The Nolan Arenado era for the Colorado Rockies is over, but the team still possesses an elite offense. The real question in Denver, yet again, is whether the pitchers can do their part.

The Rockies have the big bats let by Trevor Story (pictured) and Charlie Blackmon. Success depends on the continued development of hurlers such as German Marquez and consistency from Kyle Freeland and Jon Gray among others.

Here are MLB odds for the 2021 Colorado Rockies and 4 great prop bets to back.

Rockies World Series Odds (+15000, PointsBet)

The Rockies’ championship odds are high. How high? Only the Pirates have higher World Series winner odds (Texas is tied with Colorado at +15000). Expectations in the mountains are tempered.

And it makes sense. The Rockies have had a great offense for years but have failed to put together a consistent pitching staff. With Arenado now in St. Louis, the offense might take a step back. Can the pitching staff step up?

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Colorado’s rotation likely consists of the same guys from last year. Marquez (3.75 ERA in 2020), Freeland (4.33), Antonio Senzatela (3.44) and Gray (6.69) are Nos. 1-4 in the order. The Rockies finished 29th in team ERA thanks largely to bullpen woes.

Getting Scott Oberg (6-1, 2.25 ERA in 2019) back from injury helps. If Daniel Bard (4-2, 3.65, six saves as the end-of-year closer) can step his game up, the pen will have players to count on. The offense will still be good, as long as Story and Blackmon are leading the charge. Possible breakout players such as Garrett Hampson, Brendan Rodgers and Raimel Tapia need seasons worth talking about – and they could.

Of course, competition is going to be the major factor here. Even if the Rockies sneak into the playoffs with a 90-win regular season, the Dodgers, Padres, Braves and Cardinals could stand in the way, with the American League champion awaiting whoever comes out of the NL gauntlet. Find the best World Series odds for the Rockies at PointsBet.

Rockies Odds To Win The NL (+8000, PointsBet)

Getting to the playoffs is a tall task in a National League that is loaded at the top. Divisional foes such as the Dodgers (+170) and Padres (+400) lead the way in odds to win the National League – the Rockies play more games against those teams, which won’t help their playoff aspirations.

The Mets (+525) and Braves (+550) are next on the board at PointsBet. The NL Central champion gets a bid, as well, and has wild card contenders in the mix. If MLB resumes its five-team playoff format for the AL and NL, the Rockies need to one-up at least one of those teams, and all the other borderline contenders.

Nothing is impossible. The past two seasons haven’t gone well for Colorado, but in 2018 the Rockies reached the playoffs as a wild card after taking third place in the NL West. Freeland (17-7, 2.85 ERA) and Marquez (14-11, 3.77) were big reasons why. Believe in the resurgence of Colorado pitching? Secure the best odds for the NL pennant at PointsBet.

Rockies Odds To Win The NL West (+6600, bet365)

Picking the Rockies to win the National League West is like picking the San Francisco Giants or Arizona Diamondbacks to win the West. It’s going to take overachieving of several players, plus a generous helping of luck.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (-300) and San Diego Padres (+200) are, easily and for good reasons, the MLB betting favorites to take the division at bet365. They’re also the leaders on the board for the NL pennant, and the Dodgers are strong favorites to repeat as World Series champions. That’s a top-heavy division. The Diamondbacks (+4500) and Giants (+5000) are in the same boat with the Rockies.

If you’re going to throw futures cash on the Rockies, they have a better chance of getting into the playoffs as a wild card and getting hot on the mound at the right time to win the NL than they do of winning the West. Great odds can still be had for the NL West at bet365 .

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4 Great Rockies Prop Bets To Back

Trevor Story – NL Most Valuable Player (+3000, BetMGM)

There are some legit contenders for the National League’s highest individual honor. Story belongs right in the mix. He has finished in the top 12 of MVP voting the past three seasons and, at age 28, enters the prime years for a lot of batters.

If he can put it all together, Story’s numbers will be there with the rest of them. In the shortened 2020 season, Story led the league in stolen bases and triples. The previous two years, he hit 37 and 35 home runs and averaged nearly 100 RBIs. He also has batted at least .289 the past three seasons.

Some people will fade Story just because his home games are in the altitude of Coors Field. But that just gives us higher odds to begin with. If Colorado can impress as a team and Story does what he can do, these MLB futures odds will plummet by mid-summer. Then it’s just a matter of beating out a field that includes Mookie Betts (+750), Juan Soto (+750), Cody Bellinger (+800), Ronald Acuna (+800) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (+900). Take Story for MVP at BetMGM .

Charlie Blackmon – MLB Hits Leader (+2500, FOX Bet)

Three full seasons ago, Blackmon led MLB with 213 hits. He also led the league in triples, runs and plate appearances that season.

In 2018 and 2019 he recorded exactly 182 hits in each season, and last year he had 67, tied for ninth in MLB. The career .304 hitter will again be asked to set the table for a lineup that should score.

Blackmon has finished in the top 10 in hits in MLB the past four seasons. The season before that, he took 11th. Barring injury, Blackmon can again be near the top and we know he can win it, too. Take Blackmon for the hits crown at FOX Bet.

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Trevor Story – MLB Steals Leader (+1400, PointsBet)

This one sounds a little far-fetched on the surface. Story can hit for power and for average and he drills homers and doubles. That is usually not the kind of player who you expect to run at will.

But Story was given the green light in the 60-game 2020 season and, boy, did he run. Story led MLB in steals with 15 in 59 games. Over a 162-game season, that totals out to roughly 41 steals, a number unlikely to take honors for a second year in a row.

But his league-leading take from 2020 inspired confidence that he can do it. He totaled 174 and 173 hits the previous two seasons so he should get on base a lot. Take Story for stolen base honors at PointsBet.

Daniel Bard – MLB Saves Leader (+2500, PointsBet)

Of the 60 games the Rockies played in 2020, 20 were decided by a single run or in extra innings. In other words, Colorado played a lot of close games. Bard should be at the end of many of them in 2021.

Can Bard be a full-time closer? He’ll get his opportunity. The 35-year-old was thrust into the closer’s role late last season and was admirable, going 6-for-6 in save opportunities with 27 strikeouts over 24.2 innings. This spring Bard has been lights out as well. If he keeps up the solid throwing and the Rockies are in enough close games to make it interesting, he could be worth a bet. Back Bard for saves honors at PointsBet.