The NL Central Division is wide open after the elbow injury to St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright, so who do the oddsmakers now favor to come out on top? Talk about it in the MLB handicapping forums.

NL Central Odds courtesy of Bodog.com

Milwaukee Brewers (2/1)
Cincinnati Reds (12/5)
St. Louis Cardinals (5/2)
Chicago Cubs (4/1)
Houston Astros (25/1)
Pittsburgh Pirates (30/1)

Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee is 10/1 to win the NL Pennant and 16/1 to win the World Series.

Milwaukee is the de facto favorite with St. Louis down a few pegs in the minds of most. The Brewers did a great job getting a legitimate ace in Kansas City’s Zach Greinke, but he still has to perform like one. They also got Shaun Marcum from Toronto and the offense never seems to be lacking in Cheeseland.

Prediction: Over 85 ½ wins

Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati is 11/1 to win the NL Pennant and 25/1 to win the World Series.

Cincinnati is not getting a lot of credit for winning 91 games last year and the division. Of course, the fact they got swept in the wild-card round by Philly has something to do with it. The Reds led the NL in runs scored last year (790) and the pitching staff is better than advertised.

Prediction: Over 85 wins

St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis is 11/1 to win the NL Pennant and 22/1 to win the World Series.

Wainwright is out for the season and fellow ace Chris Carpenter is dealing with some smaller injuries. The Albert Pujols contract situation is also hanging over the team’s head like a giant anvil. You can’t count the Cards out, but this looks like a difficult season for one of America’s great baseball towns.

Prediction: Under 83 ½ wins

Chicago Cubs

Chicago is 16/1 to win the NL Pennant and 35/1 to win the World Series.

Chicago is still trying to win its first World Series since 1908, but they’ll also happily accept their first division crown since 2008. Many are predicting Mike Quade will be the first manager fired this season and that might not be fair. Still, there are too many questions marks both on the offense and pitching staff.

Prediction: Under 81 ½ wins

Houston Astros

Houston is 40/1 to win the NL Pennant and 80/1 to win the World Series.

Houston quietly won 76 games last year under first year manager Brad Mills. Wandy Rodriguez begins the year as the No. 1 starter with Roy Oswalt in Philly. The bats were the second-lowest in the NL last year (611 runs) and it’s never good when the aging Carlos Lee is your cleanup hitter. 

Prediction: Under 72 wins

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh is 100/1 to win the NL Pennant and 200/1 to win the World Series.

Pittsburgh is in perpetual rebuilding mode, but there is some young talent to get excited about like Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez. There’s a lot of room for improvement on last year’s 57 wins, but I still don’t think it jumps up by 10.

Prediction: Under 67 ½ wins