MLB Baseball Futures - NL Champion

If the St. Louis Cardinals want to defend their World Series title they will have to do so as the underdogs, with New York, Los Angeles and Chicago taking the spot of favorites.

The Mets are favored at 3/1 to head to the World Series off the strength of last year's brilliant performance, and the addition of Moises Alou. The Mets are loaded from top to bottom, and are hardened after last season's postseason failure. The Cubs are listed at 7/2, and captured the biggest prize of the offseason in landing Alfonso Soriano from Washington. If Derek Lee and Kerry Wood can be half as good as they have been in the past, the Cubs could leap over the Mets and into the driver's seat.

The Cardinals are listed at 6/1, along with Philadelphia, and are still in a good position to return to the World Series, but the Mets and Chicago may have surpassed them in the offseason with their moves. The Phillies on the other hand, are on the ascent, led by National League MVP Ryan Howard whose 58 homers from last season places him at the top of the power-hitters in the league. If the Phillies can build a solid nucleus around their young star, they could be a force sooner than later.

Here are the futures odds currently available at Bodog.com for teams to win the 2007 National League Pennant.

Odds to win the 2007 National League Pennant Championship

Arizona Diamondbacks 20/1
Atlanta Braves 17/1
Chicago Cubs 7/2
Cincinnati Reds 20/1
Colorado Rockies 33/1
Florida Marlins 18/1
Houston Astros 16/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 9/2
Milwaukee Brewers 18/1
New York Mets 3/1
Philadelphia Phillies 6/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 65/1
San Diego Padres 10/1
San Francisco Giants 15/2
St Louis Cardinals 6/1
Washington Nationals 75/1