Baseball Handicapping Tips
The MLB season is back from break, and the front offices for each team has big decisions looming. There’s still a long way to go in a season that’s a marathon, not a sprint.
With that said, it’s these opinions we formulate that help us to build the foundation of a profitable second half.
Here are the power rankings entering the 17th week of the MLB schedule.
1. Oakland Athletics (61-37)
The Athletics remain atop the rankings, and with general manager Billy Beane having already made a significant trade to help bolster the team’s starting rotation, they’re likely to remain up here for the foreseeable future. Yoenis Cespedes again proved at the All Star festivities that he can mash the ball with the best of them, and his hose in left field is second to none.
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2. Los Angeles Angels (59-38)
Despite still looking up to the Athletics, the Angels remain comfortably in a playoff spot with a significant cushion. Any secret as to their intentions for this season were made clear with the acquisition of Huston Street. He’s quietly been one of the better closers in the National League over the last five-plus years. If he can re-find his A.L. roots and put an end to the Halos’ issues in the closer spot, they’ll cruise to the ALCS.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (54-45)
The team deserves credit for handling the Jean Segura situation well. They continue to get solid pitching and timely hitting, though it’s going to be pivotal that they not be disenchanted with the team’s early season success out of the bullpen – help is needed. Carlos Gomez deserves some consideration in MVP discussions.
4. St. Louis Cardinals (54-45)
The Cardinals have hardly hit full-stride, yet they continue to hang around, and even flirted with taking the Central division back from the Brewers near the break. Giving Jhonny Peralta a big contract in the offseason is now looking like the right move. The team just needs to weather the storm for the next month or so in preparation for a strong stretch run once Yadier Molina returns.
5. Detroit Tigers (54-41)
Justin Verlander’s gone from one of the most overrated pitchers on the betting board to one of the most undervalued. The Tigers are happy to finally get Victor Martinez back, as he was one of the hottest hitters in baseball when he went down. A trade near the deadline could provide the team with the kick in the pants it needs right about now.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (55-45)
The Dodgers had to figure a trade of one of their outfielders would be in the cards right around this time, and it looks like that is what will happen – it just might not be the outfielder we expected to see traded. Matt Kemp’s name has been thrown around in trade talks, and he might be happy to get out of Don Mattingly’s dog house, even if it meant re-locating to a new city.
7. Baltimore Orioles (53-44)
The Orioles would have liked a better start to the second half of the season, but they have to be happy sitting atop the American League East factoring everything in. Chris Davis is finally turning things around, but the team would really do itself a disservice by not finding a replacement catcher with Matt Wieters on the shelf.
8. San Francisco Giants (54-44)
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Angel Pagan can’t return soon enough. The team’s offense has gotten as far as Hunter Pence can drag it. The pitching staff has some major holes that may need to be addressed via trade. Ryan Vogelsong hasn’t been good enough on a consistent basis, and Matt Cain is now dealing with elbow soreness.
9. Washington Nationals (53-43)
Jordan Zimmermann is pencilled in for Tuesday which is good news for a team that wants no business with any other injuries. Bryce Harper’s extended rehab stint is finally over, and he’s back patrolling the outfield at Nationals Park.
10. Seattle Mariners (52-46)
Robinson Cano missing Sunday’s game due to a lingering hamstring issue is a major problem, but the bigger problem may be in right field, where the team has been sending Endy Chavez more often than not. If they’re going to make a move at the deadline, that’s got to be a prime target.
11. Atlanta Braves (54-44)
12. Toronto Blue Jays (51-48)
13. Cincinnati Reds (51-47)
14. Pittsburgh Pirates (52-46)
15. New York Mets (46-52)
16. New York Yankees (50-47)
17. Cleveland Indians (50-48)
18. Tampa Bay Rays (47-53)
19. Kansas City Royals (48-49)
20. Boston Red Sox (46-52)
21. Miami Marlins (45-52)
22. Philadelphia Phillies (43-55)
23. Chicago White Sox (47-52)
24. Minnesota Twins (44-53)
25. Houston Astros (41-58)
26. San Diego Padres (43-55)
27. Colorado Rockies (40-58)
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (43-56)
29. Texas Rangers (39-59)
30. Chicago Cubs (40-57)
Another MLB gambling season. It’s time to NOW bring your best baseball betting hat to the table for gambling on baseball. Cappers Picks all season long provides MLB baseball gambling predictions, so check back often.
