odds To Win World Series at BetPhoenix

Braves: 10 to 1

Padres 20 to 1

As of the writing of this article the Padres and the Braves are in a two-way tie for the wild card. Neither team is likely to win the World Series, but they are both a surprising possible contender for the playoffs.

The Braves are winning in the last season of historic Hall Of Fame manager Bobby Cox, and are doing it with pitching and the sensational play of rookie Jason Heyward. The Braves struggle on the road, but have the pitching to make a run in the postseason.

The Padres are the biggest surprise in baseball this year. They have essentially gone from cellar dwellers to pennant contenders in one year, and it is all about the pitching. They are first in the N.L. in earned run average and second in wins, and can compete with any other staff in all of baseball.

Adrian Gonzalez is the offensive MVP of this team and leads the squad in home runs, batting average, and runs batted in. The Padres are a dark horse to win the World Series, but it will be interesting to see what they can do.

Cincinnati Reds

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

CINCINNATI - SEPTEMBER 12: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds is at bat during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ballpark on September 12, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Reds

Odds To Win World Series at BetPhoenix : 12 to 1

The Reds surprised the National League by taking the Central Division instead of the St. Louis Cardinals.  They have an emerging Most Valuable Player candidate in Joey Votto, and a young, hard-throwing pitching staff.

Manager Dusty Baker is getting results out of a young group of players that don’t have many big names. Scott Rolen, Jay Bruce, and Votto power a team that actually leads the National League in home runs. This is mainly due to a friendly home park with a short porch, but the Reds have used it to their advantage.

The Reds can win on the road as well, as they have a winning road record. The Reds' pitching staff is anchored by the veteran Bronson Arroyo, and two young hard-throwers in Johnny Cueto, and Edinson Volquez. Aroldis Chapman is a gifted reliever that can wow the crowd, and stun hitters with his fastball that has been clocked at 105!

The Reds might not be favored to win the World Series, but they are a dark horse that might just surprise a few teams in the postseason.

San Francisco Giants

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 24: Starting pitcher Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants delivers against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 24, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. Lincecum earned the win as the Giants defeated the Rockies 2-1. (Photo b

San Francisco Giants

Odds To Win World Series at BetPhoenix : 10 to 1

The Giants and the Padres fought the entire season to see who would be the champion of the National League West.

The Giants are not all that impressive at the plate, and they have to rely on the likes of Aubrey Huff and Pablo Sandoval, but they had a great-rookie campaign by catcher Buster Posey.

The bats seem to do just enough to keep this team in the hunt for a title, but the strength is definitely the pitching staff. Tim Lincecum is the ace of this staff and has sick stuff. He leads the team in wins and strikeouts, and will be the player that can get them to the World Series. He has help in the rotation from Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez, and that is a formidable front to put forward in the postseason. If the bats can heat up, the Giants can be a tough out in the N.L. postseason.

Philadelphia Phillies

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 25: First baseman Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a first inning two-run home run during a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 25, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter

Philadelphia Phillies

Odds To Win World Series at BetPhoenix : 3 to 1

The Phillies are arguably the best team in baseball heading into the postseason. They had a tremendous winning streak to enter the playoffs, and are close to winning the National League East, and they have the best pitching staff in baseball.

Roy Halladay is the ace of the staff, he leads the team in wins, earned run average, and strikeouts. The Phillies' pitching staff is one of the best in the entire league in wins, and their three-man rotation of Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels is impossible to match up against.

The lineup is rested for the playoffs, and led by Ryan Howard, who led the team in power numbers, crushing home runs and racking up RBI.  The Phillies are the best team in the National League, and the favorite to win the World Series.

One thing is for sure, it's going to be a great MLB postseason.

Scouting the American League

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews, and predictions. Feel Free to contact Matt at [e-mail]