The campaign to win the National League Central Division in MLB is generally a struggle, and 2022 is no exception. The Milwaukee Brewers entered as the favorites to win the division championship for the second straight year, and their odds have climbed somewhat with a little more than two months left, but they remain favored. On the oddsboard, the St. Louis Cardinals have been biting at the Brewers’ heels, with the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates completely out of the picture.
The Brewers are the favorites at -200, according to online bookmaker OKbet, and with a balanced all-around squad that includes Rowdy Tellez and former NL MVP Christian Yelich, they are undoubtedly worthy of their position.
The Cardinals are +150 in the 2022 National League Central odds, the Cubs and Pirates are +25000, and the Reds are +50000.
The NL Central Division: Who Will Win?
| Team | Odds |
| Milwaukee Brewers | -200 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | +150 |
| Chicago Cubs | +25000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +25000 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +50000 |
Milwaukee Brewers -200
In 2021, the Brewers were one of the best teams in baseball, placing third in the National League with 95 victories. They may not be as good this season, but they are still capable of repeating as division champions.
Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, is 8-5 with a 2.49 ERA and sits sixth in the majors. With 166 strikeouts, the RHP is second only to Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees (170). Tellez and Willy Adames have both hit 21 home runs this season, putting them in the top 20 in the league.
However, Milwaukee has placed itself in a precarious position. Their odds have reduced from -240 to -200, and the Cardinals have moved into first position, with identical 57-48 records. For the Brewers, the month of July was fraught with difficulties.
Before being sent to the San Diego Padres in a trade deadline surprise, ace reliever Josh Hader saw his ERA rise from 1.05 to 4.59. Jace Peterson, who leads his team in WAR with 2.4, was put on the disabled list with an elbow strain, while starter Freddy Peralta has been sidelined since May with a shoulder issue.
The team is still adjusting well to the adjustments, but they’ll need to keep it up if they want to remain ahead of the Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals +150
The St. Louis Cardinals are fighting hard, pulling level with Milwaukee in the standings. St. Louis’ odds of winning the NL Central and entering the playoffs in 2022 have improved as the season has proceeded.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Cards slipped past the Brewers, particularly with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s name among the league leaders. The 34-year-old leads the majors in batting average (.332) and RBIs (81).
Pitching is also not a major issue. Miles Mikolas has a 2.92 ERA, while the ageless Adam Wainwright isn’t far behind with a 3.11.
To bolster their rotation, the Cardinals acquired Jose Quintana (3.39 ERA) and Chris Stratton (4.91 ERA) from the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as Jordan Montgomery (3.70 ERA) from the New York Yankees, who are widely predicted to win the AL East.
St. Louis’ +150 odds provide excellent value to gamblers seeking to take a risk on an underdog futures wager since the odds are more competitive than ever and the regular season is about to come to a close.
If you can place your bet early enough, other common futures wagers like MVP or Cy Young chances may pay off handsomely.
Using our odds calculator, you can figure out how much you’d win based on the wager size and the odds.
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