By Matt Josephs for Steve Merril Sports
Baseball begins this week and below is a list of play-on and play-against pitchers for the 2010 MLB season.
The Twins finally caught up to the Tigers on Saturday, and they did not back off on Sunday winning while the Tigers won with Justin Verlander on the hill. Now it comes down to a tie breaker on Tuesday night between these two teams. The Twins won 11 of the 18 match ups this season and were 7-2 in Minnesota where they will be on Tuesday.
Tens days and counting. That’s what remains on the 2009 MLB season. While the majority of pennant races are all but settled this season, handicapping edges still abound.
With that here is a preview the top four series this weekend. Remember, all results are within the series and all pitcher records are ‘team starts’ (the team’s record in games in which the pitcher starts) versus this opponent.
The MLB All Star game is on the history books as the American League extended it’s mastery over the National League with a 4-3 victory, improving its mark to 12-0-1 the last thirteen meetings in this event.
Interestingly, history reminds us that the first set of games immediately following the All Star break generally do not play to form.
Non-divisional NL baseball betting action takes center stage at Bookmaker Sportsbook on Thursday night when the Houston Astros (44-44, +$87) invade Chavez Ravine to tango with the Los Angeles Dodgers (56-32, +$1937) in the first of four sport wagering match-ups from Dodgers Stadium. The Astros closed out their first half slate on a high winning three of four home games against the Washington Nationals to run their mark to 6-4 their L/10 games played (+$122).
Non-divisional AL baseball betting action takes center stage at Bookmaker Sportsbook on Wednesday night when the red hot New York Yankees (49-34, -$295) lock horns with the Minnesota Twins (43-41, -$142) for the second of the teams three-game MLB betting set. The Yankees demolished the Twins 10-2 behind a stellar pitching effort from staff ace C.C. Sabathia and a 16-hit effort from the offense last night.
Looks like Eric Wedge is going to get the chop. The skipper of the 33-50 Cleveland Indians – last in the American League and 21.50 units in the red – got the kiss of death from GM Mark Shapiro on Sunday, in the form of a public vote of confidence. “The responsibility is spread equally throughout the players, the front office, Eric and his staff,” Shapiro told MLB.com.
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American League Central Division baseball betting takes the spotlight on Friday evening at Bookmaker Sportsbook when the 1st place Detroit Tigers (43-35, +$560) and 2nd place Minnesota Twins (41-39, -$75) lock horns for the first time since mid May. The Tigers hold a three-game lead over the Twins for the top spot in the AL Central, but that lead was once six just a short 10 days ago.
The final round of Interleague play for the 2009 season concludes this weekend and the MLB BETTING CHEAT SHEET is here to guide you through.
This week we key in on four intra-state rivalries, all of who will be meeting for the second time this season.
It’s been a busy spring for the city of Chicago.
The Blackhawks made a run in the NHL playoffs. The Bears acquired quarterback Jay Cutler. And the White Sox and Cubs kicked off the 2009 MLB season. Both Windy City baseball clubs are riding roller coaster seasons.
On the south side, the White Sox have climbed out of the American League Central basement and are making a run for the top spot in the division.
Both the Los Angeles Dodgers (47-24, +2100) and Chicago White Sox (33-37, -$435) pick Interleague play back up on Wednesday night from beautiful US Cellular Field for the second of three baseball betting battles.
The Dodgers enter tonight’s confrontation with the Palehose with the best record in all of baseball after taking the first game of this series by a 5-2 final count behind a stellar pitching performance from Hiroki Kuroda who tossed 8.2 innings of two-run ball.
Playing baseball in the Big Apple is unlike any other market. Whether a player is hot, cold, cheating on his wife, or has bad breath, chances are fans can read about it in the daily rags.
It’s the price you pay for playing ball for two of the most popular sports franchises in America.
The “Lone Star Series” picks back up Thursday night from the beautiful Ballpark in Arlington when the Houston Astros (29-34, -$400) and Texas Rangers (37-27, +$1213) lock horns for their sixth and final MLB betting match-up of the 2009 season.
Last night was supposed to be all about Catcher Ivan Rodriguez who broke Carlton Fisk’s record for the most games caught (2,227), but the Rangers took advantage of three Astros errors and got the best of Houston for the fifth time this season.
I think the biggest surprise so far in the American League would have to be the Seattle Mariners. Seattle is currently 9-5 and sitting #1 in the American League West division. The Mariners have the 2nd best record in the entire American League at this time. Seattle is doing this with their best catcher Johjima on the disabled list right now.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays may play to low television ratings but that doesn’t mean we won’t see stellar and exciting baseball.
The Sportsbook.com odds for the opening game are Even. The Series odds are Philadelphia +125, Tampa Bay -145.
Oddsmakers like the Boston Red Sox chances at extending the ALCS and heading back to Tampa Bay for a Game 6 on Saturday.
Behind starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox are a -150 favorite to win Thursday’s Game 5; the Tampa Bay Rays are a +140 with Scott Kazmir on the mound.
