Bodog’s MLB Weekend Preview
This weekend’s collection of baseball’s Top 10 goes out to Andre Dawson. The Montreal Expos retired Dawson’s No. 10 uniform in 1997; the man they call Hawk spent the first 11 of his 21 MLB seasons in Quebec before winning the National League MVP award in 1987 with the Chicago Cubs. All stats were at press time; for the latest odds, visit sports.bodog.com.
Top 10 paying teams this month
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (20-8, 11.32 units)
2. Toronto Blue Jays (19-10, 8.34 units)
3. Kansas City Royals (16-11, 7.03 units)
4. St. Louis Cardinals (17-10 SU, 4.99 units)
5. Boston Red Sox (17-10 SU, 4.76 units)
6. Cincinnati Reds (14-12 SU, 3.82 units)
7. Texas Rangers (14-12 SU, 3.65 units)
8. Florida Marlins (15-12 SU, 3.30 units)
9. Seattle Mariners (15-12 SU, 2.28 units)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (14-10 SU, 1.23 units)
Top 10 paying pitchers this month
1. Zack Greinke, Kansas City (6-0 team record, 6.13 units)
2. Chad Billingsley, L.A. Dodgers (6-0, 6.00 units)
3. Scott Richmond, Toronto (5-0, 6.00 units)
4. Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox (5-0, 5.52 units)
5. Josh Johnson, Florida (5-1, 4.51 units)
6. Brian Bannister, Kansas City (3-0, 4.24 units)
7. Jason Marquis, Colorado (4-1, 4.13 units)
8. Felix Hernandez, Seattle (5-1, 3.87 units)
9. Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati (4-1, 3.75 units)
10. Russ Ortiz, Houston (3-0, 3.74 units)This weekend’s top 10 storylines
This weekend’s top 10 storylines
1. Alex Rodriguez could return Friday for the Yankees
2. Cole Hamels on course to start Friday for Philadelphia
3. A’s southpaw Brett Anderson to miss Saturday’s start versus Toronto
4. Pirates closer Matt Capps eyeing Saturday return
5. Cleveland moves starter Aaron Laffey to bullpen, calls up Jeremy Sowers
6. Astros ace Roy Oswalt (bone bruise/blister) uncertain for this weekend
7. Twins send 2B Alexi Casilla to minors, call up Matt Tolbert
8. Mets uncertain whether Ken Takahashi will start Friday
9. White Sox giving Jayson Nix extended look at shortstop while Alexei Ramirez sits
10. Josh Hamilton not due back for Rangers until May 12
This weekend’s top 10 games to bet on
1. Sunday: Tampa Bay at Boston (8:05 p.m. Eastern, ESPN)
This is ESPN’s flagship baseball broadcast and a juicy pitching matchup between Matt Garza (team 3-3, minus-0.59 units) and Josh Beckett (4-2, 1.47 units). The Rays took three of four against Boston last week at the Trop.
2. Friday: San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers (10:10 p.m.)
The No. 2 man on our money list goes for the Dodgers against 2002 Cy Young winner Barry Zito (3-2, 1.52 units). Zito looks more like his old self these days, allowing a total of three runs on 13 hits over the past three games.
3. Saturday: Atlanta at Philadelphia (3:40 p.m., FOX)
This would be Hamels’ fifth start since being named the 2008 World Series MVP. The Phillies are 1-3 in his previous four outings and 3.6 units in the red. Hamels could still miss this start with a sprained right ankle.
4. Saturday: St. Louis at Cincinnati (7:10 p.m., MLBN)
The MLB Network’s inaugural season goes to the Great American Ball Park, home of the team with the best under record in the majors at 16-10. That includes 5-1 when Aaron Harang (2-4, minus-1.69 units) is on the mound.
5. Sunday: N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore (1:35 p.m.)
Joba Chamberlain (2-3, minus-1.56 units) is having an up-and-down season, while the Orioles have managed to lose Koji Uehara’s last four appearances despite four straight quality starts. That leaves Uehara at 2-4 and down 2.26 units.
6. Friday: Toronto at Oakland (10:05 p.m)
Scott Richmond is No. 3 on our money list after fattening up on struggling teams like Baltimore and Cleveland. Oakland would be another of those struggling teams at 9-15 (minus-5.56 units).
7. Saturday: Seattle at Minnesota (7:10 p.m.)
King Felix Hernandez is on the hill for the Mariners in this one. He was flawless before coming down with the flu and giving up six runs to the Rangers on Monday. Minnesota counters with Francisco Liriano (2-4, minus-2.3 units).
8. Sunday: Detroit at Cleveland (1:05 p.m.)
Cleveland is the biggest money loser in the majors at 10-17 and 7.77 units in the hole. Anthony Reyes (3-2, 1.00 units) goes for the Tribe against rookie Rick Porcello (2-3, minus-1.04 units).
9. Sunday: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee (2:05 p.m.)
Sean Marshall (0-4, minus-4.27 units) has had some tough luck despite a 4.15 ERA and a 3.98 xFIP; the over is 3-0-1 in his four starts. The Cubs have the No. 20-ranked bullpen in the majors with a 4.83 ERA.
10. Friday: Florida at Colorado (9:10 p.m.)
Florida’s rollercoaster ride has the team losing four of its last five games to fall out of first place in the NL East. The Rockies were on an eight-game zigzag pattern heading into Wednesday’s matchup with the Giants.
