Three NL Teams to Watch This MLB Season

Three NL Teams Bettors Should Watch Closely in 2026

The National League features several teams heading into the 2026 season with something to prove. The Atlanta Braves are looking to bounce back after an injury filled year, the Chicago Cubs have added key pieces in hopes of returning to the postseason, and the San Francisco Giants could emerge as a surprising contender in the NL West. Here is a closer look at three teams worth watching this season.

Atlanta Braves

World Series Odds: +1900
National League Winner: +1000
NL East Winner: +230
Win Total: O/U 87.5

After missing the postseason in 2025, the Atlanta Braves are looking to bounce back in 2026. From 2018 through 2024 the Braves were one of baseball’s most consistent contenders, highlighted by their World Series title in 2021. Last season’s 76-86 finish and fourth place showing in the NL East was largely the result of injuries across the roster.

Several key players missed significant time in 2025. Ronald Acuña Jr. began the season recovering from ACL surgery, Austin Riley missed the final two months following core muscle surgery, and multiple pitchers including Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach dealt with injuries that disrupted the rotation.

Even with some early season injuries in 2026, the Braves still have a strong core. Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Riley, and Acuña lead a talented lineup. Mike Yastrzemski should see increased playing time in the outfield after Jurickson Profar was suspended for the season.

Pitching remains the biggest question mark. Sale, Strider, and Reynaldo López headline the rotation but all carry injury concerns, leaving Atlanta needing more depth behind them.

If the Braves can stay healthy they have the talent to return to the top of the NL East in 2026.

San Francisco Giants

World Series Odds: +5500
National League Winner: +2700
NL West Winner: +1700
Win Total: O/U 80.5

The San Francisco Giants are shaping up to be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the NL this season, especially for bettors looking beyond the obvious favorite in the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Dodgers continue to grab headlines with star power and massive expectations, San Francisco quietly has the pieces to make real noise in the NL West.

It starts with pitching, which has long been a strength for the Giants organization. At the top of the rotation, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray give San Francisco two legitimate frontline starters capable of shutting down opposing lineups.

Offensively, the lineup may not carry the same star driven reputation as Los Angeles, but it is deeper and more balanced than many people realize. With hitters like Rafael Devers, Luis Arraez, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Heliot Ramos, Harrison Bader, and Jung Hoo Lee, the Giants have a lineup full of professional hitters who can create runs in multiple ways. It may not be flashy, but it is a group capable of grinding out wins and applying pressure over the course of a long season.

If the pitching performs as expected and the offense produces consistently, the Giants could emerge as a legitimate threat in the division. In a season where most of the attention is focused on the Dodgers, San Francisco may be the team quietly positioned to surprise the entire NL West.

gamblersWORLD expert Sean Higgs says: “Give me the Giants at 20 to 1 to win the NL West. There is zero shot I’m betting the Dodgers, and I actually like the under on their 102.5 win total this year.

San Francisco always seems to rehab a starter or two, and their bullpen is consistently top tier. At the front of the rotation you have two legit studs in Logan Webb and Robbie Ray.

The offense might not have the flashy star power that the Dodgers have, but I like the lineup. Devers, Arraez, Chapman, Adames, Ramos, Bader, Lee. Those are solid bats that can absolutely win games.”

Chicago Cubs

World Series Odds: +1800
National League Winner: +900
NL Central Winner: +110
Win Total: O/U 88.5

The Chicago Cubs enter the season with plenty of optimism after adding superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker and strengthening the bullpen with veterans Ryan Pressly and Ryan Brasier. After posting respectable seasons in both 2023 and 2024, this could be the year the Cubs take the next step and return to playoff relevance. Tucker should provide the power the lineup has been missing, giving Chicago a legitimate middle of the order threat.

Pitching will likely play a big role in how far the Cubs can go this season. The bullpen added veterans Pressly and Brasier, which should help in late inning situations and also help younger pitchers like Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge grow. The starting rotation is mostly the same as last year, with Matthew Boyd stepping in to replace longtime Cub Kyle Hendricks after finishing the 2024 season strong with Cleveland.

Overall, the Cubs look capable of winning the NL Central and returning to the postseason for the first time since 2020 since the NL central outside on Milwaukee is weak.