The battle between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves looks set to go down to the wire as the best MLB sportsbooks struggle to separate the pair in the latest MLB betting to win the NL East Division.
Apologies to any Phillies fans out there, but although the Philadelphia Phillies are still included in the betting odds, I think we can safely forget about them and focus on just the Mets and the Braves.
The Phillies are now nine wins behind the top two, and for a side that doesn’t have the most consistent record, that gap looks too big to close.
Who are the favorites to win the NL East Division?
At the moment, the New York Mets are the favorites to win the NL East Division. The Mets are -200, with the Braves at +150. But the truth is, the odds vary from sportsbook to sportsbook. And with the gap between the two sides practically non-existent, the latest MLB odds will be no doubt be changing almost daily.
| NL East Division Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| New York Mets | -200 | -225 |
| Atlanta Braves | +150 | +150 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +50000 | +60000 |
The top MLB betting sites seem to be favoring the Mets as things stand. But only just. The Mets have been the leaders for most of the season. But with the Braves closing in on them every week, the gap in the odds has also continued to close.
At the moment, it looks like a straight choice between the long-term leaders - the New York Mets, and the team who seems to be finishing the season the stronger and on the front foot, the Atlanta Braves?
Oh yes, and don’t forget the small matter that the Braves are the defending World Series champions, having won the title last year, beating the Astros in six matches.
THE BRAVES DID IT FOR ATLANTA!
THEY ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1995 👏 pic.twitter.com/EBrM0ysY2h
— ESPN (@espn) November 3, 2021
What has happened to the New York Mets?
The Mets haven’t had a great September. They started it finely, clinching a 5-3 win to complete a mini-series win over the Dodgers. Things stuttered somewhat after that and in the first few days of the month, they managed back-to-back 7-1 defeats at home to the Nationals. Those defeats were followed by an 8-2 thrashing from the Pirates.
That mini-run of defeats was ended by 5-1 and 10-0 wins over the Pirates. But over the month, Buck Showalter’s team has lost as many as they have won. And at this stage of the season, that’s not great for a team with world series winning aspirations.
In the latest 2022 MLB World Series odds, the New York Mets are +500. They are just ahead of the Braves at +700. Those odds are from BetOnline. You can read more about the bookmaker in our BetOnline sportsbook review.
So what is next for Showalter and his misfiring Mets? Well, the answer is a four-match home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are bottom of the NL Central with a win percentage of just .380, one of the lowest in the MLB.
If ever a run of matches was designed to get a team going again, this could be it. Following on from the Pirates is three matches away from the Brewers. With another triple header on the road at the Athletics afterward. The Brewers should be a challenge, but the rest of the fixtures should provide plenty of wins for the Mets.
There's then a doubleheader at home to the Marlins at Queens before September is out. But immediately after that, as September turns to October, there is a triple header that may well decide the outcome of the division when the Mets travel to Atlanta for a three-match series at SunTrust Park.
The Atlanta Braves continue to impress
So far in September, the Braves have a far superior record to the Mets. But let's be honest, it wouldn't be difficult.
So what is in store for Brian Snitker's side before the showdown against the Mets at the end of the month?
Next up is a home series of three fixtures against the Phillies this weekend. This gives the Braves the chance to end the Phillies' slim chances once and for all, and I suspect that they will.
After that, the Braves host the Nationals for a three-match series. Atlanta will then face the same two sides again. They first travel to Philadelphia for four matches and then to Washington for another three. After that marathon roadshow comes the clash with the Mets.
So who will win the NL East?
The way these two sides are performing, the Braves could well be ahead of the Mets by the time they meet. The best MLB betting sites seem to be siding with the Mets - for now. But if their form doesn't pick up soon, that will quickly change.
Going in favor of the Mets could be the seven games on the road Atlanta face at the end of September. They could prove troublesome for the Braves, who seem to have the tougher run at the end of the month. How much they have left in the tank when they face the Mets could be key.
That said, I would still have my money on the Braves. They are at better odds, and they seem to be the team finishing the regular season the stronger.
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