The 2021 Washington Nationals will need to surprise people if they wish to achieve the same level of success as their 2019 World Series victory.
Who seems to be particularly skeptical about the Nats’ upcoming season? Oddsmakers and MLB bettors, who don’t seem very optimistic.
On Thursday, the 2021 regular season commences for the Nationals. After a disappointing year in 2020 due to the pandemic, Washington is eager to make a comeback and secure a spot in the playoffs this season. Additionally, for those baseball enthusiasts who possess a more optimistic outlook, there are various betting options to explore.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do the Nats have a chance of winning a World Series this year with odds of at least 4%?
- Do the Nationals have a higher probability of making the playoffs this season than 44%?
- Is it likely that Washington will win a minimum of 85 games in 2021?
- Who between Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin, and Stephen Strasburg will top the league in strikeouts?
If you have responded affirmatively to any of these inquiries, it may be worthwhile to consider some of the 2021 Washington Nationals betting options available at Virginia sportsbooks.
1. 2021 Washington Nationals season opener
The season opener on Thursday marks the beginning of the challenging 162-game journey. Nationals’ star pitcher Max Scherzer, a three-time recipient of the Cy Young Award, will step onto the mound to face the New York Mets and their starter Jacob deGrom.
Despite playing at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, the game presents a scenario where Washington, despite having home-field advantage, is considered an underdog.
Scherzer had a challenging 2020 season as he recorded a 5-4 record with a 3.74 ERA, which was his highest since 2012. Additionally, he had a 1.381 WHIP, marking it as his career-worst performance. These statistics contribute to the preference for deGrom on Opening Day, who boasts a 4-2 record, a 2.38 ERA, and an impressive 104 strikeouts, leading the National League.
However, if you believe that Scherzer has the potential to regain his ace performance, and if the Nationals’ hitters can successfully challenge deGrom, there are chances for favorable odds.
2. Washington’s season opener total
Oddsmakers believe that Thursday’s Nationals-Mets game may result in a low-scoring affair due to the presence of two skilled pitchers on the mound.
As of Wednesday afternoon, VA sportsbooks had already set the over-under lines for Thursday’s game. Surprisingly, the total number of runs was set at a conservative 7, with the option to bet on the “under” being favored at -120 odds (while the “over” was offered at +100) at one particular sportsbook.
Out of all the MLB Opening Day games on Thursday, the Nats’ opener is the only one with a total as low as the Braves vs. Phillies matchup.
3. 2021 Washington Nationals wins total
In addition to placing bets on MLB games, bettors have the opportunity to wager on season wins totals. The sportsbooks establish a predetermined number for the total wins of each team in the 2021 season, and bettors must decide whether they believe the team will exceed or fall below that number.
The total wins for Washington in the year have been set by VA sportsbooks at a range of 84 to 84.5.
If you believe that Washington can recapture some of their past success from the previous decade, placing a bet on their total number of wins could be a promising future investment. Before the disappointing 2020 season, Washington had an average of 91 wins per year from 2012 to 2019.
4. Washington to make postseason
Since its implementation in 2012, the current MLB playoffs system has witnessed no team with 94 wins in a full season fail to secure a postseason spot (excluding the shortened 2020 season). Astonishingly, the 2017 Minnesota Twins managed to secure a playoff berth with a mere 85 wins.
It is considered a reliable benchmark to aim for at least 87 wins. This is supported by the fact that, since 2012, a significant majority of teams (78 out of 96, or 81.2%) that achieved this win count managed to qualify for the postseason.
Do you believe the Nats have a good chance of winning a minimum of 87 games? Can they secure the NL East title or secure a wild-card spot? If so, there is an opportunity for potential profit. FanDuel is currently offering odds of +160 on the Nationals making it to the postseason. If you wager $100 and Washington successfully reaches the playoffs, you will receive your initial $100 along with an additional $160 in winnings.
5. Nats to win World Series
Is it a wise decision to place a preseason bet on the 2021 Washington Nationals to win the World Series, considering it is a longstanding MLB betting tradition for many fans?
All we need to do is some basic estimation. A couple of Virginia sportsbooks have given the Nationals’ World Series odds as +3000, which implies a 3.23% chance of winning. At +3500 odds, the implied chance decreases to 2.78%. Furthermore, WynnBET’s +4000 odds suggest a 2.44% likelihood. If you believe that Washington has a minimum 5% chance of winning the Fall Classic, then theoretically, you would profit regardless of which sportsbook’s odds you choose.
If it’s feasible, it is advisable to choose the larger number. For instance, if you were to wager $10 at WynnBET with odds of +4000 and the Nats win their second World Series title in three years, you would make a profit of $400. However, if you placed the same bet at FanDuel or William Hill sports betting app with odds of +3000, you would only make $300 in profit.
6. WAS to win NL pennant
Are you optimistic about the Nationals’ potential to win the National League pennant, but somewhat doubtful about their chances in the World Series? Alternatively, do you have concerns about Washington falling slightly short in October?
Take into account the possibility of placing a bet on their victory in the NL.
The starting odds at FanDuel are +1800, while both William Hill (due to a special “odds boost”) and WynnBET offer odds of +2500.
7. Nationals to Win NL East
The chances of the Nationals becoming World Series champions or NL Pennant winners are quite slim. However, these long odds also imply a greater potential reward if your prediction happens to be correct.
However, if you prefer a safer approach, you may choose the Nationals as the winners of the NL East. They can be found at most sportsbooks with odds ranging from +600 to +650.
The odds indicate that the Nationals are expected to finish in third place in the NL East, trailing behind the Atlanta Braves (+120 to +140) and NY Mets (+130 to +150).
8. MLB home run leader
If you are interested in betting on the performances of individual Nationals hitters, there are various choices available to you.
You can place bets on various categories to predict the 2021 MLB stats leaders at most sportsbooks. One such category is the home run leader, and in the Washington batting order, Juan Soto, Josh Bell, and Kyle Schwarber are the prominent players. You have the option to bet on each player individually to lead the league in home runs this season. Soto’s odds range from +1300 to +1500, while Schwarber is considered a riskier bet with odds of +7000.
Naturally, you have the freedom to select a few preferred Nationals to excel in various offensive categories. These may include:
- Batting average
- Hits
- Runs
- RBIs
Additionally, there is another category specifically designed for agile players. It would be beneficial to create a separate section exclusively for this category.
9. MLB stolen bases leader
Oddsmakers and bettors currently perceive the race for the 2021 MLB leader in stolen bases as a one-man show.
Adalberto Mondesi, the shortstop for the Kansas City Royals, is highly favored to win the SB crown with odds of -200. In the 2020 season, which was shortened, the 25-year-old impressively stole 24 bases, surpassing three runners-up by a margin of eight.
Nevertheless, Trea Turner, a well-known player in the baseball scene, holds the second-highest likelihood of leading the major leagues in stolen bases for this season. Turner, who currently plays as a shortstop for the Washington team, had an exceptional record in 2018, topping the charts with 43 steals. This year, bettors can place their wagers on Turner’s success with odds ranging from +350 to +470.
Furthermore, the Nationals’ centerfielder, Victor Robles, who successfully stole 28 bases during the 2019 season, can be wagered on with odds ranging from 30-1 to 33-1 (+3000 to +3300).
10. MLB strikeout leader
The fate of the Nationals’ 2021 season is likely to hinge on the performance of their starting pitchers. While the offense thrived in 2020, it is widely anticipated that it will continue to excel without significant concerns in 2021.
The pitching corps, particularly the starters, will face intense scrutiny. On the surface, there are several reasons to be optimistic. Scherzer, Corbin, and Strasburg have established themselves as reliable pitchers who can go deep into games and rack up strikeouts. Unsurprisingly, they are among the top contenders to lead the MLB in strikeouts this season.
Scherzer is offered at odds of +1000, Cobin is offered at odds of up to +4900, and Strasburg can be obtained at odds of +6500.
Similar to the batting categories, there are other chances for you to place bets on the Nats’ pitchers. These options encompass wins, as well as saves, with Washington closer Brad Hand being offered at odds ranging from +2200 to +2500.
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