The 2024 MLB season is now a month and a half complete, and many of the expected contenders are showing why they were considered favorites.

Heading into this season, the National League was viewed as a two-team race between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. While those two teams remain at the top of the league, it's clear that a third team -- the Philadelphia Phillies -- should be receiving some attention with how they've started the campaign. It'll be a real surprise if one of the top three isn't representing the NL when it's all said and done, but as we saw last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks unexpected run, you never know in baseball.

Let's dive into the National League odds and take a look at the favorites.

All MLB odds from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

National League Odds

Los Angeles Dodgers (+145)

The Dodgers put in the work in the offseason, and it's paying off already.

After making a number of huge signings -- headlined by Shohei Ohtani -- it was never a question that the Dodgers would be a contender. It was more of -- just how good would LA be?

Offensively, they're the kings of the league so far. Los Angeles currently leads all teams in wOBA (.355), SLG (.454), batting average (.270), wRC+ (133), and collective fWAR (12.3) -- which is 3.9 higher than the next-best offense.

It's not too shocking, as Ohtani has been the best hitter in baseball, and Mookie Betts hasn't been too far behind him. Ohtani has a .469 wOBA and 2.6 fWAR while Betts leads the league in fWAR (3.0) and sports a .440 wOBA. Betts (+165) and Ohtani (+360) are the current frontrunners in the NL MVP odds.

Of course, the Dodgers are more than a two-man show as Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Teoscar Hernandez are powering their lineup, as well, helping LA hit the second-most home runs (54).

In terms of pitching, things are going well with the duo of Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto leading the rotation. The Dodgers rank third in team ERA (3.25), 13th in FIP (3.88), 10th in SIERA (3.80), 11th in strikeout rate (22.9%), and 4th in WHIP (1.12). There's still room for them to improve with Clayton Kershaw expected back later in the season and Walker Buehler having just returned.

The Dodgers are in the driver's seat, holding the shortest odds to win the World Series, and they are the rightful favorites to take the NL.

Atlanta Braves (+250)

Last season, the Atlanta Braves had a record-breaking offense and a pitching staff built to win. They came up short in the postseason, but they're clearly one of the best teams in baseball and have shown it this season.

Let's start with their offense. Ronald Acuna Jr. has started the season slowly, but Marcell Ozuna has done more than enough to make up for that with his league-leading 38 RBIs. Of course, this offense also contains the likes of Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies.

The gifted lineup ranks in the top 10 in multiple categories -- including their .329 wOBA (5th), 111 wRC+ (8th), .418 SLG (4th), and .161 ISO (6th). Atlanta, however, has been lacking in the home-run category that they led comfortably a year ago. They rank just 19th with 36 home runs -- so if they ever turn that around, the Braves will be right back where they were a season ago.

Atlanta's pitching has remained strong, as well, but the injury to Spencer Strider is a brutal one to make up for from here on out. Strider missing for Atlanta is likely the main reason they trail LA in these odds.

Max Fried, the re-emergence of Chris Sale, and the surprise of Reynaldo Lopez has played a major part in Atlanta's pitching success. On top of that, their bullpen has been among the best in the majors with a 3.44 SIERA and 3.32 ERA -- both ranking 8th.

No Strider makes it tough, but the talent on this team remains undeniable. If the Braves and Dodgers meet up in the NLCS, it'll be a colossal battle.

Philadelphia Phillies (+500)

The Braves may be team with the shorter odds, but it's the Philadelphia Phillies who sit in first place in the NL East. They've made the run to the NLCS two straight years and won the NL in 2022. There's no reason to count out the Phillies, even with these two powerhouses ahead of them.

When talking about the 2024 Phillies, it's only right to start with their elite pitching. Zack Wheeler is currently the favorite for the NL Cy Young, listed at +220 odds to win the NL Cy Young. The Phillies are at the top in nearly every pitching category -- fourth in ERA (3.28), second in SIERA (3.35), first in FIP (3.29), second in strikeout rate (25.7%), sixth in WHIP (1.16), and second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.53).

While it's Philly's pitching, not the star-studded lineup, that gives them an advantage over the Dodgers and Braves, their lineup is still doing great things thus far.

Names such as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Alec Bohm -- the latter of whom has been their top slugger this season -- are going to make you pay attention to this lineup. Bohm is experiencing a breakout in his age-27 campaign, mashing his way to a .417 wOBA with a 10.0% walk rate, both of which are career-high marks.

Philadelphia ranks fourth in .332 wOBA, sixth in home runs (46), fourth in wRC+ (114), and seventh in fWAR (6.9). They're checking all the boxes on both sides of the diamond.

The Phillies have proven to be a very tough out in the postseason, and their roster is full of talent both on the mound and at the plate. They're firmly in the mix this year, and they're an enticing wager at these +500 odds.

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