The National League East division contains three potential contenders with the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets all set for battle all season long. Bettors are lining up their best MLB futures for the 2023 season with Opening Day just a day away, and it is hard not to like the Braves to come away victorious despite the highly-competitive division they are forced to deal with.
Bettors looking for more of the best MLB futures can check out OddsShopper models and lock in a free seven-day trial of OddShooper Premium to use for this packed week of sports action!
Best MLB Futures: Look For Braves to Win Another NL East Title
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Braves (+105) are once again the favorites to win the NL East. They are followed by the Mets (+175) and Phillies (+425). Atlanta will be looking to win their sixth consecutive division title.
The Braves rebounded from losing franchise icon, Freddie Freeman, prior to last season, filling the void with slugging first baseman Matt Olson. They will again be looking to fill a void after losing closer Kenley Jansen in the offseason but should be able to get complement their talented young rotation with a bullpen anchored by Raisel Iglesias and A.J. Minter.
One word to describe the Mets’ offseason: chaotic. After losing ace Jacob deGrom in free agency, the team filled the void with veteran Justin Verlander to head the rotation with Max Scherzer. They also reportedly landed prized shortstop free agent, Carlos Correa, before a failed physical led to the deal falling apart. Then, just weeks until Opening Day, the Mets lost star closer Edwin Diaz to a season-ending knee injury suffered while celebrating a win in the World Baseball Classic.
And despite their run to the World Series and offseason addition of Trea Turner, the Phillies just do not have the same depth as the Braves (or even Mets), which is evident given their long-shot odds to win the division.
Simply put, the Braves are elite in nearly every category. Their offense will be getting a massive boost when getting outfielder Ronald Acuna back in the fold to kick off the season. He’ll compliment the already-star-studded group of Austin Riley, Matt Olsen, Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies. Olsen, Albies and Riley made the All-Star team in 2022, while Harris won the Rookie of the Year.
The Brave rotation will be headed by Max Fried (who finished 7th in WAR among National League starters) and fireballer Spencer Strider (who finished second to Harris for the ROY award). While third starter Kyle Wright will begin the season on the IL, he is expected to make his return to the team in the month of April.
Sure, the Mets and Phillies were both fun stories in the 2022 MLB season. But the NL East still runs through Atlanta, and there is no reason to expect the Braves to let their guard down now. Look for the Braves to remain the class of the NL East in 2023.
Best MLB Futures: Braves to win NL East (+105 on DraftKings)
