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posted May 8, 2008 at 18:56 in MLB Free Picks

The American League is usually very competitive come playoff time, and the New York Yankees are usually there. Will that happen again this year? And will someone other than the Red Sox be the team to beat them out of the American League East title? We take a look at that division, along with others, using the BetUS MLB Futures Odds.

BetUS Baseball Futures Betting Odds

To win the American League East

Boston Red Sox -150

New York Yankees +150

Toronto Blue Jays +500

Tampa Bay Devil Rays +2500

Baltimore Orioles +4500

The BOSTON RED SOX (-150 in the BetUS odds) are looking solid again, and will look even better when David Ortiz (.216) gets going. When he does, he'll join Manny Ramirez, who is up near the top of the league in homers and RBI's, to give the Sox some sock. Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-0) is off to a hot start, but remember that he faded last year from the strain of throwing too many innings. Young arms like Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester have been solid, and we can certainly expect better things from John Beckett as the season progresses. The bullpen is going to get the job done. And the special bonus news is that Curt Schilling is starting to throw again.

With the NEW YORK YANKEES (+150 in the BetUS odds), the loss of catcher Jorge Posada has been felt, but he'll be back. Robinson Cano or Jason Giambi, or both, are going to have to start hitting. Pitching is a genuine worry, as far as I'm concerned. Chien-Ming Wang is great - he's 6-0 this year and 62-18 in his career. But can Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte (without the juice) stay strong for the whole season? The young hurlers have not been the answer - Phil Hughes has been hit hard, Ian Kennedy has bene sent to the minors, and Joba Chamberlain has elbow problems that limit what he can do. I would not invest in the Yankees right now.

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS (+500 in the BetUS odds) have some pitching; in fact, they've allowed 17 runs in their last ten games through Tuesday. But there's no pop in the lineup, fueling the speculation that Barry Bonds could be on his way. More offense puts this team into this race for the long haul.

If you're looking for a viable longshot, maybe it's the TAMPA BAY RAYS (+2500 in the BetUS odds), a team that should not be written off at this point. They are developing what could be most important - pitching. James Shields has been outstanding. Andy Sonnanstine and Jason Hammel are serviceable people at the back end of the rotation. Jeff Niemann is a big-time prospect who may yet contribute before all is said and done. Matt Garza came off the DL recently, and Scott Kazmir (last year's AL strikeout leader) will be a factor once he works himself into shape. And in the early going, this team has had the AL's best bullpen.

Sorry, Baltimore.

BetUS Baseball Futures Betting Odds

To win the American League Central

Detroit Tigers +135

Cleveland Indians +110

Minnesota Twins +2000

Chicago White Sox +300

Kansas City Royals +2200

I really liked the DETROIT TIGERS (+135 in the BetUS odds) at the season's outset. On paper, they have the best lineup in the league from A to Z. But some guys aren't hitting. Gary Sheffield (.185) is complaining. Placido Polanco (.250, 9 RBI's) hasn't gotten going, and Pudge Rodriguez is starting to look old. Worse, though, is that three starting pitchers have ERA's that are over 6.00. And who knows when Dontrelle Willis is going to get on the field. Can Dave Dombrowski make enough mid-seasn deals to correct all this?

The CLEVELAND INDIANS (+110 in the BetUS odds) carry the shortest price, and they're probably the team with most of a chance to stick out. They should have enough offense to get by. Catcher Victor Martinez is leading the American League in hitting. But it's the pitching that has exceeded expectations. Cliff Lee has been the most dominant starter in the AL early on. He won his first five decisions with an 0.96 ERA. Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook have been very good. Veteran Paul Byrd will give them innings. And C.C. Sabathia is showing signs of turning things around. The Indians, however, need much more out of the bullpen to make them a value. Joe Borowski was awful, went on the DL and will be the closer again when he comes off.

Kansas City and Minnesota might hang in for a while, but they don't have enough horses. No, the play here might be the CHICAGO WHITE SOX (+300), a couple of years removed from the World Series but a club that has, from top to bottom, maybe the best starting rotation in the division. And they are getting much better performance out of their bullpen forces than are the Indians (8th in majors with 3.25 ERA).

BetUS Baseball Futures Betting Odds

To win the American League West

Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim -400

Seattle Mariners +350

Texas Rangers +5000

Oakland Athletics +400

The numbers suggest this is going to be a race where the LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (-400 in the BetUS odds) run and hide. As of right now, Ervin Santana (5-0) and Joe Saunders (6-0) are sitting with undefeated records. But how long will such sizzling pitching hold up? The Angels are 28th in the majors in bullpen ERA, and even though we know that once Vladimir Guerrero starts to hit a little more (.256 with three HR's) it will help an offense that has the AL's second-highest batting average, the Angels are by no means set all the way through the rotation.

The SEATTLE MARINERS (+350 in the BetUS odds) see some upside in the fact that Ichiro Suzuki (.279) has not gotten hot yet and Erik Bedard, the lefty ace that came over from Baltimore, is just getting himself healthy again, but I just don't like the idea that shopworn arms like Miguel Batista and Jarrod Washburn are getting a lot of innings.

I like the OAKLAND ATHLETICS (+400 in the BetUS odds) here, and one of the reasons is because I appreciate the sharpness of general manager Billy Beane. When people look at the A's on paper, they never appreciate what this team can do. But Beane has his methods, as most people know, and he will continue to keep this team competitive despite losing players year after year. Dana Eveland (3.67 ERA), has been impressive as one of the guys who came over in the Dan Haren trade with Arizona, and every starter was under 4.00 in ERA as of Tuesday. The A's lead the AL in ERA with a 3.19, and their bullpen has the best ERA in the major leagues at 2.63

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com touches all the bases as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)