posted July 17, 2008 at 17:59 in MLB Betting Trends

1) Florida Marlins (O/U 56-32-7) The Florida Marlins have been one of the NL East’s biggest surprises this season after they unloaded a pair of major contributors during the off-season in a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers. They currently sit just 1.5-games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the top spot in the division, and they have nothing to thank but their bats for that. The Marlins rank 1st in the home run department in all of baseball with 135, and they’re the 8th ranked team in terms of runs per game (4.86). They don’t hit for average (20th with a .256), but who wants to play small-ball when you lead the league in round-trippers. However, they’re pitching staff comes in ranked 27th overall with a 4.69 team ERA, so they allow their opponents to compete by allowing numerous runs to score against them. On top of that, its defense came in ranked 29th overall by committing 81 errors throughout its first 95 games of the year. So when you add the excellent hitting, poor pitching, and terrible defense together, you come up with the best over team in the “Bigs”. Astute MLB wagering faithful have cashed in big time backing the over when the Marlins are on the road as it’s cashed a whopping 30 of 49 times.

2) Pittsburgh Pirates (O/U 55-34-5) The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the midst of their finest season in years, but unfortunately, they play in the competitive NL Central and find themselves 12.5-games in back of the division leading Chicago Cubs. They’ve been an MLB wagering over bettors cash cow since its paid off in 55 of their 94 games to date. Even more so on the road where it’s an astounding 31-10-2 in the Buccos 43 road games to date. This is what happens when you combine the leagues 6th ranked team in terms of runs per game (4.89), 30th ranked pitching staff with a team ERA of 5.24, the 28th ranked bullpen boasting an ERA of 4.63, and a defense that kicks the ball around the diamond committing 67 errors to date good for 25th in the league. When you add it all up, you come up with the second best over club in the league. Look for the Pirates to continue to try and outslug its opponents the rest of the way since no pitching help looks to be on the horizon.

3) Texas Rangers (O/U 50-41-5) Manager Ron Washington’s Texas club has been a great MLB wager thus far as an underdog in ‘08, but it’s also reeled in the MLB online betting community a fair share of coin in the totals department as well. There’s not as big a disparity with the over like in years past, but the Rangers are still an over team and will always be considered one until they assemble a decent pitching staff. Of their 96 games to date, the over has cashed in 50 of them, but surprisingly, it’s cashed in more on the road (26-21-3) than in the launching pad otherwise known as Arlington (24-20-2). Texas’ offense owns the #1 ranking in RPG (5.60), batting average (.283), and OPS (.816), and has hit 117 home runs good for 5th. The other side of the ball is what kills them where they’re ranked dead last (#30) in committing errors with 85, 29th in both team ERA (5.10) and WHIP (1.58), and dead last (#30) in the quality start department with only 34. The club can rake with the best of them, but they give them up just as easily as they score them. Look for the over to be an even juicier proposition for them now at home with the country now entering the hottest part of the summer.

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