Posted on
5/15/2008 3:02:18 PM
MLB Baseball Betting – Team Previews - Who’s Hot?
By Mike Rose
1) Houston Astros (8-2) (+761.00) The Astros have gotten off to a fabulous online betting start in the month of May winning nine of their 11 overall games to make their moneyline backers very happy. A one-hundred dollar bettor would have seen a return of $761.00 if they had played the Astros their L/10 overall. The winning streak has seen them rise quickly within the NL Central Division and they now only sit a game and a half in back of the Chicago Cubs. They’re currently in the midst of a 10-game road trip that’s seen them win four of the first five games with a sweep at the Dodgers. Lance Berkman is already having a monster sports betting season, which now has the Astros ranked 6th in the league in home runs with 43. They average close to five runs per game (4.85) good for 9th in the league, and they’re the best in the stealing department ranked first with 40 and counting. The defense has been stellar as it’s only committed 18 errors to rank 4th in the league, but the pitching has been bad all year and ranks amongst the leagues worst. The Astros will have to continue being hot at the plate and look to outslug every one of its opponents since its pitching staff just isn’t up to par.
2) Pittsburgh Pirates (7-3) (+$451.00) The Pirates have already seen themselves in the “Who’s Not?” article, so it only makes perfect sense that they find themselves in this weeks installment of “Who’s Hot?” with the ebb and flow within the game of baseball. The Pirates have secured victories in seven of their L/10 overall games, but they haven’t brought home the return their MLB backers would have hoped for simply because they were installed as short favorites in seven of those 10 match-ups. They only sit four-games in back of the NL Central Division leading Chicago Cubs, but they have to hit the road for 10 of their next 16 in May where they’ve only managed a 7-12 road record to date. The offense can score (ranked 4th averaging 4.95 RPG), but the pitching ranks amongst the bottom third of the league and the boast the worst defense in the “bigs” having already committed 38 errors in just 39 games played. Don’t look for the Pirates to continue its winning ways.
3) Tampa Bay Rays (7-3) (+$450.00) Don’t look now but the newly named Tampa Bay Rays are the proud owners of the best record in the American League East. These aren’t your brothers Devil Rays, but instead this new look team is getting the job done in just about every aspect of the statbook. They’ve been a terrific sports wager at home evidenced by their impressive 15-7 mark at Tropicana Field, and they’ve held their own as a visitor winning eight of their 17 road games. The offense is ranked middle of the road, but the team speed (ranked 4th with 39 stolen bases) has led to more scoring chances by playing small ball. What has been dominant for the first time ever is the Rays pitching staff. It boasts a team ERA of 3.73 good for 6th in the league, and the bullpen ranks 3rd with a 3.15 ERA and has converted 10 of its 14 save opportunities. With 11 of their next 17 games coming within the comfy confines of their home stadium, look for the Rays to stay in the thick of the AL East race through May.
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