Dodgers vs. Mets vs. Giants: Which NL Favorite is Worth Betting After Their Red-Hot Start

The 2022 season is a couple of weeks old and teams are beginning to settle into their spots in the standings. As far as the National League goes, I have to say there haven’t been too many surprises early on. The teams that were expected to lead their respective divisions to do. 

The New York Mets have an early 2.5-game lead in the NL East over the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. In the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants are tied atop the ladder with the Colorado Rockies trailing by one game. 

It is the top three teams that I want to focus on in this article. I want to determine which team between the Mets, Dodgers, and Giants is the best early bet to win the National League Pennant. 

Here are the current odds to win the National League title from WynnBET Sportsbook:

• Dodgers +250
• Mets +450
• Braves +600
• Brewers +700
• Padres +700
• Phillies +1000
• Giants +1200

Let’s take a deeper look at the Mets, Dodgers, and Giants and pick our best bet. 

Giants +1200

The Giants won the National League last season right out from the noses of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They finished with the best record in the MLB but went on to get bounced out of the playoffs by Los Angeles. And while I agree that the Giants of 2021 played way over their heads, I think the oddsmakers have been a bit harsh on them since. Case and point, the Giants are 7-2 to start the year and are tied for the best record in the division with LA. I am not saying that they keep up that pace, but at these odds, it might not hurt to take a chance. 

Mets +450

The Mets are another team in the NL off to a hot start with a 7-3 record in their first ten games. They are a half-game behind SF and LA for the lead in the NL and winners of three of their last four. The Mets did a lot this offseason to go from a win sometimes team to a win-now squad.

They have dealt with some early injuries but might have the best pitching staff in baseball. Let’s just hope that their veteran arms have enough left in the tank for a full season. 

Dodgers +250

It should come as no surprise to see the Dodgers here. Even if they were off to a bad start I think they would still lead the odds race this early in the season. They were the best team in baseball last year, despite the second-best average. And yet, somehow, they got better again in the offseason. Their pitching staff, led by Clayton Kershaw, is one of the best in the league and their lineup is like a murderer's row of pain. Newly acquired Freddie Freeman is off to a great start with a .324 average and four RBIs in his first nine games with LA. 

The Dodgers are the safe bet, and at +250 their odds might not get better anytime soon. But, at +1200, I would sprinkle some of the GIants too just in case they have another miracle season.